Woman Becomes Accidental Beauty Influencer After Hilarious Videos Go Viral

One of the great things about TikTok is its ability to turn anyone into an influencer—sometimes without them ever realizing it's happening.

This accidental rise to fame is one that London-based Helena Moody can relate to, as the 29-year-old social media manager and comedian's video about her ghostly foundation shade has now secured her an unofficial third job as a beauty influencer.

Moody first started her rise to TikTok fame on March 27, sharing a video about her shock at being shade matched to Nars' lightest shade of its Soft Matte Foundation, called Oslo, telling viewers, "I look like a ghost."

The video quickly caught the attention of TikTok users, gaining 14 million views and almost 800,000 likes since being posted—with the video's success leading to Moody grasping the attention of beauty brands as she becomes an overnight beauty influencer.

Color Match Shock

Moody's new-found fame comes back to the instant virality of her first post, which saw her questioning herself over her own skin tone, first thinking the match couldn't be right.

Moody goes on to ask, "Am I actually dead? Is this what I would look like if I had good skin with no redness whatsoever?"

The video wasn't the first time Moody tested the new product, as she told Newsweek, "I was going on a date and had a spot. So, I panicked, took makeup advice from a random woman on the internet, ran to the shops to get a recommended foundation, shoved it on, and went on the date looking like I did in the video.

"I reapplied the foundation the next morning, finally looked in the mirror and gasped at [Twilight character] Edward Cullen staring back at me. I'm a comedian, so obviously, had to joke about this."

The video was met with comments confirming the shade match was accurate, much to Moody's dismay, as users said, "This is actually such a perfect match I want to meet this woman at Nars," and, "I didn't even know you were wearing foundation. The match is perfect."

Moody, who was at a soccer match at the time she shared the video, told us, "I checked TikTok in the second half to see that I had a hundred thousand views, which of course, led to a very healthy and sane addiction to my phone."

Instead of shying away from her newfound social media success, Moody, a budding comedian, saw the opportunity to get her name out there when met with hundreds of comments telling her to add blush and bronzer, leading to her further success.

Unconventional Influencing

The video led to a miniseries, in which Moody can be found using an old blush she "found in the bottom of my mother's wardrobe," and mascara that "I've had it so long it doesn't even have a label anymore."

Moody explained, "A few comments requested a follow-up video of me in full makeup. Now, I love makeup on other people, but as someone who has worn the same makeup for the past 10 years, the thought of me doing a GRWM [get ready with me] video as an 'influencer' had me roaring.

"Thankfully, it seemed to have a similar effect on other people, so when this video also went viral, I realized I was onto something."

The success has led to Moody being sent products and PR packages from makeup and skincare brands, as she said, "For some illogical reason, people are being influenced by me. My silly little videos (which were intended for laughs and only laughs) have now resulted in me receiving gifted makeup. It's bonkers.

"I still don't know how to use half of it, and people are commenting that they are now buying the brands I have unintentionally advertised."

Career Change?

"In true messy reality style, I plan most of my videos a day prior (that's a lie, I totally have a spreadsheet, and am just trying to seem relatable). I'm sure I will be doing more beauty videos (especially more fashion/skincare), but will also be venturing out into unknown comedy territory.

As for whether or not the video could lead to a permanent career change, Moody said: "Making a living by making people laugh would be a dream come true. Sometimes I find influencers hard to relate to, as whatever the opposite of the clean-girl look is, that's me.

"I hope to bring a sense of acceptance and messy reality to the influencer world as I think that can be both hilarious and beautiful."

While she's fallen into the beauty world, Moody wants it to be known that "if I didn't have acne, I wouldn't wear makeup. Not a comment on people that do wear makeup, as I think it's lovely, but for personal reasons, it isn't for me. I would love to get to a point where society doesn't shame acne, so that people can accept it, rather than hide it."