Hello Mentor EP8 | Bella Kuan on the Misconception of Influencer Marketing and Starting Handmade Heroes

Bella Kuan squashes misconceptions about content creators and talks business in this episode of Hello Mentor.

By Aqilah Naqlis on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM

Updated on 2025-01-24 at 3:18 AM

“I work as a digital content creator and many people might think it’s not a real job or a profession.”

About the episode

In Episode 8 of Hello Mentor, Derek Toh, Founder and CEO of Hiredly, dives into a candid conversation with Isabella Wong, better known as Bella Kuan, a digital content creator and co-founder of the local all-natural skincare brand Handmade Heroes. Bella opens up about her journey as an influencer, her entrepreneurial ventures, and the evolution of content creation from blogging to Instagram. She also addresses common misconceptions about influencer marketing and shares how she turned her passions into a thriving business.

Getting to know Bella Kuan

Source: @bellakuan on Instagram

Isabella Wong, better known as Malaysian influencer Bella Kuan (@bellakuan), is a digital content creator. She creates content for all things lifestyle from travel, fitness, food and fashion. She also co-founded a local all-natural, vegan and cruelty-free skincare line called Handmade Heroes.

Bella carves out time from content creation and business to pursue martial arts, snowboarding, surfing and diving!

Breaking Misconceptions About Influencer Marketing

Bella Kuan reflects on her path as a digital content creator, a career often misunderstood as superficial or unprofessional. She challenges these stereotypes by sharing the complexities behind the scenes, including creating engaging content, managing collaborations, and consistently delivering value to audiences.

Bella emphasizes that influencer marketing is more than just aesthetics; it’s about building trust and authenticity. The shift from unfiltered blog posts to curated Instagram feeds and now back to authenticity highlights how consumer expectations shape the content creation landscape. For aspiring influencers, Bella advises focusing on what you can offer your audience, creating meaningful content, and staying committed despite initial challenges.

The Entrepreneurial Journey with Handmade Heroes

Bella’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to co-found Handmade Heroes, a vegan, cruelty-free skincare brand that embodies the clean beauty movement. Starting as a passion project with minimal resources, Bella and her co-founders leveraged social media to market their products organically.

From humble beginnings selling via Instagram to expanding into labs for research and development, Handmade Heroes is now a growing brand offering everything from lip care to skincare. Bella’s story demonstrates the importance of perseverance, learning from experiences, and gradually scaling a business.

Her partnership with co-founders who complement her skills, such as operations and branding, was instrumental in the brand’s success. This highlights the importance of collaboration and playing to your strengths in entrepreneurship.

Insights on Luck, Timing, and Progress

One of the key takeaways from the episode is the role of luck and timing in success. Bella acknowledges that being at the forefront of social media during its rise was a significant factor in her career. However, she believes hard work and patience are equally vital.

Her advice to young professionals is to stay consistent and not be discouraged by slow progress. As Bella says, “Don’t be too quick to expect returns. Just have faith and keep doing what you know best.”

Hello Mentor is a podcast show that platforms raw discussions on career, ambition and success with inspiring individuals who are accomplished in their own rights.

Hello Mentor is hosted by Derek Toh, Founder and CEO of Hiredly.

Check out all our episodes on Spotify for your dose of inspiration and career advice from real people who have been there!

Looking to grow your career or find exceptional talent? Visit Hiredly for job opportunities and innovative hiring solutions tailored for the Malaysian job market.

By Aqilah Naqlis on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM