3 On-The-Rise Musicians Share What It’s Really Like To Be An Influencer

The influencer boom has made it possible for anyone and anyone to be someone. Instagram has redefined fame and, as such, made the scene incredibly saturated. Nowadays, it takes a healthy mix of gusto, talent, and effortless determination to stand out. Good thing for May Kwok, DJ Millie, and ABIR, they have all three. 

These women are beacons of genuine talent within the sea of wannabes. They deserve the followings they have because their authenticity is worn on their sleeves. We teamed up with Clinique to help set the record straight of what it really means to be an influencer today. It's a lot more work than slapping on filters and writing cheeky captions. It's all about celebrating your own individuality; the following three women do so with aplomb.

Photographed by Marta McAdams; Makeup by Anthony Tulve; Hair by Ryan Austin.

May Kwok

Born in Hong Kong but raised in New York, May Kwok has made a name for herself within the DJ community. She also loves surfing.

How did you get to where you are today?

It was a long road. I’ve always been a really hard worker. I started working full time when I was 15 or 16. I kind of worked myself into the fashion industry and then funny enough, I was an intern at NYLON many years ago. Through NYLON, I met all these other industry people, and I started DJing, and worked myself to where I am now. [Laughs]

How have your social media habits changed as you gained more of a following and rose up in the ranks of the fashion and music world?

I always try to have an authentic voice on social media. I don’t really try to be fake. The only thing I feel that I’ve changed on my social media is trying to engage more with my followers. I try, as much as I can, to reply to them and engage with them instead of just posting and leaving it as that.

What do you think of the term “influencer” as a label and as an identifier?

I’m fine with being labeled as an influencer. I do have a voice, and I want people to hear it. It’s great that I can engage with people and have a cool influence on them. Whether it’s young girls who want to grow up and be multitalented and express their artistic self by music or fashion or production, producing fun events, or all that.

May wears: Clinique, Clinique Pop™ Matte Lip Colour + Primer in 'Shock Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

How does it make you feel when someone asks what it’s like to be a female in your industry?

You know what? It’s always a question. There is still a stigma that men are better DJs than girls, but I think we’ve proven ourselves. Nowadays, there are all these women that are DJing and doing their thing and producing music. We’re there, so I don’t think DJing is just a man’s career anymore.

What is one thing your followers might not be able to pick up on about you?

I don’t really show how busy I am because when I post something, it’s something that I’m enjoying. What my followers don’t know is I actually hold a full-time job—multiple jobs really. I’m constantly working. They see the fun side of me, but they don’t really know how much work I’m actually doing.

What would you say is the biggest misconception about being a DJ?

I think nowadays it’s easy to be a DJ because there are all these programs that make it easier to do. Some people use the drag-and-play options of those programs and people still use Serato. There are all these easy techniques of playing music, but at the end of the day, DJing is hard.

May wears: Clinique, Clinique Pop™ Matte Lip Colour + Primer in 'Shock Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

What other projects do you have going on right now that you’re most excited about?

I’m working on other collaborations. I can’t say who, but it’s a home entertainment project.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone who wants to “be like you”?

Just work hard and stay true to yourself. And, this is such a cliché, but really believe that you can do it.

May wears: Clinique, Clinique Pop™ Matte Lip Colour + Primer in 'Shock Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

DJ Millie

Los Angeles' own Chelsea Dleah, professionally known as DJ Millie, is a true example of where talent and determination can get you. The DJ has become a staple within the downtown scenes of basically every major city, and when there's time, she models on the side. Talk about a go-getter.

How did you get to where you are today?

I wanted to learn how to DJ for as long as I can remember. I come from a musical family, so music has always played a huge role in my life. I’ve been playing instruments ever since elementary school and into high school which evolved into me picking up turntables and learning how to do that.

How has performing and DJing helped you discover more of your identity?

Being around different personalities and learning what other people like to hear has made me a lot more well-rounded when it comes to music. It has brought out a lot of my personality as well.

How did your social media change as you started to gain more of a following?

I never really plan out my Instagram. I just want to be more authentic and be more of myself on social media.

Do you have an apprehension toward the label of “influencer”?

I see myself more as a musician and a creative than an influencer. I'm really just like everybody else. My art is what influences people. I feel like that term can be misdirected at times.

DJ Millie wears: Clinique, Clinique Pop Liquid™ Matte Lip Colour + Primer in 'Candied Apple Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

How does it make you feel when someone asks you what it's like to be a female in the DJ world?

DJing for females has become really popular in the past two years. I don't think it's as out of the norm as it used to be. If someone ever asks me, I just say it feels great to do what I love, because my art really doesn't have a gender.

What is one thing your followers might not be able to pick up on about you based on what you post?

I don't post the mundane parts of my life, like waiting in line for the airport or walking to get coffee every morning or watching endless episodes of Chopped. Judging from my Instagram, it looks like I'm always at the beach and having such a great time, but that's not really the case.

How do you make an air of authenticity on your social media then?

I post what I post because that's who I am. Like I said, I don't really calculate how many posts a day or when I'm gonna post something. If I like it, I'm just gonna post it. I think that's what makes it authentic because it's not planned out like a website.

What would you say is the biggest misconception about being a DJ?

I feel like the biggest thing I run into is the model-DJ thing. I'm a DJ first; it just so happens that modeling fell into my lap. So unlike the other Instagram models out there that are like calling themselves DJs now, I have a lot of respect for the craft and I can actually DJ.

DJ Millie wears: Clinique, Clinique Pop Liquid™ Matte Lip Colour + Primer in 'Candied Apple Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

Are you working on any larger projects?

I am actually working on an EP right now, a series of workout mixes. I'm really into working out, and I think that music plays a big role in that.

What role has nightlife played in your life?

Nightlife has played a big role in my life. Nightlife has definitely shaped who I am as a DJ because I know what to play and I've been around it for so long. It's really shown me that this is what I want to do.

What is one piece of advice for someone who wants to “be like you”?

I would say bring rose water with you everywhere and stay woke.

DJ Millie wears: Clinique, Clinique Pop Liquid™ Matte Lip Colour + Primer in 'Candied Apple Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique. 

ABIR

ABIR is shaking the New York City music scene, and she only just properly arrived. Her latest single, "Girls," is rich with nightlife gossip and bona fide self-empowerment. You'll be proud to say you knew ABIR early on.

How did you get into music?

When I moved to the States, I was around five, and my dad started to make some money as a limousine driver. He started his own company and would pick me up every day from school in a limo. He had to play jazz and classical music for his clients, so every time I got in the car, that’s all that was playing. I started mimicking Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, and all these people that I look up to now. After I found out that I could hold a note, I started doing talent shows and performing at basketball games—wherever there was a stage. Once I got old enough, my parents loosened up, and that’s when I started coming to New York and doing music more seriously.

How has performing helped you discover more of your identity?

When I was performing in grade school, I was always performing someone else's song because I never really wrote that much. I would dabble in all sorts of genres. Now I feel like singing your own music, that you wrote, immediately gives you your identity because you’re sharing your story with the audience and not someone else’s.

Is there a stage persona and an off-stage persona for you or do you mix the two?

A little! I feel like I’m goofy in person, and I haven’t necessarily found a way to show that on the stage, but I am still myself.

ABIR wears a mix of: Clinique, Clinique Pop™ Lip Colour + Primer in 'Love Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique; Clinique Pop™ Lip Colour + Primer in 'Fab Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

How do you feel about the word “influencer” as being a label?

I don’t know. I feel like, especially in New York, if you have a following, you’re immediately an influencer, and I don’t think everyone with a following is an influencer.

How does it make you feel when someone asks you what it’s like to be a female in your industry?

You don’t have to ask me what it’s like to be a female in the industry. When someone asks me that question, I’m just like, “Huh? What are you saying?” We’re all the same.

Can you unpack your new song “Girls” for us?

The bathrooms at New York’s Webster Hall are huge. One night while I was there, casually putting on my lip liner and trying to enjoy my night, I heard a group of girls talking about all of these catty things. I felt like they weren’t actually doing something in their lives because they were too busy worrying about other girls and talking about how much money their boyfriends have. I work hard, I grind, I hustle, and these girls seemed like they didn’t. In that moment, I felt like because I’m doing something every single day to help my future and working hard, I have a right to be a little salty. No silver platter business for me.

ABIR wears a mix of: Clinique, Clinique Pop™ Lip Colour + Primer in 'Love Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique; Clinique Pop™ Lip Colour + Primer in 'Fab Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.

Where does your work ethic comes from?

I come from an immigrant background, so I think it’s instilled in me. My mom and dad wouldn’t have it any other way. I couldn’t pursue music until I made my parents happy. I had to make sure that I got good grades, stayed focused, balanced my studies with my music, for them to even consider accepting it. Now I'm on a mission to make my dreams come true so that they can see how hard I worked for what I wanted, just like they did coming to the states.

What is one piece of advice you’d give someone who wants to grow up and be like you and do what you’re doing?

Growing up, my mentor back in D.C. told me to create a do's and don’ts list for my life and my career. Will I get in front of a magazine and wear a bathing suit? Probably not. Will I get in front of a magazine and rock ripped jeans and a crop top? Absolutely. Create specific do's and don’ts that represent who you are, what you’re willing to do, and what you're not willing to do. If you haven't figured yourself out yet, it really helps you think about things that will essentially help you find yourself.

What projects are you most excited about coming up?

I’m super excited because we’re going to do a video for “Girls.” Then, hopefully, I’m going to drop some music at the top of the year and start doing shows.

ABIR wears a mix of: Clinique, Clinique Pop™ Lip Colour + Primer in 'Love Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique; Clinique Pop™ Lip Colour + Primer in 'Fab Pop,' $18.50, available at Clinique.