Claudia Sulewski sat down with Forbes to talk about what so many in the media call the new model of entrepreneurship — a life built on early internet fame turned into a beauty business. The interview reads like a roadmap for influencer-era hustle, where followers are treated as a ready-made market and every personal habit becomes product strategy. Conservatives should watch this moment carefully: it shows both the promise and the hollow glamour of fame as a business plan.
Sulewski’s story began young — she launched a YouTube channel at 13 and grew an audience that Forbes puts in the millions, a reminder that the platforms of the last two decades can make stars out of teenagers. That kind of platform is powerful, and yes, Americans who build real followings deserve to benefit from them. But there’s a difference between real value creation and selling identity or self-care as the next big commodity, and we ought to keep our eyes on which one is really happening.
Her company, Cyklar, officially launched in October 2023 as a gender-neutral, vegan bodycare line with a heavy emphasis on sustainable packaging — an approach the brand and press releases proudly promote. The product design and refill-angle are clever innovations for a crowded market, and Sulewski has leaned into the aesthetics and ritual of self-care to sell a premium price. That plays well with influencer audiences, but it’s also emblematic of a trend where branding and moral-signaling sometimes replace durable product substance.
Forbes reports that Sulewski self-funded her initial launch and that Cyklar is on track for impressive revenue this year, showing that social-media-built businesses can move from clout to cash. Those are real wins for a young entrepreneur and proof that risk-taking still pays off in America when combined with audience reach. Still, the headlines often skip the hard work behind the camera and the ecosystem of accelerators and partnerships that amplify these launches.
Industry players have taken notice — accelerators and beauty platforms have brought Cyklar into portfolios and rooms that matter, showing how quickly influencer brands can be institutionalized. That institutional embrace is a double-edged sword: it validates the market but also grooms more creators to chase the same gilded exit, prioritizing optics over durability. Conservatives should warn against celebrating every new brand simply because it checks the right boxes on inclusivity and sustainability buzzwords.
At the same time, Sulewski’s candid talk about people-pleasing and the personal courage to risk her savings is genuinely relatable and worth respecting; entrepreneurship requires guts, and she took that leap. We should praise the entrepreneurial spirit while demanding real accountability — real returns for consumers, transparent supply chains, and products that stand on their own merits beyond influencer storytelling. The free market rewards winners, but voters and customers deserve depth, not just a trending narrative.
Patriots who believe in hard work can admire the hustle here without swallowing the entire influencer playbook. Celebrate the success where it’s earned, criticize the parts that amount to virtue signaling, and push for a marketplace that values substance over spectacle. If Cyklar and creators like Sulewski keep delivering quality, then they’ll have earned their place — otherwise the next wave of hype will wash them out, just as it should in a true market economy.
