Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Scarlett Bella Song Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Edward Sylvan
I recognize that it is my responsibility to leverage my platform to make a positive social impact. As a role model and influencer, I embrace humanity, promote kindness, and encourage inclusivity. In doing so, I am implicitly supporting and advocating for teen mental health.
As a part of my series about leaders who are using their social media platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Scarlett Bella Song.
Scarlett Bella Song is a dancer, influencer, jewelry designer and philanthropist currently residing in Dallas, Texas. Competing in dance since age 3, Scarlett has graced the covers of multiple national publications and appeared in national commercials for major brands like McDonald’s. Most recently, Scarlett collaborated with jewelry brand Annie & Friends on a teen line filled with inspirational messages and won Inspiring Teens Magazine’s scholarship contest for teens making a difference.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Until early 2020, I was a student, dancer, actress, social media creator, and philanthropist blissfully living life in Los Angeles. Once the global COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, life as we knew it changed as we quarantined to protect each other.
During 18 months of lockdown, my social interaction was limited to Zoom and social media, and I had a lot of time to reflect upon what is meaningful to me. Over time, I started to feel increasingly isolated and disconnected from both my friends and community. I yearned to reconnect more closely with others and realized that I was not alone in feeling this way. I decided it was my responsibility and obligation to harness these emotions and send messages of love and empowerment into the world.
Initially, I didn’t yet have a vehicle, method, or creative outlet to build a supportive community for teens. All I knew was that I needed to create physical symbols of inspiration (that people could wear close to their hearts) to remind them that they are loved.
Serendipitously, this was when the jewelry company Annie & Sisters reached out to me on social media to collaborate. It felt like kismet because we had a meeting of the minds and a shared mission to uplift and unite others in a loving bond. So, I partnered with Annie & Sisters to create an inspirational message teen jewelry line.
Our debut Annie X Scarlett teen jewelry has 15 pieces–each with an uplifting message and a metaphorical heartfelt hug from us. Each piece of jewelry is infused with meaning and the collection is intended to unite us by building an inclusive community where we uplift and support each other.
It wasn’t until people reached out to me on social media to share how much they appreciated our collection that I realized we were helping to support teen mental health.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?
The most interesting story that happened to me was the snowballing of a hobby into a career!
I started my social media account several years ago when I joined a national dance company. As company members, we were obligated to post concept videos. They attracted an audience and it steadily grew. Over time, I started getting unsolicited DMs to model (or become an ambassador) for different brands. Once I started working with a few brands, other brands would then invite me to collaborate with them.
This unexpected chain of events built my platform and now I’m on a journey of self-discovery and finding my mission: teen mental health advocacy.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the funniest mistakes I made when co-designing my first jewelry collection was how over-prepared I was for my initial design meeting with Annie Chen. I had been so concerned that my creative juices wouldn’t flow during our brainstorming session that I literally over-prepared for our meeting.
At the start of the meeting, Annie asked me to share my initial thoughts. In retrospect, I’m sure she was just trying to break the ice and was expecting an idea or two. However, I ran with it until it became apparent that I would keep her hostage in the meeting all day if I continued to share all of my ideas! So, we took a quick break and I harnessed into the most salient/meaningful concepts to present. Once I presented my curated list of ideas, we were able to launch into a productive design session and we moved forward at warp speed.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
My first piece of advice for anyone who aspires to build their own social media platform is to focus on what you genuinely find interesting and care about. If you are authentic from the start, you will attract like-minded followers and build a sustainable community.
My second piece of advice is to embrace an abundance mindset. For me, adopting an abundance mindset has evoked the law of attraction where the right opportunities present themselves to me at the right time. With this outlook, I don’t get distracted by what others are doing and I realize that there are plenty of opportunities for everyone. This philosophy helps me stay focused, positive, and connected to others. The more people embrace this philosophy, the sooner we can build a sustainable community where we celebrate each other’s successes.
My third piece of advice is to be very mindful of the impact that your platform might have upon others. It is both a privilege and responsibility to be a public figure because people will be influenced by your messages.
My final piece of advice is to go for it! It might initially seem daunting, but there is always an appetite for more voices. Remember, you have a unique perspective to share with the world. You would be enriching the platform by contributing your own distinct gifts.
Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?
I recognize that it is my responsibility to leverage my platform to make a positive social impact. As a role model and influencer, I embrace humanity, promote kindness, and encourage inclusivity. In doing so, I am implicitly supporting and advocating for teen mental health.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?
Over the years, I have had teen girls from across the globe reach out to me on social media. Often people start with an initial inquiry about dance, modeling or fashion. Over time, we forge a friendship and connect on a level that transcends country or culture because many teen concerns are universal.
I am particularly close with a handful of individuals. One of them is still in quarantine in the Philippines and hasn’t been in school for over two years. She is growing increasingly depressed and is in need of mental health support. As I am not a licensed therapist or a trained mental health professional, I offer her my humanity, friendship and affirmation that she is loved, worthy and meaningful. I am hopeful that this gives her some support and comfort.
Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?
There are many experiences in life that culminated in my purpose to advocate for kindness, community, and inclusivity as a way to support teen mental health. (As I gain a deeper understanding of various issues contributing to mental health crises, I will also address them on my platform.)
When I was living in LA, I observed the need for increased child protection laws related to social media because kids are being groomed and placed in dangerous situations. As a mental health advocate, this rings my alarm bells! And, as a child myself, I fully understand the time, dedication, resources and sacrifices it takes for young influencers to have a wide spectrum of robust social media channels. So, knowing what I know, I will advocate for more protections to be put in place to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
The community, society and politicians could dramatically help us address the root of the teen mental health crisis in America. We need to raise awareness, remove stigmas to facilitate open dialogue, provide educational resources and grant counseling with licensed therapists and mental health professionals.
The pandemic stole some critical development years from youth my age and I think we’re going to see the impact of it on mental health for years to come. Our community, society and politicians need to anticipate the need for increased mental health resources to address issues that will surface.
What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for social good?
I am 13 years old and my audience is my peers. I often send subtle messages of positivity and encouragement to promote mental health because I am not a licensed medical professional and it would be irresponsible of me to offer counseling. I offer my empathy, compassion and understanding and do my best to guide people to proper resources.
I would encourage everyone who has a platform to remember that their platform is both a responsibility and a privilege. People are taking cues from us and we want to guide people in ways that will enhance our community and humanity. We need to set standards and represent the change that we wish to see in others. We need to be kind, caring and compassionate towards each other as we shape society in a way that supports mental health. I hope many teens across the globe will join me on my quest.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1) Showing that you care matters: One of the cruel culprits of mental health issues is that people often suffer alone in silence. A small acknowledgment or gesture of kindness on your part could make all the difference to an individual who feels unseen.
2) Others are looking to you to set the example: When you are a public figure, you are setting an example for others. As such, you need to hold yourself to certain standards. You need to remember that you might be influencing someone’s behavior or decisions and that your influence could have profound consequences.
3) You are responsible for the messages you send out into the world: I recognize that sometimes we are distracted or just not highly mindful of what we say, but if we are on a public platform we owe it to our followers to own our messages and stand behind them. If the right thing is to apologize or correct ourselves, we need to follow through.
4) You never know who needs a human connection or act of kindness. Sometimes social media can feel impersonal because you are interacting on a screen. However, there are humans on the other end of your communications and the messages you send have a profound impact on their psyche.
5) People might say one thing but mean another: You can’t always take something lightly at face value. If an individual reaches out to me via DM to say hello or ask how I am, I learned to be on high alert. To me, this person could just be friendly or they might have a deeper need to connect with someone. You don’t know which it is until you engage with them.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
We are in the early stages of learning about an alleged TikTok dance cult in Los Angeles that people suspect might be human trafficking dancers. I am following this highly disturbing and distressing story very closely. While this particular situation involves a dozen or so dancers and their loved ones — it might have broader implications for society.
As a society, we need to work as a collective to end exploitation and protect each other from predators. Children are being groomed and manipulated each day to fall in line to work in the entertainment industry. We need to become watchdogs to stop exploitation and abuse within the entertainment industry and broader society.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I have two inter-related favorite “Life Lessons Quotes.” My first favorite quote is: “Your life becomes a masterpiece when you learn to master peace.”
For me, inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person (or event) to control your emotions or thinking. It’s when you become the master of your own power and serenity.
And, my second favorite quote is a reminder that we are on a journey and growth trajectory: “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work-in-progress simultaneously.” — Sophia Bush.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
If I could have a private breakfast or lunch with anyone in the United States, I would invite Doctor Ramini Durvasala. Dr. Ramini is a licensed therapist and an expert on how to navigate difficult relationships. Through her YouTube channel, she has helped me understand the complex dynamics of many relationships in my life.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
The best way for your readers to follow my work online is on my Instagram: @scarlettbellasong
This was very meaningful, thank you so much!
Thank you for this incredible opportunity! I greatly appreciate it.
Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Scarlett Bella Song Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.