From Portsmouth to Viral Fame: How One Creator Built a Beauty Empire on Authenticity
When scrolling through beauty content on social media, you're likely to stumble across someone who feels refreshingly real in a sea of perfectly curated feeds. That's exactly what Laila Wiggins brings to her millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Known online as "Brace Face Laii," this Portsmouth, Virginia native has built something special β a community that genuinely connects with her authentic approach to beauty, lifestyle, and everything in between.
**From Small Town to Social Media Success**
Laila's journey wasn't an overnight sensation story. Growing up in Portsmouth, she found her voice through creating content that resonated with people who wanted real talk about beauty, not just another perfectly lit tutorial. Her TikTok handle @laiifacebrace has gathered 569.5k followers and an impressive 7.9 million likes, proving that authenticity still wins in the algorithm game. What started as sharing her own experiences has evolved into a platform where she genuinely helps others navigate their own beauty journeys.
**Content That Connects**
What sets Laila apart isn't just her beauty tutorials β though those haircare tips have definitely earned their popularity. She's mastered the art of mixing different content types, from hip-hop dance videos that show off her personality to lifestyle vlogs that feel like chatting with a friend. Her Dubsmash clips brought early viral moments, but it's her consistent, relatable energy that keeps people coming back. She's even ventured into fitness coaching, offering ebooks that extend her influence beyond just beauty content.
**Building an Empire Across Platforms**
The numbers tell an impressive story of cross-platform success. Her main Instagram @bracefacelaii boasts 2 million followers, while her YouTube channel @PrettyLuhLaii has cultivated 219k subscribers with 1.6 million total views. She's smart about diversifying too β maintaining a backup Instagram account and previously co-managing joint accounts that pulled in hundreds of thousands of additional followers. With an estimated sponsored post value of $3.4K, brands have taken notice of her ability to authentically connect with audiences who trust her recommendations.
**Current Chapter and What's Next**
These days, Laila is navigating life as a single creator after her long-term relationship with fellow influencer Anayah Rice ended in late 2024. Rather than letting personal changes derail her content, she's continued creating and connecting with her audience in genuine ways. Her estimated net worth of around $350k reflects not just her follower count, but her ability to build real engagement that translates into sustainable income. As she continues growing her presence across platforms, her focus remains on the authentic connection that got her here in the first place β proof that being real still works in an increasingly crowded creator economy.