Tanya Burr

Fashion, beauty and baking blogger Tanya Burr took the YouTube world by storm back in 2009 and has since amassed a following of over 3 million subscribers, received sponsorship from huge names such as Mars and Asos, published her first book and is on course to releasing her first cookbook. Growing up in Norwich with a passion for make-up, Burr has gone from working on the beauty counter at Jarrolds department store to having her very own popular cosmetics range. Burr is currently looking to embark on an acting career alongside doing her amazing work as an ambassador for Global Goals – an initiative set up by the United Nations campaigning to end poverty, combat climate change and fight injustice and inequality by 2030.

1. What was your biggest career break?

I don't feel I have had one specific career break. It began as a very gradual process that I really stuck by, which then grew organically and steadily. Of course I've had amazing things happen along the way, but it's really been my audience that have supported and stayed loyal to me that has kept my career going from strength to strength.

2. Have you had a notable mentor – and if so what was it about them that was so inspiring?

My team are so amazing and inspire me every day to work harder and reach for my dreams.

3. What one piece of advice would you give to the 20-year-old you?

This is something that relates to my online life - people will like you, people will hate you and all of it has absolutely nothing to do with you.

4. What qualities to do you look for in the people you work with?

This is something that's really important to me because I bounce off other people and reflect other people's moods so I am always looking to work with people who are positive, inspiring, creative and caring with great communication skills.

5. Who do you admire and why?

At the moment I'm feeling a lot of admiration for American author and activist, Bell Hooks. She is such an interesting lady and really speaks her mind when fighting for gender equality which is something that is really close to my heart. 

6. What does the future of your career look like?

My career is really multi-faceted and I often don't know what I'm going to be doing next. Right now I'm focusing on my acting lessons and castings and hope for that to be a big part of my future career. Asides from that, I hope to be doing what I'm doing right now in the future too. 

7. If you hadn’t chosen your current career, what would you have done instead?

Before I was going in to what I am doing now, I was working as a freelance make-up artist so I'd probably be doing that. Other than that, I wanted to have an ice-cream van when I was little, and that is still a dream of mine! 

8. What is your biggest extravagance?

All my filming equipment. Choosing a good camera with multiple lenses for different purposes soon all adds up. 

9. Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and why? (you can invite three people – they must be alive)

Leonardo DiCaprio, because is he my acting hero and I've loved him since I was really little and I'd just love to sit and listen to his voice all night!

Margot Robbie because she seems very down to earth, fun, happy and smiley all the time and I love Australia and we could bond over that!

Bell Hooks, because I feel like she would have great conversation, be up for a laugh and I could learn so much from her.

10. What do you do to relax away from work?

I read, take bubble baths or go out with my girlfriends.

11. If you could change one thing about Britain today, what would it be?

I would make girls and women safer, more included and equal to men. It's so shocking that 1 in 3 women in the UK experience domestic violence in their lifetime. I'd like to see the end of it. 

12. What would your last meal be? (please choose a starter, a main course and a pudding)

I'm not a massive fan of starters as I'm much more of a dessert girl, and it fills me up so I'm not as excited for my main! So my main would have to be a roast dinner, I couldn't choose between a beef and horseradish, or a turkey, stuffing and cranberry! Dessert would have to be a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream.