Yeah, you said she's so sweet like a rapper.
Me like a lollipop. Lollipop, lollipop.
What the fuck is up, everybody? Welcome back to Lick it Like a
lollipop. This is actually the first
episode that we're having back for the new season, for season
four, and we are popping off with a guest, so I'm going to
leave it as a rampage. Yeah, so we've got Gabby
Benacquista and she is the owner of Tainted Angel, which you all
probably know what it is because she did a Bunny XO collab.
And you know, our following is very intertwined with Bunny's
following as well. So welcome, Gabby.
How are you today? I'm good.
Thank you guys so much for having me.
Yeah. So this is your first interview.
Yeah. Yeah.
So for pop and cherries and doing doing all the new things.
So you're an entrepreneur, you own a business, but I know that
you have like evolved into this. So let's go back to like who you
were pre tainted Angel, pre all of the changes I know you've
made in the last couple years. Like where are you from?
Are you from Ohio? I am.
So I'm originally from Columbus, OH and I moved to Tampa, FL five
years ago and I lived there for four years.
So I just moved back home to Ohio one year ago this January.
So I've only been doing the whole entrepreneurship for one
year. A little bit of background, I
came from a strip club. I was a bartender at a strip
club and my best friend highlight, he was already very
established here in Columbus. He had Holy Center was popping
off and he had this idea that, you know, he wanted to start a
female clothing brand, but obviously men have no idea how
women's clothing fits or how to market it.
And I just knew the money was amazing, don't get me wrong.
Like that was something that I will never, ever take away from
the club, But I had no future in it.
I know that there was a ceiling to it.
And once him and I just started talking about that and, you
know, I was 27, I was 2726 and bartending wasn't going down a
good path. I was drinking a lot to cover up
a lot. And it was easy.
It was easily accessible too. And I was getting paid to do it.
So at the same time it in my head it was OK.
But once we started talking about like, this is just not
what I have destined for me in life.
We he was like, you know, let's just just move home and just, he
always says trust your boy. And he was like, move home and
trust your boy. And here we are one year later,
and it's been crazy a ride. And one of my things is like
when you are in an industry where there's like a lot of
drinking and drugs and stuff like that, especially like strip
clubs, but even just like the restaurant and entertainment
business in general. How do you kind of separate
yourself from the people who are wanting to like party and and be
going down that road and be like, you know what, I'm
actually going to go like do the entrepreneur and like the
responsible, like go get my bag moment.
So I had a very eye opening moment that happened for me.
I have a 5 year old niece right now, think she was around three
years old at the time. And what really made me change
my mind about what I was doing was when she started putting on
my outfits and saying Gigi, I want to be like you.
I want to go to work with Gigi and I'm like, that is not what I
want my niece to remember. Gigi Bai is these, you know,
outfits and coming home at 6:00 in the morning and sleeping
until 4:00 PM like that was. So that was honestly what was
like this is it that I I can't because I love her dearly.
She's like my own. So I was like, I can't do this.
Like this is kind of embarrassing.
So I know that you have a pretty big TikTok following and I know
that you have went viral a few times for a couple videos.
And I love that video where you're like, if you can go a few
days without talking to me, never speak to me again or
whatever. And I probably.
Love that video because that was so real.
Like I felt that so deeply. So you move back to Ohio?
What does Ohio have for you? Is your family there?
Like, do you have a lot of friends there?
And you said you grew up there, so is everyone?
Is that like home and everyone's there?
This is home. I always knew that even living
in Florida, I knew this is not my home.
I, you know, I tried it for four years and my mom always kept
saying give it a year, give it a year because my family actually
moved there. So my mom, my sister, my
grandparents and my brother all live in Florida.
So I moved there and tried to, you know, do the family thing
and live in Florida and it just wasn't for me.
And I have aunts and cousins and grandparents here and my stepmom
and stuff, they're here. But it, it mainly was I'm such
a, my friends are my family type people type person.
And all of my friends were here. You know, I was traveling back
and forth from Florida to Ohio probably twice a month just
because this was where I was unplugging at from the strip
club and this was where my my friends were.
My fun was. And because it wasn't my commute
in Florida was two hours. So when you asked Gem and I, how
did I separate myself from the ones that were partying and you
know, doing drugs and whatever I knew at the back of in the back
of my head after this shift? I have a 2 hour commute home so
I knew when the lights are coming on at two AMI probably
need to stop drinking around 11:30-ish because that commute
is going to smack the shit out of me, let alone if we go to
after hours or anything. I was getting home at 8:00 AM.
See, and I think the people who end up taking themselves out of
those situations and end up building something for
themselves, they're always the people who are like, no, I
treated it like a job instead of treating it like my lifestyle.
I went there, I clocked in, I did what I had to do.
I made my bag, I went home. And I think that it really shows
to you your dedication to whether you were working, you're
working for yourself, but you're working for somebody else too,
when you're, you know, at a strip club or, or doing
whatever. And so it really shows like your
dedication to your hustle and to yourself to commit to the
driving 2 hours there, two hours back, making the responsible
choices to be like, Hey, I'm going to stop drinking at this
time and go home. So like, I'm not surprised that
you end up building something for yourself out of that because
that's like a lot of self-discipline and not a lot of
people can do that. Thank you.
I never looked at it like that. Thank you.
Were you interested in dancing? Is that what like what put you
in at the strip club? Or did you just know, hey, I can
make money here and. So it honestly, I say it was
like a blessing in disguise. So I was working actually at a
radio station in Tampa, FL and I plan to move back to Ohio one
year prior than when I actually did.
And so when I was planning this, you know, me and a girlfriend of
mine, we were going to get an apartment together.
We had it kicked out. My move date was already set.
I put in my two weeks at the radio station, it was done and
our move fell through. I ended up not moving, but then
I had no job. And I remember posting in this
like group on Facebook for servers and bartenders in
Florida. And I just was like, look, I'm
looking for a job. Like this is what happened.
I don't have experience in bartending, but I'm very quick
to learn. And someone, my manager from the
club actually found me on that page and reached out and was
like, look, I'm willing to train you.
It's in Orlando though. So are you willing to make that
commute? Our girls make great money.
And I remember I went in there, interviewed with her and I was
like, these girls are carrying around stacks of money, like
not. And we're not, we're talking
about a Monday night. Like it's not supposed to be
like this in here. And these girls had, I mean, it
was already nine. It was 9:00 at night.
The club wasn't even popping like that.
And they were already just stacked.
And I was like, you know what, I got to do it.
I got to do it. Like I have 0 experience in
bartending, but we're going to fake the funk on this and we're
going to make it work. And that's exactly what I did.
Did you know about like, saving your money at that time and like
investing in things for yourself and putting things to the side,
or were you just like throwing your dollar bills around?
I was blowing money fast because it was coming in fast.
And from I went from, you know, getting $11.00 an hour at the
radio station that I was literally just giving my
paycheck back to just my car alone and gas and tolls because
Florida has tolls. And so I was like, dude, this
sucks. Like that sucks.
So once I was bartending and Monday nights I was making $1000
and it's cash. Like I was able to pay cash on
my car, no one could tell me anything.
No one could tell me anything like I have money do.
You think that what I was going to say, do you think that sets
you up for like an unrealistic expectation of like what reality
is 'cause I know that my, in my life's like life span over the
last 10 years, Like what I wanted at 20 to what I wanted at
30. Like we're very different
things. And I look back and I'm like,
maybe I should have saved some of that money or maybe I should
have stayed home longer or whatever.
And I think that sometimes you get put into those industries
where people can make money really quickly, especially the
sex industry, only fans, things like that.
And I just feel like sometimes it goes to people's head about
what's possible and they, you know, create this lifestyle or
this persona that is very fragile and not long lasting.
So do you like that it took a while for you to adjust to like
where you're going now, where there is more consistency and
you have to put in work and there's more playing the long
game, You know what I mean? Like it's not an overnight
thing. 1,000,000% It definitely set me up for an unrealistic
expectation of just life. You know, I only, I worked at
the bar for such a short amount of time, but I worked so many
shifts, so I was able to make so much money in a short amount of
time. And I think that's even
something that I still struggle with today.
I mean, even a year into being an entrepreneur, I think I still
find myself looking back at, you know, wow, you know, I used to
make this or, you know, I still follow the girls, I'm still
friends with all the bartenders there.
So it's like I see their posts and I'm busting my ass, you
know, doing this. And don't get me wrong, I will
never discredit bartenders at all because it is not an easy
job, but pretty advantage is real in a bar.
So, and I'm I'm not going to lie about that.
So it's like the the work is different that I'm doing now and
comparing it to I used to stand around and look pretty and
bullshit drinks if I didn't know what I was making and I would
make great money. And now I'm really putting in
the work and really busting my ass and making equal as money as
much money 100% more in the long run savings wise.
But it's like it definitely set me up and I do find myself still
comparing what I used to make on a Monday.
So I feel like too, we've talked, sorry, we've talked in
the past on here about like, you know, we're weren't raised to be
able to know what to do with large amounts of money or even
money that goes above just like our basic needs and having to
break out of like generational trauma cycles of like finance
and always being worried about lack.
And it's one of those topics too where like everybody has an
opinion on it. So you either have people that
are super frugal and they're like, don't spend any of your
money at all and or you have the people that are like you only
get one life, like blow everything that you have.
And so it is hard to learn like how to self regulate and be
like, OK, but I got all this money like I'm going to keep on
making it then because look what I'm bringing in.
And just because you have like a peak success at A at a time and
it's rolling in, doesn't mean that that's going to be a
longevity. Do you feel with your business
like there's been like, what's it called?
Like peaks and valleys where you're like, yeah, it's fucking
popping. And then you're like, oh, it's a
little bit of a lull. And I got to like step up my
marketing. Every drop has been completely
different. I will say I've been blessed
since day one that there is, I'm not going to lie about that, I
there is. We have had one drop in a year
and we drop two to three times a month.
We've had one drop that did not sell out.
I am, I have been so blessed for that.
And I feel like I'm at such an advantage as opposed to some
other people that do really start, you know, a business from
the absolute ground up. I will never say that I did
that. I came into this blessed with my
best friend's, you know, networks and connections that he
had and, and his fan base that he already grew for so many
years. And then just adding a girl to
it. I was just at such an advantage.
And then put them in some clothing that they've been
wanting for so many years. So I just, I feel like I was so
blessed with this situation that I will never compare mine to
someone that has really got it out the mud because I have not.
But it's, it's just been such a blessing.
I mean, literally since day one, the, the love and the acceptance
that I've gotten just from so many people that were strangers
and now our family. It's just I'm, I'm, I've been
blessed. I've been very blessed.
And you know, something that's really cool about that is like
when you do collaborate with people who inspire you and who
make you feel seen and heard, I think things are just more
successful. And I tell Gemini this a lot.
Like when you are trying to sell something like these coaches
we'll talk about like spiritual coaches, they're trying to sell
you something and they want these $5000 launches where they
get ten people to pay three or $4000 or whatever.
And you know, they're literally getting 20 to $30,000 in a month
based on you needing their services or needing them.
But it seems, and it is very scammy because there is nothing
that a spiritual mentor could do for me for four or $5000 in six
weeks that's going to do anything for me.
And we talk about that. And I think that you are coming
in at this point in like that divine feminine energy where you
can be more receptive and receiving other than being like
in that scarcity. Oh my gosh, I've invested my
last $1000 in this drop and it hasn't sold kind of thing.
So it's like, yeah, I think that's where that success comes
in. It's because when we go in in a
more nurtured state where there isn't fear and there isn't worry
or concern about how am I going to pay my bills if I launch this
or if I, you know, give give this promo package to whoever.
Like this is costing me money. And a lot of people just don't
realize that when it comes to business.
Like how how much it takes to like really invest in your
dreams. And so it's wonderful to like
have that support for you because a lot of people have
amazing ideas and they will not bet on themselves.
So sometimes we need that person, you know, in our life
that's like, no, I got you. Like let me help you and you
help me. And so I love that because that
does come back to you because later you will be able to
inspire someone with your story and be able to share that
message that like it may not happen the way that you thought
it was going to happen. But I know you had mentioned
that you would always thought you would make some type of
clothing brand or always wanted to make a clothing brand.
So what do you think is like your biggest manifestation that
is happening right now with like what you wanted years ago to
like now? Like what is the biggest
manifestation that's happened that has like?
Honestly, I'm being seen like that is it sounds so small to
people, but I knew that I always was destined for greater in this
world. I didn't know what it was.
I didn't know how I was going to get there.
I I didn't know if I was ever going to get there.
But I just knew from day one. And my grandma has always told
me this, the way I am in front of like a camera and where I am
in front of people and the way I can interact.
And I'm such an extrovert. I just knew I was, I had so much
more like for life and, and for myself.
So it's like the way that I can connect with women, not only
just being who I am, having the story that I have, knowing that
I can connect with them on so many levels, not only through a,
a piece of clothing, but it is really, it's just, it's such an
amazing feeling. Like I, I don't even know how to
describe it. It really is.
I feel like too a piece of what's going to have you like be
attracting other people's energy, not just now, but in the
future too, is the fact that you're able to recognize where
other people are assisting you along on your journey and you
have loyalty and dedication to those people.
And I don't know how many times that you've mentioned, you know,
highlight well, you've, you've just done this interview for,
you know, the last 20 minutes or whatever.
But you, you give so much acknowledgement and
appreciation. And, you know, there are so many
people in the world who they get assistance in all these various
ways, whether it be, you know, friends, whatever.
And then as soon as they're starting to get a piece of what
they consider to be abundance or success, it's like, well, I put
in all this work, so fuck you and forget where it is that
they're coming from and the, and whatever.
And the fact that I, I want to say something too, as you were
like, you know, I, I didn't start from the mud up and
whatever like some other people did.
But truly, even if you have somebody else who, who has a
following or has connections or whatever, you are still having
to sell yourself and still having to share your energy with
people. So like, don't limit yourself
too. Because like you, just because
somebody else had work in and connections, that doesn't
automatically mean that people love you.
I've met amazing people who have some.
Thank coochie friend and I'm like no fuck your friend for
real you're. Selling.
Yourself too, for sure. For sure, I think the way you
know, I I live with light, so I am seeing it first hand what it
looks like when hard work pays off.
I mean, for God's sakes, like the plaques on the wall, they're
not mine, but I have nothing to do with that.
That is his. So it's I think just being a
family on the wall and just being a chapter in, in this book
of his that I I wish I was around for the 30 some years
that, you know, he's been writing it, but I haven't just
the three years that we have been friends.
The level of success that I've seen this man reach and he's not
even at his fullest potential is really so inspiring and on many
levels as being, you know, his business partner, as being his
best friend, as just being, you know, he's really a mentor to me
in many ways, even though he may give me shit in a different way
that somebody else may. But it's really, it just shows
me like you can get all this, like this is possible.
He has a story himself that is completely different than mine.
And all odds were against him as well.
So it's like it really, I'm living in somebody's bubble that
is showing me on a daily like this is possible for anyone.
And, you know, I think that's what's really cool about like,
life whenever we just go out there and live it and take
risks. Cuz you could have been like,
no, I'm going to stay in Florida and save some more money and
I'll be home in six months. And then he had this
conversation with someone else and they're walking into that
space. You know, it's like so many
people sleep on their blessings because when the door is open,
they're afraid to go through it. And then later they will be
crying about the door because it closed or they've missed that
opportunity. And that's what I always love
about connecting with people on a podcast is every time you
start a podcast or you talk about your podcast, people are
like, I'm going to start a podcast, I'm going to do a
podcast. Got a good idea for a podcast?
And it's just like when a person's heavily tattooed and
people want to talk to you about tattoos, you know, like people
like to use other people's success to like quote UN quote,
inspire them. But really, like, I think the
most beautiful thing about creativity is you never know
what's going to open up for you, like when you're expressing
yourself. And the one thing I want to say,
and I know that this has been said before, but the whole holy
center line, the quality is crazy.
And I really do want some Tain and Angel pants, but I'm afraid
that the jacket size and the pants size like them being the
same wouldn't like work for me. So I've been waiting to like go
to the store in Columbus in a couple months when I go up there
for the Jelly show. But like the quality just of the
holy center stuff because I have some of it, the sweats and
stuff, it's insane. Like it is insane.
Like it is unmatched to what we're getting as like fast
fashion or like whatever. Like this should it is wild.
And I loved like highlights business model about like giving
away stickers because I've always done that.
I give away stickers to everyone because like, I want you to
stick this to your car or, or your door or on a bar or
whatever. And so that's something that
we've done for the podcast is like we're constantly giving
away stickers and like promoting that.
And I think, you know, highlight has like started in, you know,
one air arena, which was like music and stuff.
And then he's just like sprinkled that shit around in so
many ways. So he is very inspirational.
And I'm really glad that, you know, he was able to connect us
because, you know, I at first was like, not sure if you all
were together. And I know everyone layer this
out. Her and highlight are not
together. You all, we know that you all.
They're not. Together, not together, but
everyone thinks that. And I think that really just,
like, is a testament to your bond, like your energy and
chemistry together. So Gemini has recently been
going viral on TikTok and is getting like thousands of
followers a day and like, just really popping her shit.
And yeah, she's like, really been growing and putting in all
this effort. And that's another person.
Like to say, like, hard work pays off is like, you never know
when your hard work's going to pay off.
Like and I know like you did that Bunny collab and that I
couldn't even get on there. Like I couldn't get on there to
order one and then I missed the pre-order somehow.
I don't know how, it just didn't tell me I think, but I get your
emails and it was like sold out quick and I was like that.
Shit went so crazy. I mean, we already had high
hopes for it, you know, Anything we knew that we were going to do
with Bunny was going to be out of this world, but that shit
went crazy. Like I, it wouldn't, it was the
funniest thing because that week light was out of town and our
brand manager Jackie was out of town.
So, and we are just, we're a three man band over here.
So fulfillment, design, everything is US three.
So I had all these damn orders coming in.
My computer was freezing up and every time I was getting closer
to like I only had, you know, 70 orders left.
I think I was at 70 orders left for an hour because they just
kept coming in like it was crazy.
But that was, I can't even describe the feeling of seeing
that drop go so crazy like that after just doing this for one
year. That was something that people
dream about doing years into entrepreneurship and going back
to being so blessed with lights, connections and networks.
That was one that came from him that I have been so blessed to.
To have been able to do that with Bunny and it was just
amazing from day one to the end of it and I'm so excited if we
do some more. Yeah.
Do you have other things that you're wanting to like branch
into? Like I know that you have this
clothing line that you're doing together.
Are there other things that you want to do independently or are
you really about the like two man, three man brand right now
and just like pumping that out? So that has been what I've been
focusing on for the last year. But after having, you know, some
conversations with my brand manager that, you know, I do
have separate following on TikTok that is completely
different than what my following with Tainted is.
That was something that I want to now that, you know, Tainted
is now established and doing amazing and we're in a great
flow with that one. Now I kind of want to shift
energy and focus on and my following and expanding who I am
and not only doing the brand awareness for Tainted, but doing
my own brand awareness. And so I have some few things
coming up this week. And you know, your guys's
podcast. This is just there's so many
blessings coming from all different directions.
That is, is for me and tainted will always come with me.
But it's, you know, it's Gabby. It's not you're the girl from
the photo shoots or you're the girl from the pictures.
You know, like it's me. And I do want to say like yours,
marketing is great, like the marketing for your drop today.
Did something drop today? Yeah, it's gonna.
Be on Thursday it. Looks so good.
And me and Gemina, you know, we live so far apart, like she
lives in Idaho and like we don't ever get to do any good
marketing. So like that's kind of our goal
is to like step that up, you know, because it is hard.
We're both running separate businesses, then we're trying to
run a business together from across the country.
So, you know, I can imagine like how much ground that you all can
truly cover, especially like I know that you set up your merch
and handle all the merch on tour.
Let's talk about that. So for those listening and know
who Doobie is, Doobie and Highlight are kind of like a duo
and that's where the plaques on the behind the scenes are on the
wall. And you all just went to Canada.
Tell us about that. We did.
So we did. We were out in Canada for 12
days. We we visited Winnipeg,
Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. It was beautiful, very
beautiful. We're actually going to go back
in July and hit Toronto and Montreal, but so, yeah, so we go
on tour. We did a tour from September to
after Thanksgiving this past year and we went all over the
United States and, you know, we are driving, we're flying some.
But yeah, so I because we have, you know, Tainted Angel is a
sister brand to Holy Sinner. And of course, Holy Sinner and
Batshit Crazy go on the road on tour.
Tainted is right along there with it.
And I'm running the merch booth. I'm selling it and I'm busting
ass. And but it's so much fun to me
because it's kind of like a merch and greet.
I kind of make a a joke out of it because there's so many
people that I get to meet that do follow me on Instagram or
follow highlight and they know me, you know, just from his
page. So when I'm getting to put names
with faces and getting to meet people that I have been talking
on, you know, to on Instagram that I've never met them, but we
talked, that has been so much fun.
And that was been that's a journey on its its own.
I've met so many people in so many places that I probably
would have never chose to go, but tour took me there and it
it's been it was amazing. Tour was just great.
So many memories were made. I love that.
You feel about people who know you because of social media, but
then you meet them in real life and you're like, I don't fucking
know shit about you. Because like I met, we were out
of the concert and I get a message and I and someones like,
oh, are you sitting at the bar right now?
Like with your husband, like ordering a soda?
And I'm like. What the fuck?
And she's like. Me and my husband have a table
like you can come sit with us, whatever.
And so we go over there and it was cool.
But like she knew all this info about me and was like, how's the
kids? What's going on with the podcast
and stuff? And I'm like, you know, like,
how do you how do you feel about that?
Is it an adjustment period? Do you get used to like, people
know everything about you and you're just like I OK.
There was a huge adjustment that was something that, you know,
light kind of had to not brace me for.
But tell me, you know, like, yes, you have been choosing, you
know, the content that you put out there for your followers to
see. But now this is different.
Like we're a family and the good, the bad, the ugly is all
going to be out there. And but honestly, I have yet to
run into any instances that I was like, you know what, maybe I
should start drawing back on what I share on social media.
I've yet to run into anything like that.
And there was, I remember there was one time on tour, I forget
where we are at and somebody asked me a very specific
question and it was something that I didn't even post.
So that was why it kind of threw me for a loop.
It was actually something light posted.
And it was, I mean, months prior to what that show was.
So I, he posts so much shit about me that I forget about the
content he posts. And somebody came up and asked
me what very specific question. And I looked at him and at first
like I had to kind of like my face probably said a lot more
than what my mouth did, but I was like, and he was like
highlight posted, you know, a couple months ago you were.
And I was like, ah, I'm so sorry.
Yeah, you're right. And so there is a few times that
I have to check myself, like damn you.
There's a lot out there that people probably know a lot about
me. Like you said, know a lot more
about me than I do then, but I like it.
I I actually, I really like it because like it goes back to I'm
being seen, you know, I'm not just at the bar.
I was selling my body. I was selling my looks and then
a drink came with it and not selling my body.
That probably sounds terrible, but the outfits that we wore,
yeah, they got to choose what bartender they wanted to order
their drink from. But so it's just, it's nice that
people are actually, like, falling in love with me, like
they are learning me. And that is the most rewarding
feeling of, of all of this is that I am being accepted into
this family. And it really is a family.
Yeah. It it really is a family because
like that's the only like it's so weird how it all connects in
like this big scale for me because like the Bunny thing is
completely separate from like knowing highlight and all of
them. And then like some of the other
people involved, like it's so weird how everyone connects and
like we. All got some back roads.
Yeah, And then like, I'll randomly be at a show and like,
highlight will walk in or someone random will walk in and
I'm like, what the fuck? Like this is just so random.
And, you know, it's like a really big family because it
spans over so many artists. And I think it really starts
with like Yelawolf at the top of like the trickle, you know, and
it trickles down to everyone else that's in the list.
But I guess now Jelly might be like for most new people, like
above yellow wolf. But like, it all kind of
started, I feel like, in the South American arena somewhere,
like the whole family, like trickling down.
But do you have anybody from your past?
Like, this is one thing I've noticed.
Like, the more successful I get, it's people from the past
wanting to come back in your life and either gain access to
you or let you know you're really not that special.
You really ain't the shit I know you think you are.
Like, I have a lot of people that want to try to come in and
humble me and be like, yeah, I remember when you used to smoke
cigarette butts off the ground. I did.
But here I am now. Had that is.
No, I, I Honestly, I've had the opposite and that's because I've
expected what you have experienced and the fact that
I'm experiencing something different.
I'm almost like, what's the catch?
Like is it fake or you know, like I have so many people that
I went to high school with that I wouldn't say bullied me, but
definitely looked down on me and then now all of a sudden are
like sharing everything and Oh my God girl, love you.
Like so beautiful. Remember that one time when I'm
like I do, but I don't think I remember it like you remember
it. So I think that's like a lot of
things that I'm like there's a lot of people that I don't think
y'all remember our connection. Like I remember our connection
and that's where I've been like I got to kind of remind some
people like especially like not exes recently, but when this all
first popped off, yeah, I had to remind y'all.
I had to remind a few were no wasn't going to happen then and
it definitely isn't going to happen now.
So I love that I. Love that because I think that
Jim and I, me living apart, have had people try to come in and
like get between US and like wedge in there and be like, did
you know this happened over here or like, you know, just making
up things. And we've went through that like
big time Gemini. Like this time last year was
like snakes in the grass. I mean, people paying us for
mentorship and like paying to be a part of our communities and
then like completely poaching or taking clients, starting their
own business. And like we are a promotion
zone. We want everyone to promote
themselves. Like, we love when people talk
about what they're passionate about, but it would be like at
the expense of like our character and Jim and I like
that was traumatic, what we were going through there for a while,
like. So like we've had those
experiences, right where you have people who latch on to you
because they see that you're starting to get successful with
something. And there's there's this thing
where people kind of put you on a pedestal because they think
that you are higher at something than they are or you have
something that they want to obtain.
And especially when it comes to like spirituality things, I
think that people tend to look at us as like these, like
perfect, like healed beings. And the 2nd that, you know,
you're especially if you're going into mentorship with
somebody or, or whatever, you are seeing that like we're on
our own healing journey. And the way that, you know,
Rampage and I choose to do mentorship is like sharing the
real things that we're going through in life.
And our, you know, ceremonies and things are like, these are
the things that we're really linguists.
So we're going to go through it as a collective.
And some people just can't handle seeing that people that
they were looking up to are just regular, normal, everyday people
and they want to tear that down. But then, you know, those are
people that we encounter after we're starting to like develop
ourselves and have like quote, UN quote, like successes with
things. But then on the counterpart of
that, we both have had, you know, people who come in from
the past and they're like, Hey, you know, just a reminder of
like, I remember when you know, you for me specifically
recently, I remember when you guys were having to rent out an
office building to live in because you guys like couldn't
get approved on, you know, houses or whatever.
And it's just so like, it's so crazy how people can weaponize
your past as a way of like, yeah, I'm still down here.
But remember when you were down here too, instead of being like,
oh, shit, you were here where I am right now.
And look, you've done all this work to get here.
That's so influential. And that's something that I want
to do is like, people can almost make where you started from an
excuse to stay where they are and use that as like keep
themselves down. And I support people wherever
they are in life, but I never support you making yourself
small because at some point somebody else was small.
And so you feel that that's justified.
Like you should be spreading your fucking wings and having
all of the successes. Yeah, for sure.
I think something that I I really stayed true to myself
with was I've always been honest.
I have never, I mean from the jump from three years ago when I
had a BBLI have stayed so honest about that.
That is, you know, that is something that will always stay
on my page because I never want to be one of those females that
lied about how I got here or saying this shit is natural and
making other people feel like, you know, that they weren't born
looking like this neither the hell was I?
This shit costs a lot. So it's like, I think.
The real thing that I appreciate myself doing is just, I've
always been honest. Always from the moment that I
was even deciding to get surgery to deciding if I wanted to share
my, my journey with many people because that is something that I
knew I was going to get criticized for.
And you know it. It was like, I'm so happy that I
stayed honest with everyone and I'm so honest to this day.
And because it was like you either love me or you hate me.
There's it's a very easy option. You it, you can only go, you
have a 5050 chance, you know, so which one are you going to
choose? And that is something that I
mean, even to this day, like I going through mental health
problems that it shit is so real.
And I'm never one to sit here and act like this shit is great.
No, I was, I just did a photo shoot last week and cried for
four hours before that photo shoot.
But I was honest about it, you know, like because I, I'm honest
with my people. Like you're not alone.
I I'm going to therapy too. I just refilled my
antidepressants. How about you?
Like this shit is real and I'm honest with it and I never want
to make people feel like I'm superior to them and any other
in any possible way, whether that is looks that I will always
tell my girls, you like my lips, here's my doctor you like my
body, here's my doctor. This is how much I paid.
I will never gatekeep that shit cuz it's like you can be here
too. And that's, you know, that's
something I find myself always saying to people, which I need
to get out of it when they're like, you're so pretty and I'm
like, you could be too. It's just a price.
You could be too, you know, and it said that said they're like,
where do you love your lips? They're so beautiful.
You could have them like for the price of 700 to syringe like
this shit is go buy it. It's if you took this away from
me, I'm sure life would be completely different.
But I, you know, I invested in myself in multiple ways and now
doing it, you know, mentally. So I love that.
I didn't know that you had gotten a VVL, but I always knew
that in those pants that you're, you were looking juicy.
I'm like, damn. Like she fills those pants out.
I'm like, and I see that you said you wore a medium and I'm
like, could I wear a medium or do I need a large?
Cuz I don't know. And I'm like, that fits so well
and they're so form fitting that I'm like, I want it to be
perfect. So we're definitely coming to
the store and. Please do we put everything in
the store. Every time we drop, we put it
put it in the store. So we would love to come check
out the store. It's just a, it's a dope vibe
regardless. I mean the electric chair in
there from the paintings that Laney did on the walls, like the
vibes there are just it's so much fun.
It's a lot of fun every time I go in there.
So do you feel like on TikTok they're getting to know the more
like natural vulnerable side of you?
Because you said that you're following is different.
And I've watched some of your content over there.
And I mean, I feel like you're just more open over there.
You're just like talking way more.
You're like, I know you've talked just like about a lot of
stuff like dating and just like how people act and things that
people do. And I think I'm going to start
content of just airing out my DMS, like just airing out
because my following was real spiritually driven.
And now it's kind of evolved that I just don't have the same
content. I just don't.
And now my views are so low because my following wants this
old version of me. And I feel like MGK when he
switched genres and everyone was so salty, but this man literally
had a #1 record and album and like did the damn fucking thing,
got little Wayne on the beat and everything.
So I'm like, I just feel like that.
I feel like I'm going through the change where it's like my
contents evolving and I just don't really know who I am.
So do you feel like you're getting more vulnerable side of
you on TikTok versus like put together Chrissy Princess
Poppinership over here on Instagram and then on TikTok?
Is like my alter ego like that is that's G Benny and then you
get Gabby on Instagram like that and I I definitely relate with
what you say about the changing of your content and the views.
I feel that a million percent like when I present myself like
cute and let's vlog and you know, let's give them what they
want. Those views are nothing.
But then if I get on there and I talk shit and just I mean, and
it's, that's literally what it is.
It's car Chronicles of talking shit 'cause in my car, in my
head, I'm talking shit in my car 90% of the time that I'm
driving. So I'm just throwing that phone
up there on the mount and I'm like, Oh, this is relatable.
I had a damn video go viral about women getting the thong
cuts in their ass crack. Women know what we're talking
about when that thong goes so far in your ass crack and you
get that cut at the top. I made a video about that on
some late night shit and it went viral.
So I'm like, how does the dumbest shit go viral?
But then these things that I'm like really planning out my
content, planning out my vlogs and we're editing, we're putting
transitions and putting time into this.
Y'all, y'all can't look at this. I'm like, you know what, on
TikTok I give the people what they want.
Y'all want me to talk shit? We're going to talk shit.
Yes, I love it. So at the end of every episode,
Gemini pulls a human design card.
I saw her shuffling. Are you going to pull the card?
I was or I am, and I was going to say it's like I have a so
TikTok for me, TikTok. I can figure out the algorithm
of TikTok and I'm like, OK, you, these are the kinds of videos
that you want to push. And every so often they'll latch
on to a certain type of video that I'll I'll post.
And so right now this video went viral of I was in a fucking moo
moo at home and I was talking about like having witchy friends
and snacks and being gluten free.
And so that shit popped off. And so, and now what I'm finding
is that anytime that I make a video about those topics,
fucking views. Hundreds of thousands of views
were pushing and we're getting, you know, whatever.
And so but then when I have my filler contents in there, it's
like that doesn't get pushed and it doesn't get as many views.
And so I'm trying to find my happy medium of like, I don't
want to just be like the thick witchy bitch with snacks and
crystals because like I have a whole other personality outside
of that. But also my website is booked.
Like you guys are bringing me money.
You're signing on to Patreon. So I'm like, there's so many
other things that I want to share.
But what I, what I struggle with growing is my fucking Instagram.
And I think one, I'm really not consistent on Instagram, but
two, Instagram isn't like your videos and your personality.
Instagram is how do you look in a still photo?
And you know, how are you aesthetically laying out your
page and how's your branding? And so that is my, I'm just
putting out into the universe that like I, I've got the TikTok
thing that I'm that's going. But what I really want to learn
and master is that Instagram, because as much as people say
it's a dying platform, it's not a dying platform for people who
know how to utilize it. And rampage just got me on
Snapchat. And so now all these people from
like TikTok and stuff are following my link and are DM ING
me on Snapchat. And it's incredible how many
people just like want you to see them and just like respond and
be their friend. Like they just are like Oh my
gosh, I love your videos and I feel so seen.
And it's crazy how you can build so much authentic love and
support with people by just connecting.
And I wish that more people made themselves available to be
personal and connect. Yep, I agree with you a million
percent. There has been so many family
members that we have gained that are mean, are loyal to their
absolute core and it has all started over.
Yeah, them commenting and just, you know, responding to a video
and being like, this was so funny.
And I respond like thanks babe, like hope you're having a great
day. That little response has now
gotten me a loyal family member for life because that is exactly
why I explain our family. I mean it.
We they are for life first. So I agree with you a million
percent and that is, I mean, it's hard.
I agree with you. Like my following is on TikTok.
So that is something that just these last six to eight months
is I'm trying to learn the Instagram thing because it's
different. If you got the TikTok thing,
it's not the Instagram thing. And that little boost post has
been my absolute best friend and you know, doing collabs with
people on their posts and when we're doing collabs with
Tainted, you know, Bunny posting me and stuff that has helped me
so much. But myself, I agree with you a
million that that has been hard for me still to this day.
I mean, I'll look at my personal following.
I have 11.7 how am I only getting 100 likes on a photo?
Like I'm not getting it. I'm not getting it, you know?
Like I know how 11.7 how are 60 seeing my story?
Yeah, that's so real because the other day Viking Barbie put me
on her story and has millions, like 3 point something millions
and she was, she just basically said she was like, look, this
one probably wouldn't translate as well as if your tits were
out. Like if your boobs were out, I'm
going to get you follower. She was like, but you know me
just putting something genuine out here.
She was like, I have a lot of thirsty guys on here.
She was like, so it may or may not translate to like because
I'm literally like followers away from 10K now, like just one
or two away. And it has been so hard to get
over this last 100 followers, like harder than any other
transition or cycle. And the thing about Instagram is
when they started selling the check marks, they only promote
the people who are buying the check mark.
And I'm not against the check mark, but I don't want to put my
government name out there for a check mark.
Like, let me buy it. I'll tell you what my name is.
And then let's not tell the world.
How about that? No, like for my personal safety,
let's not tell the world. But at the same time, like the
way that Instagram is set up is it is play to it's pay to play.
And that's what sucks because I will get hundreds of, you know,
views on a story and like you said, 50 likes on a post.
And I've noticed that a lot, even with people with big
followings have said that like Instagram will not let you grow
right now. Like they're not promoting
growth. People would use their platform
more if there was a more explorable for you feed, right?
Like the algorithm on Tiktok has a really good system.
But what I've learned is that the last couple of years, if you
don't do what Tiktok wants you to do, then they do not get.
Washed out. Yeah, that's what they've done
to me. They're like used to go live for
like 10 hours a week and now you don't do that.
You're going to get 2 interviews like you're in and you know,
Gemini out of the blue, she can't even go live, but she's
going viral. Like it makes no sense.
It's like they don't really want us to use their platforms.
Yep, I agree. I say the same thing 'cause I'm
like, I'll put in, I'll get good sounds, I'll get, I'll get it on
point. You know, my voice overs are
hidden and I'm like 100 views like I'm not understanding it.
And then I'll play, I'll do a video with absolutely no sound,
no viral sound, no nothing. And I'm just talking shit and
that it just goes viral. I'm like, I don't, I don't
understand. I tell my brand manager all the
time, Jackie, I don't get it. I don't get it.
And I I get mad. I still to this day get mad.
And it does defer me from wanting to use TikTok because
that shit's not easy to make videos on that.
Like there's so many tedious things to it and you know,
hitting it right on the time. And God forbid you're connected
to a Bluetooth, you're going to be delayed on the actual sound.
Like, there's so many things with it that it's like, once you
finally get that video, you're so excited to post it.
Well, you just posted AT2O clock in the afternoon, so Tik Tok's
going to throw that one under the rug so no one else sees that
when they get off work. And it's like, God, I don't want
to use you. I'd rather just put $10 on this
post on Instagram and call it a day and know it's going to do
great. Like but like you said, pay to
play. Yeah, yeah, Jim and I do you
want to pull our. I did.
I pulled it. We got card 16 for
Transcendence. We got a little Ocean.
Here. The sign is Gemini, the gift is
fluidity, and the shadow is indifference.
When you dive deeply into your talent with enthusiasm and
unbreakable passion, your gift has the ability to break you
open in the right ways. At the lower levels of this
frequency, you build skill and talent surrounding your craft.
From there, you obtain mastery and then ultimately transcend
the process altogether. To transcend is to be one with
life. You are both the instrument and
the conductor. You become versatile, fluid, and
fully await. The energy of indifference keeps
us locked in a cycle of endless excuse.
Whether you've convinced yourself that this time isn't
quite that time isn't quite on your side, or you're not exactly
where you need to be to get going, the shadow seeps in.
When you're not fully applying yourself in thought, word and
action. You have the potential to reach
great heights with your extraordinary and unique talent,
if only you'll let yourself get out of your own way.
Indifference keeps you from breaking out-of-the-box and
living, and that's so on point. That.
Is so on point. I just started therapy Monday
last Monday to help me with those things getting out of
myself. You know, and what you were
saying earlier about TikTok is maybe that means that you need
to do less trendy content and you need to just talk.
And I've always wanted like my dream is to be like stitch this
with XYZ experience and like me be the one that's at the
beginning. Like what I'm saying, like
stitch this with your worst dating or whatever.
And honestly, I, I think that's possible on TikTok with anything
that's relatable, right? Like anything like what's the
conspiracy theory that you believe that's not real, but
it's real? Like that one went everywhere.
Like that sound made it over to, to freaking Instagram.
Like that sound was everywhere. And if we've noticed anything,
like all it takes is that one moment your sound, your song,
your video, and next thing you know, you know you have a whole
new set of eyes on you. So what's a message that you
want to leave your following everyone with?
Everyone that's going to listen to this interview?
What's a message that you want to leave them with?
Stay true to who you are. Don't forget, you are going to
go through so much shit in life and there are going to be so
many people that are going to try and mold you from many
directions. But stay true to who you are.
Do not forget who you are and your core values and you will go
so far in this world and be happy.
You'll be so happy. I love you.
Thank you so much, Gabby, for being here.
We are so excited to have you on our podcast.
So everyone will have all of her links in the description.
We'll have her website. We're also updating our website.
So there's a lot of changes that will be happening on our
website. We think we're going to like
feature our guest on the website for a couple months as well.
So you all tap in and we will see you all next time in
Candyland.