Valeria Lipovetsky on Visiting Dubai, Burnout, and The Evolution of The Creator

On the day after the grand unveiling of Atlantis The Royal, the Miami-based creator sits down with Bazaar Arabia to chat about first impressions of the city and her plans to return to the region very soon

“It reminded me that this is the reason why I create content, why I put myself out there…”

She comes across as an old soul, mature beyond her years. Valeria Lipovetsky may best be known as a content creator (having risen to digital stardom via YouTube, before taking Instagram and TikTok by storm), boasting a cool 5 million followers (and counting) but the wisdom and humbleness she possesses are rare qualities found amongst the influencing set. In fact, the most refreshing thing about her is that the Valeria you meet in person is the same Valeria you watch on your phone’s screen. What you see is what you get. 

The most admirable thing about her is how passionate she is about shining the spotlight on others – namely her team and the other creatives she collaborations with. Having worked with stylist Amarsana Gendunova throughout the opening weekend of Atlantis The Royal, she quick to give credit where credit is due, especially when it comes to the breathtaking looks she sported throughout the three-day extravaganza.

Harper’s Bazaar Arabia spent some time chatting with Valeria about her first visit to the region, plans for 2023 and why content creating is very much a team sport.

Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): Tell us about the opening of Atlantis The Royal. Was it what you thought it was going to be?

Valeria Lipovetsky (VL): I actually had no idea what we were doing here – I was just very excited about the aspect of visiting Dubai. I’ve never been to the region. I was really excited to come, but by no means thought it was going to be so massive and so amazing. There was even that meme going around, right? How there are two types of people – the ones in Dubai and the ones that aren’t. Both of us were like “Wow.”

HBA: Let’s talk about the getting ready process for the weekend’s festivities. How much planning went into it? How do you decide what to wear? You had some great fashion moments…

VL: I usually set up the fashion based on where I’m going and the purpose. Again I didn’t really know what’s going to happen this week, I just knew that I could go big because it’s Dubai. Thankfully, we had amazing fashion and I worked with a stylist friend of mine. She helped me to source some amazing looks. I really got to play and enjoy all the privileges that Dubai gives you.

HBA: You’re one of the first creators to really do that. Why is it important for you to show that process?

VL: I have amazing talent working alongside me and I think it’s so important to shine light on their craft – and also it sets unrealistic expectations on other creators and people in the industry to, you know, do everything yourself.

When I was at the beginning of my journey as a content creator I was a do-it-all-by-yourself kind of girl – and I got burnt out. It didn’t serve me, I wasn’t capitalizing on my strengths. I learned to bring in amazing people into my team, to work with them and to collaborate.

Even this event and the dresses – I wouldn’t have been able to do it all with the number of other projects that I have on the go, sourcing and finding emerging designers that I can wear and shed light on. I want these people to be in the limelight more. The creator economy, in general, is growing and changing – and it’s very much about creators building an ecosystem around themselves. I want to make sure that we don’t gate-keep that information – and we don’t give this unrealistic expectation to the next generation of creators.

HBA: Were you aware you had such an engaged audience here in Dubai? What happened with the meet-and-greet you were potentially planning?

VL: I did not expect to meet so many wonderful faces. Everyone is so warm and welcoming. You can ask [my husband] Gary, I was tearing up multiple times a day when I had an interaction with someone, because it also reminded me that this is the reason why I create content and why I put myself out there. I 100% want to come back and do a proper meet up.

We were very ambitious trying to put it together last minute, but we just got such an overwhelming response. It was over 8,000 people. And I was just thinking, if I’m just going to do a last-minute thing, it’s going to be chaotic. It’s not going to be pleasurable for anybody. And I don’t want to cause trouble.

Next time we’re coming back we’ll definitely start planning out in advance and make sure that it has value and pleasure in it. And I’m very excited for that.

HBA: Your content has really evolved throughout the years from Healthy Banana Bread Muffin recipes to bringing your audience behind the scenes at red carpet events, fashion weeks, etc. Having transgressed various niche markets of interest, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

VL: Something that helped me to have the courage to try all these interests that I had is that, at the end of the day, my mission was to stay authentic. I don’t want to play a role, because I won’t be able to, it won’t have longevity for me. I would get tired. I just ask myself “What’s interesting to me right now, because it’s interesting to me, and I’m learning so much about it… can I provide value to, you know, my viewers and people that follow me? And if the answer is yes, I just kept on going there and pushing the envelope and trying new things.

There are a lot of creators that are very much scared to drop the niche that carved for themselves and to try something new. I still don’t necessarily know is this what I’m going to do in three, four or five years, it’s going to evolve. I think that that’s why I’ve had this amazing audience that kind of evolved and grown with me.

HBA: What’s in store for 2023?

VL: I’m working on a podcast that I’m extremely excited about. It’s very much taking the tips that I’ve shared on my social media in terms of self-discovery. I always wanted to be the big sister on the internet. I want to share my thoughts and my feelings, never preach or necessarily teach, but more to bring you along on the journey. I’m bringing that concept into long form, which is a podcast, to be able to dive deeper into certain topics and experiences that I’ve had, bringing in friends and experts actually to also weigh in the different kinds of debates and things that I’ve gone through. The podcast is called “Not Alone.”

As you know, we moved to the US not that long ago so I’m still trying to find my identity there, to put our roots down and get the kids settled.

Life has a wonderful way of bringing exactly what I need. I trust the universe.

Photography by Adam Secore (@thesecore)