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Jamie Lang
I'm Jamie Lang and this is great moments guys. Welcome back to another great moment. Hope you're having a great day. Today's episode, it's a good one for loads of different reasons. I recorded this I think a year and a half ago when I was in LA with Sophie and we managed to get time with Alex Al. Alex Al is probably one of the biggest female influencers on the entire place planet. She kind of blew up on TikTok. She's everywhere. She's kind of circulating the Internet at the moment because she's having a little bit of a Feud with Alex Cooper, who is supposedly the queen of podcasting. This is a great conversation, and we learned so much about the world of Alex Isle in this. Now, if you like this little great moments, remember, go into the show description, click on the link, and it'll take you to the full episode. And there's also so many other episodes of Great Company with amazing guests. Okay, here it is. Enjoy this insane great moments with Alex L.
Alex Al
I think it's when I really started to post about my acne, and then how I covered my acne with makeup is when I started to see, like, girls in my comment section and, you know, actual people, not just, like, bots with, like, little hearts. And I was like, oh, wow. Like, this is really, like, connecting with people. So I started to do it more and more and more. I then kind of had these Get Ready with Me videos that I made for probably like a year or so before this. And then I was going into my senior year of college, and it was just like, here we go, going into college. And I think University of Miami is such a crazy experience.
Jamie Lang
In what way?
Alex Al
It's just. It's not real life, like, being in the city of Miami and, you know, we're going to these, like, pool parties and then to a club, and then it's on a boat, and then it's like, just everything we're doing just seems so surreal. So I really started just storytelling of, like, my senior year of college, what I was doing, continuing to post about, like, my acne, bringing in my friends. And it was really, like, through the fall, I started to grow an audience and grow followers. And then I think it was when I went home for the holidays, November, December, it, like, just hit a spike, and I just, like, couldn't believe what was. Or it was Thanksgiving. I hit a million followers on Thanksgiving. And I was sitting around with my family on the couch, and we were watching, like, the numbers go up. And then it was like. It was nice because my whole family was there. And my family was like, what are you doing on there? Like, why are people following you? I was like, I don't know, but I'm going to keep going with it. What did your family say in the beginning? They didn't understand. And it was actually a. There was a. On ESPN on Christmas. I had just broken up with a boyfriend then, and ESPN was like, the only person that's being talked about this week more than Santa is Alex, Earl, and my dad. That's when it caught my dad's attention. He was like, what's Going on. He was like, what are you doing? And people were sending it to my parents and they were like, I really don't understand, like, what's she doing on there? Like, what's, what's happening? But now my parents are very invested in TikTok and they're. They're on it probably more than they should be.
Jamie Lang
I see them on it now. They're on it, which is great. I love it.
Alex Al
I'm here watching it. They're watching it. Like, my dad is up with all the TikTok drama before I know he's sending me like the gossip page pages of things. And I was like, dad, you've got to get off tick tock.
Jamie Lang
But I think, but, but if you. Yeah, get off tick tock. But if you dive deeper into it, right?
Alex Al
You, you, you.
Jamie Lang
Because that fame and that, like, attention and that you get attention from brands, you're getting attention from men, women, from everything from media.
Alex Al
That's.
Jamie Lang
That's a lot to handle and it's exciting and it's fun and that's great. But there's also a downside to all of it, which is not. Like, there's a dark side, right?
Alex Al
Yeah, there's a dark side. And I think for me, I never, I mean, I. This is like the biggest blessing ever. So I would never, like, see it and be like, oh, the downside. But there is, you know, stuff that you don't consider and you get thrown into a lot very fast. And it's like, I'm just living my life my senior year of college, like, going out, sharing my life, and now it's all of a sudden it's like you have these followers and you have this platform and now it's like you're held to such a high position and you're supposed to know the right and wrong things to do. And I'm like, I'm just a girl. I don't know all the time. Like, I don't know all the answers. Like, I'm still figuring out who I am. So I think that's a part of it. But I've always been pretty good at like, like chatter and stuff. Just letting it go.
Jamie Lang
There's this thing which is now called the Alexis effect. Have you heard this? When brands work with you? Apparently you know this.
Alex Al
Yes.
Jamie Lang
This is insane where if some brands can work with you and some brands have seen 100% in terms of their search engines and things happen where the brands just go wild as soon as you start talking about things. That is crazy.
Babbel Advertiser
The power that you have it is.
Alex Al
I'd say, like, my audience is their ride or dies. And I think for me, it's really about, like, what we talked about in the beginning of just keeping that authenticity. And I think the power of saying no has been something that I've had to learn and not working or not taking deals just because of the paycheck, but taking it because it's something that you like and a brand you want to associate yourself with. I remember in the beginning I had this.
Verizon Representative
I can't wait.
Alex Al
I think this was, like, the first, like, big offer I got. It was with, like, my old management, because when I had 100,000 followers, I had this manager all the way in Australia. She was great. Love her.
Jamie Lang
You live a long distance.
Alex Al
Love long distance. It's the commitment issues. And I. She got this offer for. It was a head wrap that would help with migraines, but it was like a helmet. Like a big helmet with, like, all these little stickers on it. It, like, looked crazy, but I saw the number and I was like. I was like, oh, I'm. I was like, I might consider taking this. And then I was like, okay, but, like, what? I have this loyal audience who, trust me, trust my opinion, and then I'm going to go post and be like, this is the best headcap. It helps with my migraines. Like, I just know that I would lose the respect of my audience and that trust that we have. And in turn, say no is the best thing. Looking back two years later.
Jamie Lang
Yeah. Um, but in the moment, what were they offering you? Come on. Was it a lot?
Alex Al
It was a lot, and I think was a lot, and I just was. I wanted to take it and I didn't take it, and it's in return, you know?
Jamie Lang
Do you know what I love about you so much? Like, there is so many things that you do, but you're so. And we spoke about this with Madeline, who's a friend of ours. You're so authentically.
Babbel Advertiser
You.
Jamie Lang
You really are. Like, even meeting you here for the first time, straight away, you're just, like, straight in. Yeah, I have anxiety. I just drank coffee. I'm going to be all over the place. A little like, things like that, that's. I think what the world needs is that authenticity. And you're kind of. You fall into that so easily. You just like to be authentic.
Alex Al
Yeah, I guess it's a blessing and a curse at times, but I always try to, you know, keep it real, especially on social media. I feel like that's another thing is Gets content to get a little fake on there. So trying to like take down that barrier, I think has been a big thing for me. And just, just saying what I think.
Jamie Lang
Did you ever try and be someone else?
Alex Al
Did I ever try and be someone else?
Jamie Lang
Like when you first started out? Because I remember when I found the things I've tried to be. Honestly growing up, it's crazy to like know who we are.
Alex Al
Yeah, it is. And I feel like that's a big thing for me. I feel like in college I've really. And even after college, every year I change. I look back at last year and I'm like, I'm not the same person as I was last year. And I definitely went through a phase though of on social media trying to be not myself. And it was, wasn't, it was just not working for me. I was like, I really want to grow on social media. Like I have a lot of fun on there, especially on Tick Tock. I got on there and I don't know what I was doing. I was trying, like I was trying to be anything but myself. And then when I got to like a really weird place mentally, honestly, it was like when I was really insecure about like my acne is when I was just like, like I can't even pretend to just be this like perfect like all buttoned up all the time. And then that's kind of when I like took down that barrier and it's when I started, I see growth and I was like, oh, okay. Like there's really nothing to be afraid of here. But I was so afraid of not being like a perfect social media curated whatever I thought that was in my head.
Jamie Lang
You're so conscious about your community and you want to help your community and want to help people and build that. If someone's listening right now and they want to follow in your footsteps, which is very hard, it's impossible to do that. But they, they want to be on social media, they want to create brand, they want to build a profile in that space. How, what advice would you give them?
Alex Al
I mean there's a lot of different advice and it is harder now to grow just because there's so much oversaturation on there. Which is why I think the most important thing is to be yourself. And I think that's the one thing is you can put in the work and put in the effort. And I think the one thing, that crazy part about it is that it's just people find you and like you and want to lift you up and want to follow You. So it's like do what you like and whatever that is, it's going to be easier to do a lot of, you know what I mean? Like a lot of people are like, oh, how do you post so much? Or does it get tiring? And I like, no, I love doing this. So I think find whatever your niche is and find your voice. And because you and your personality and your stories, that gonna be the only thing really that can really differentiate yourself and find what you're passionate about on there and then just keep going with it. Like I was posting on there for three and a half years every day, wow, it was not going well. And then all of a sudden it just like takes a turn. So I think if it's something you're really passionate about, you gotta stick to it and don't give up on yourself with videos, not getting views or anything. You know, I was posting the same videos I was my senior year of college, my junior year. But like, just no one found me then. So I think just really, you gotta be patient with it and stick to it. And it's hard on social media especially because then you feel like embarrassed. Like for me, I always was like, I'm posting all this stuff and people would be like, she's like pretending she's an influencer and I was. And people would make fun of me for it. But then it worked out.
Jamie Lang
It worked out.
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Jamie Lang
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Mom
Hey, honey, it's Mom. Did you know if we switch to Verizon, we can get four phones for $0 plus four lines for $25 a line. Call me back me again. That's just $100 a month for four lines on unlimited welcome plus four phones. No trade in needed. Call me it's mom. America's best network Verizon. That's the one we're talking about.
Verizon Representative
I'll send you text America's best network based on root metrics Best overall mobile network performance US second half 2025 four new lines and unlimited welcome and auto pay. See verizon.com for details.
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Podcast: Great Company with Jamie Laing
Host: Jamie Laing (Jampot Productions)
Guest: Alix Earle
Release Date: April 19, 2026
This episode features a candid and insightful conversation between host Jamie Laing and social media powerhouse Alix Earle, focusing on the themes of authenticity, resilience, viral fame, and most notably, the importance of knowing when to say no. Alix shares her journey from posting about her personal struggles to becoming one of the most influential figures on TikTok, explores the pressures and perks of online notoriety, and offers advice for aspiring creators.
"I think it's when I really started to post about my acne, and then how I covered my acne with makeup is when I started to see, like, girls in my comment section and, you know, actual people, not just, like, bots with, like, little hearts. And I was like, oh, wow." (02:53)
"It's just. It's not real life, like, being in the city of Miami and, you know, we're going to these, like, pool parties and then to a club, and then it's on a boat, and then it's like, just everything we're doing just seems so surreal." (03:35)
Alix recounts hitting one million followers on Thanksgiving while surrounded by family, who initially struggled to understand her online popularity.
"It was nice because my whole family was there. And my family was like, what are you doing on there?... I don't know, but I'm going to keep going with it." (04:08)
A breakthrough came when ESPN mentioned Alix, which brought a new level of validation and curiosity from her parents.
"There was a. On ESPN on Christmas...they were like, I really don't understand, like, what's she doing on there?... But now my parents are very invested in TikTok." (04:46)
"You're held to such a high position and you're supposed to know the right and wrong things to do. And I'm like, I'm just a girl. I don't know all the time." (05:47)
"This is insane...brands have seen 100% in terms of their search engines...the brands just go wild as soon as you start talking about things." (06:41)
"Not working or not taking deals just because of the paycheck, but taking it because it's something that you like and a brand you want to associate yourself with." (07:00)
"I have this loyal audience who, trust me...and then I'm going to go post and be like, this is the best headcap. It helps with my migraines. Like, I just know that I would lose the respect of my audience." (07:43)
Jamie compliments Alix for her unfiltered, straight-talking approach.
"You really are. Like, even meeting you here for the first time, straight away, you're just, like, straight in. Yeah, I have anxiety. I just drank coffee. I'm going to be all over the place..." (08:52)
Alix describes her journey from trying to fit a perfect influencer mold to finding rapid growth when she dropped the façade.
"I definitely went through a phase though of on social media trying to be not myself. And...it was just not working for me...when I was really insecure about like my acne is when I was just like...I can't even pretend to just be this perfect." (09:40)
Alix admits the industry is oversaturated, but passionately encourages newcomers to embrace patience, authenticity, and persistence.
"The most important thing is to be yourself...find whatever your niche is and find your voice. And because you and your personality and your stories, that's gonna be the only thing really that can really differentiate yourself..." (10:59)
She shares that her apparent "overnight" success actually took years of daily content and consistency before her big break.
"I was posting on there for three and a half years every day, wow, it was not going well. And then all of a sudden it just like takes a turn." (11:54)
On overcoming embarrassment and criticism:
"For me, I always was like, I'm posting all this stuff and people would be like, she's like pretending she's an influencer. And people would make fun of me for it. But then it worked out." (12:40)
On family witnessing her success:
"I hit a million followers on Thanksgiving. And I was sitting around with my family on the couch, and we were watching, like, the numbers go up." (04:08)
On authenticity:
"Just saying what I think." (09:08)
On declining inauthentic opportunities:
"Saying no is the best thing. Looking back two years later." (08:03)
Friendly, candid, inspiring, and occasionally self-deprecating—Alix and Jamie keep the conversation relatable and full of practical insights, offering encouragement without sugarcoating the pressures or the odder moments of online fame.
Alix Earle’s story highlights that lasting success in the digital world is built on authenticity, resisting pressures to conform or sell out, and building slow, steady trust with an engaged audience—even in the face of self-doubt and public scrutiny. The true power, she argues, often lies in the opportunities you turn down and the stories you choose to share.