ALL ABOUT THE ART OF BEAUTY AND GLAM: IN CONVERSATION WITH TRUDY WOODS
Trudy Woods is part of a new wave of beauty creators in Sri Lanka turning everyday makeup into something both aspirational and accessible. With a growing TikTok presence and a sharp eye for detail, she has built a space where full glam meets practical, easy-to-follow breakdowns. Fresh off hitting 10K followers, Trudy is proving that consistency, clarity, and a genuine love for beauty can go a long way.
What made you pick up your phone and start creating content, and how did that first phase look for you?
My journey began six years ago in 2020. I knew I had always wanted to create content, but I wasn’t sure what my niche was or how to put myself out there. For years, it was a lot of trial and error. I’d post for a while, lose confidence or feel overwhelmed, and then disappear. Everything changed on a random Poya day in March 2025 where I decided that if I genuinely wanted to make this dream work, I had to commit fully. I challenged myself to post one video every day for three months, regardless of the views or how “perfect” the content felt. My only rule was consistency. At first, I simply experimented to understand what people connected with me the most. Balancing content creation alongside a full-time corporate job wasn’t easy, so I used the weekends to batch film and edit videos for the week ahead. That routine made consistency possible without feeling overwhelmed. About a month into the challenge, I started noticing real traction. More importantly, people were connecting with me because I was showing up authentically. Seeing viewers genuinely derive real value from my content gave me all the motivation I needed to keep going.
When you first started, was beauty always your focus, or did you go through a bit of trial and error before landing on what really worked for you?
No, beauty was never my focus at the start. Although I’ve loved makeup since I was young, I never imagined becoming a beauty creator. My first experience creating content was back when TikTok was still musical.ly, making dance videos with my cousin just for fun. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I watched everyday people build communities online by simply sharing their interests and personalities, which inspired me to find something uniquely my own. For a while, I experimented with lip syncing videos and different styles of content, which I did for fun, but I still struggled to keep the consistency. Through all of that I figured, the minute I started talking to the camera was when it all changed. People started connecting with the real, true ME. That raw authenticity was what people were looking for, and they were connecting with my personality and honesty in what I bring in my videos. It was like I was their beauty bestie where they could come to and learn all things beauty related. That authenticity naturally led me into the beauty space and helped me discover my niche.
Your content ranges from full glam tutorials to very specific breakdowns like lip combos or eyeliner techniques. Was that a conscious decision if yes why?
Yes, it was a very conscious decision. Once I realized how genuinely my audience enjoyed my beauty content, I wanted to make my platform a place where anyone, especially beginners could learn makeup without feeling intimidated where it was accessible and a go-to guide for anyone who wanted to learn about makeup. Many of my followers are just starting their makeup journey, so instead of focusing only on full glam tutorials which I usually do when I go for a wedding or events, I began creating simple, practical videos covering topics like winged eyeliner, undertones, foundation matching, beginner makeup kits, authentic product reviews and brown girl friendly lip combos, some of the basics I wanted to teach the girls on how to start and where to start because most of them had no idea on where to start and what to buy at first. I wanted to help them take that first step and guide them into what they really needed as a makeup beginner. The most rewarding part is receiving messages from girls saying they never cared about makeup before but now having the confidence to build their own routine with the help of my videos. Knowing that my content gives someone confidence to start makes every video worthwhile.
Content creation can look effortless online, but it takes a lot behind the scenes. What helps you stay consistent and keep showing up?
Two things keep me consistent: my passion for makeup and the little community I’ve built.
Creating content never feels like a chore because makeup has always been my creative outlet. Even on a sluggish and lazy day, the minute I sit down to do my makeup, it gives me all the energy and confidence I need. Makeup gives me life and I never get tired of learning new methods, discovering new products and having a never-ending makeup wish list. I’m always on the hunt for new makeup to add to my makeup collection. It’s an obsession and I love and enjoy it. With creating makeup content, I try not to overcomplicate the process which is why I never script my videos. I simply press record and speak naturally because I want every video to feel genuine to my audience. People can know when you’re faking it, so I try to be real as much as possible with them. I never promote a product or brand I will never use. The trust my audience has put in me, is my responsibility to keep that trust and give them what they are looking for. My community keeps me motivated. Knowing there are people who genuinely look forward to my videos and trust my recommendations encourage me to keep showing up and sharing what I love. Most of my inspiration comes from the international beauty creator Glamzilla (Stephanie Valentine - now known as Santana). Her journey has taught me so much from her humble beginnings and her commitment to honest, authentic reviews and remind me why I started creating content in the first place. She has come a long way to come to where she is right now. Having briefly spoken to her a few times on Instagram DM, she has indeed told me to follow what my heart tells me and to lead with passion and purpose and I think I’ve already found it.
Can you tell us about a particularly meaningful or interesting encounter you’ve had with one of your followers?
One of my favorite things is hearing people say, “I love your lip combos!” Somewhere along the way, I became known as the “Lip Combo Girl,” and it all started because of one lipstick that didn't work. I posted a video wearing a bright lipstick that looked terrible on its own, so I experimented using a lip liner to make it work for our skin tone. The video unexpectedly went viral with good and bad comments along with some constructive advice on how to make it better looking and now that video is my most viewed video, with over 1.2 million views. What made it even more special was how involved my audience became. They suggested different combinations and techniques, and together we turned what could have been a makeup fail into an ongoing series of videos that eventually became my signature content.
Hitting 10K is a big moment. Did that milestone change how you see your journey, and what are you hoping to build from here?
Reaching 10,000 followers was an incredibly special milestone because it had been on my vision board for a long time. It represented months of consistency, patience, dedication and believing in myself even when growth felt slow. More than anything, it confirmed that this is where I’m meant to be. Creating beauty content allows me to be completely myself while connecting with people who genuinely enjoy learning from my videos. Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing my community, hopefully work with international beauty brands like Rare Beauty, Maybelline, Elf, etc. and eventually transition into content creation full time. I want to continue creating honest, educational beauty content that my viewers find valuable while building a career doing what I genuinely love.
