Gigi Gorgeous: A Queen of Social Media

Born in the Canadian City of Montreal, Gigi Lazzarato Getty, aka Gigi Gorgeous, is proof that beauty exists beyond smoke and mirrors. 

In 2008, she became a breakout star on YouTube, posting videos on beauty, fashion, and makeup tutorials as a high school student, while also encouraging viewers to express themselves in the face of bullies and harassment. A few years after making her internet debut, Gigi came out as transgender.

Since then, Gigi has become a transgender activist, author, television personality, actress, model, and LGBTQ icon. She has won several awards, teamed up with IPSY for a makeup collection, and has built a full-on empire that includes a feature-length film about her story and a memoir. And, of course, her YouTube channel continues to thrive, with millions of people viewing her videos. 

Gigi has been named one of Time Magazine’s “25 Most Influential People on the Internet,” Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” and was The Los Angeles Blade’s “Best LGBTQ Influencer” in 2020. She has shown the world that real beauty comes from sharing your personal story and flaws, and she uses her platform to speak to both the LGBTQ and straight community alike. 

OFM had the opportunity to catch up with Gigi and talk about using her stardom for activism, having the courage to put yourself out there, and her brand-new podcast, Queerified, which launched in June. 

As a social media star, what do you hope audiences take away from your content?
When I started, it was more about beauty tips, fashion, and lifestyle stuff. Now, I have really noticed my purpose on this Earth is to leave it a better place than when I came into it. So, I hope people take away how to be confident, even in these most trying of times, how to make the most of your day, and how to turn negatives into positives. As you know, I have come out several times, so how to stay in touch with who you are and discover new parts of yourself. We are never done growing. I want to inspire all those things, but in general, to inspire people to literally live their authentic selves.

Take us back to the moment you uploaded your first YouTube video. What inspired you to create that video, and what do you feel when you look back on it now?
Currently, I feel like I really relate with a lot of creators who are uploading their first videos. They are not necessarily fulfilled with the life that they are living around them; they are reaching out to find other, like-minded people, and they are expressing their creativity, whether it be through any avenue. There are so many categories. 

Back then, I was very, very, very interested in makeup. I was not a professional, even though I sometimes thought I was, but I was basically just experimenting and having fun. Now, when I look back at it, I just see this brave kid. In my town in Toronto, which I am currently in, overlooking the city, doing YouTube, being on the internet, making videos, and uploading videos was not really a thing. I think, to be that kind of weirdo back then, which no one can relate with today because everybody knows what an influencer is, I respect that. I respect that shamelessness. Come who may judge me, but those who are going to support me, those are the people who I want to be around. That’s the sentiment that I still share with myself. 

Have makeup, beauty, and fashion always been passions of yours?
I got into makeup and fashion, first and foremost, because I was insecure. I had very bad skin when I was younger. I had full acne; I had to go on Accutane, and I was a competitive diver at the time. Chlorine and acne were just a horrible mix. So, yes, I was always fascinated by it. Even before I started applying it on myself, I would look at fashion magazines and be like, ‘Oh my God, they look beautiful; I wonder how they achieved this look.’ I was always intrigued by that. It wasn’t until I was around 15 years old that I started experimenting, building my own collection, and trying it out myself for the world to see, even though it was sometimes very cringe-worthy.

What path do you think life would have taken you if you never uploaded that first video?
I would have found myself doing something insane. I feel like when you put it out in the universe that you are worthy, the universe kind of just finds something for you. I do not know exactly what I would be doing, but I do believe in manifestation and all that stuff. Maybe something in the entertainment industry, like an art director, an actress, or something like that. Nothing with traditional school, though. That has never been my strong suit. 

You also use your social media platform to advocate for LGBTQ visibility. How are you building bridges between the gay, trans, and ally communities?
Obviously, people within our community are going to be involved in any kind of virtual moment, any kind of social media post moment, supporting the positive, and having fun with it, especially during Pride Month. To me, there is nothing better than when an ally goes just as hard. For a long time, I think allies who wanted to support did not know how to support or did not know what was appropriate. I get asked this question a lot, ‘What can allies do?’ I’m like, allies can do anything. They can do everything. It just spreads the awareness that much further. Even for myself, from way back in the day, I have people on my Facebook, for example, who are not as open-minded as I am. So, if an ally comes along and posts something, it can be shared, it can change your mind, it can just be visible. I feel that is half the battle. This Pride season, I challenged people to really put themselves out there, even if they are an ally. 

Social media has become a great tool for expressing yourself and raising awareness, but it has also led to cancel culture. What is your opinion on this?
First and foremost, I think people being hyper-aware of negative things, things that have been misspoken, things that are genuinely, flat-out wrong, and discrimination, I am all for, but I do think cancel culture does go a little bit far sometimes, and it can be harmful. I think with mental health being so prevalent right now, it is so important that we check in with one another, and we hold each other accountable. I feel like the world, now more than ever, really does like seeing people who are higher up, and tearing them down for the littlest thing. I think that you can learn from your mistakes in the past, and you can get over them. If you truly look inward and see what you have done is wrong, then that is what needs to be done. I do not believe that people should be canceled. 

Not only are you a beauty vlogger, but you are also a model and actress. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to talk about?
Right now, I am very focused and excited about my podcast, Queerified, which launched on June 16. I have always wanted to do one, I have always been a social person, and so many people in my life have taught me so much. Even if we are just at dinner, at a bar, at an event, a social gathering, here and there, I am so excited to dive in with some of my favorite people and have amazing, meaningful conversations that are fun and easy to listen to. I am a huge podcast fan; I barely listen to music anymore. When I am getting ready, I just throw on a podcast. I am just really excited, and I know that this season is just going to be fucking epic. I have been doing some other projects, but the podcast is what I am very excited about, being behind a mic.

In your opinion, what makes a great podcast and podcaster?
I do love a few podcasts, like Bethany Frankel’s, for example. She is a solo podcaster; her podcast is called Just B. We all know Bethany Frankel is like a robot; she talks so much. So, I like that, but on the contrary, I really love a host-and-co-host relationship and point of view. My co-host is my longest friend ever, Mimi. We have known each other for 18 years, and we are the same in many ways, but we are also different in so many other ways. I like that back and forth. I like hearing two different opinions; I think that is really important. 

Also, I like walking away from a podcast learning something. I don’t want to just listen to people talk about the sky or talk about their favorite food. I want to walk away and be like, wow. I want to refer to it weeks and years later. On this podcast, I heard, and it changed my point of view. That is very, very important to me.

Besides Bethany Frankel’s, what other podcasts are you currently listening to that we should check out?
I never miss an episode of Ebony and Irony, Monét X Change and Lady Bunny’s podcast. That is a perfect example to me of a podcast that is so fun. Two girls having a kiki and cocktails, but at the same time, their age difference is so fierce to me. I really love that as well, and I learn something every, single episode. I always walk away with something different, which I feel is important.

What has been the hardest part about putting yourself out there and being open with your trans identity and sexuality?
I feel like it takes a special person to be really open and stay really honest with themselves. For me, it kind of comes naturally. I really do feel like I was meant to share my story. I feel like that is my purpose, but at the same time, it can be hard. Sometimes, you are not ready to do that. Every time I share something personal, I just mentally prepare, take a minute, make sure I am ready, and then I do it. At the same time, it’s like people are expecting that of you, which gets really hard. Like, OK, whoa, calm down. I shared a lot in the past, so give me a second when it comes to blank, blank, blank.

What advice can you offer those who are struggling to accept their self-confidence and self-worth?
I’ve said it once, and I will say it again: Everyone else is so much more concerned about themselves and how they come off—if people like them, what they are wearing, what they look like. So, whenever I have a down moment, I am like, ‘Just live your life.’ I wish I told myself that in high school and as I was growing up, because you lose sleep over it. You miss opportunities. It’s like, ‘Come hang out here,’ and you’re like, ‘Oh God, I am insecure there, or I’m not feeling as confident.’ Literally, snap out of it, and be like, ‘I am me, and I just need to go kill this.’ Just fake it, and then you will not miss out on things. I feel like I have missed out on too much, especially in my youth. I feel like it is really important just to get out there.

Do you think social media has created this image of what an ideal person should look like?
Definitely. Honestly, social media is insane. The stuff I see on there, especially with bodies nowadays, the insane proportions are becoming normalized. It’s sad because when you see these people out in real life, and I see a ton of people out at events and such, and that is not how they look. It is so damaging for people to see that, and I feel like everything kind of sways back and forth. The fashion and the trend pendulum. In five to 10 years, that is no longer going to be in. Other things are going to be in, and I feel like social media just kicks it to a whole new level. That is why I feel like it is very important for people to just get out there. Have some real people in your life. Do not surround yourself with just people who are online. That can be very dangerous. 

Some people see you as a queer sex symbol. Do you find this frustrating or empowering?
Oh, I find it so empowering! I used to shy away from the term role model, sex symbol, and things like that, because I felt intimidated. Now, hearing that is so empowering because I know that I put in the work, and I know I can speak to it. I can really speak to things I have gone through, things I’ve seen, things that I’ve experienced, and I am proud to be a role model for people. 

As far as sex symbol goes, that one still makes me giggle a little bit inside. I do like being sexy. I think that there is so much empowerment behind that, and I love a good photoshoot. I love a good sex symbol moment. Yeah, it’s fun. It is very tongue-in-cheek. I do not take it too seriously, the sex symbol part, but I enjoy it. 

You had your fourth coming out a couple months ago when you revealed that you are pansexual. Do you think pansexuality is often lost in the conversation?
I do. I really do, and it was proven when I came out as pan. I know I saw a lot of comments being like, ‘Wow, I’ve never even really heard of what pan was, and maybe I’m pan.’ It made people look inward, and I did not really know that it was that because I do find myself kind of living in this Los Angeles, community bubble. I just assume everybody knows, but it turns out that a lot of people didn’t. So, I am glad that I did that, and I was loud and proud about it. 

I really feel the most woke that I have ever felt because not many people come out within a relationship. People usually come out, then they get in a relationship, traditionally, but with my husband, I was like, ‘This is how I am feeling, and I feel like I have really realized this about myself.’ He was nothing but supportive, and I just needed to come out for the final time. 

Do you think the younger generation is becoming comfortable without labels, and do you believe this is beneficial?
I do, and I think it is extremely inspiring. I even have family members who do not identify, but they are so open and fluid. I think any kind of visibility within having a label or no label is inspiring. Whenever anyone can speak to not being heterosexual and cisgender, I think it is a big step, especially with younger people. I believe for the most part that social media has had a huge point in that because people see so many walks of life just through the click of their phone. You do not need to meet someone who does not label themselves as anything and is completely open to know someone who is like that.

What more do you hope to accomplish with your platform?
The sky’s the limit with me. I have a list of things I would like to do, and I have already done so much that I never thought I would be able to do. Every, single project every day is a blessing for me, and I really do cherish it. So, 2021 is looking really good. I am very excited about it, but I am never stopping. I am addicted to my job; I am addicted to my life, and I just want to spread the love wherever I go. 

What’s next for Gigi Gorgeous?
Oh, God. World domination, going to the moon, setting up a trans camp there [laughs]. Honestly, I just want to continue to inspire. Every, single project I am on, I want to let everyone know that you can build an empire, you can be authentic, you can have no fucks to give, but still be a loving, caring person and inspire. I think that is what everyone needs to hear, and I feel like that is what everyone needs to try to do.