Olivia Neill Interview

Follow counts doth not a person make. Building an empire on TikTok views, Instagram followers and YouTube likes was never the goal for Olivia Neill, the 22-year-old influencer turned podcast host who has honed a career on something that comes all too natural to her: over-sharing. But her success has bloomed from more than regaling her experiences with work, (toxic) boys and mental health to her 4M (and counting) followers—it’s something that often goes unnoticed as we tap into her world, with her Belfast accent booming from our speakers. When I ask Olivia what she attributes her dive into digital fame to, it’s simple. In a climate where our lives predominantly play out online, she’s creating a stage for real connection. 

“I sometimes struggle to open up to people in real life,” she confesses over Zoom. It’s an inevitable byproduct of a milieu determined by the popularity of an online presence. “On social media, people definitely try to make everything seem perfect, but I think that’s unrealistic,” she clarifies. It’s what inspired the inception of Inner Monologue—the podcast in which Olivia offers up her hot takes, heartbreaks and musings of a millennial.  It’s why Olivia, despite her best efforts to build boundaries, remains filter-free—both physically and verbally. In the virtual worlds where we often feel so disconnected from reality, Olivia is doing the opposite. Taking her experiences offline to online, she’s keeping us all plugged in—and more importantly, together. 

On set for Olivia’s first beauty story with Rollacoaster, she does much of the same; entertaining the room with a funny anecdote or two, sharing style tips and beauty hacks wherever she can. She’s a storyteller, a professional “putter-onner” (her words not mine), but most importantly: authentically herself. So yes, follow counts may be considered a measure of success nowadays, but there’s much more to this Belfast-born beauty than that. She might describe herself as an open book, but I couldn’t help but ask for a few extra chapters… 

LUCY PEMBERTON: What’s one thing the world should know about Olivia Neill?

OLIVIA NEILL: That’s a tough question because I tend to overshare a lot, whether it's online or in real life. I'm like an open book! Perhaps one interesting fact is that I love turbulence. I've been obsessed with planes since a young age; I actually wanted to become a pilot. Once I learned how to fly and understood how a plane worked, turbulence no longer scared me. Yesterday, I was on a flight to New York, and the turbulence was intense. People were crying on the plane, but I was having a great time; it felt like being on a rollercoaster.

LP: Pardon the pun! Could you discuss your upbringing in Belfast and its influence on your current path? Who has been your biggest inspiration to date?

ON: Growing up in Belfast was truly wonderful. My parents were amazing, and I was very close with my two older siblings. Life in Belfast is much quieter compared to life in London, but that makes it somewhat the perfect place to raise a child. The school system there is excellent, and the people are very down-to-earth. I believe the characteristics of Irish people have stayed with me to this day; they're all very grounded and have a matter-of-fact outlook on life, which I strive to emulate.

LP: What is your favourite thing about London? 

ON: That’s difficult, I have so many favourites! At the moment, it’s visiting cafes. I love coffee, and meeting up with friends at a cafe is even better. The variety of cafes and food places in London still amazes me because where I grew up, the variety was seriously lacking. I have so much fun trying new places, but my current go-to is Foreign Exchange News on Leinster Terrace. They serve the most delicious banana bread and coffee, my dream duo!

LP: With 4M followers across social media, how do you process the impact of so many individuals consuming your content and following your life? What is the main pressure you face as a result?

ON: When I start to process it, I'll let you know! [Laughs.] Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever be able to process the numbers on my profile, and I think that's probably a good thing; otherwise, I'd freak out.

LP: Your wildly popular podcast, Inner Monologue, is like the big sister you never had for many. How do you select themes to address and what impact do you hope to achieve with your conversations?

ON: I often choose a theme that is relevant in my life at that moment. I use a lot of my real-life experiences to inspire the dialogue of each episode. I try to speak as candidly and honestly as I can about topics so that people who are listening can maybe relate to it and feel less alone. On social media, people definitely try to make everything seem perfect, but I think that’s unrealistic. I like to show the imperfect sides of my life (and my brain) through my podcast.

LP: Who would be your dream podcast guest, and what is one question you would ask them? 

ON: I’m obsessed with Viola Davis and the way her brain works. I recently watched a lot of her speeches, and they were so beautiful and eloquent. I would love to have her on my podcast just to listen to her speak. I would ask her a question that would require a super long answer, so maybe something philosophical like, “How can one achieve true happiness?

LP: And back to your other passions, like fashion, can you tell us your personal style secrets? 

ON: Less is more! Good quality basics with nice silhouettes are all you need. A good base is key—you can accessorise from there.

LP: What have you learnt about fashion and what inspires your style? 

ON: It’s definitely taken a while, but I've learned that timeless pieces are a lot more chic than quick fad trends. I think trends are important, and they’re what keep fashion moving, but I try to wear clothes now that I know I won’t look back on in 10 years and think, “WTF was I wearing?” I get a lot of inspiration from 90s fashion; I love the simplicity of it. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest, and I get a lot of outfit inspo there.

LP: Your journey from being a student making videos in your hometown to sitting front row at huge shows at fashion week is inspiring. Could you share some pinch-me moments and any challenges you faced along the way?

ON: I still can’t wrap my head around my life. Going to Fashion Week will never become normal to me. I’m beyond grateful that this is my life. The whole thing is a pinch-me moment, but some that stand out in my head are for sure my first-ever fashion show, Miu Miu SS22, and attending the Cannes Film Festival with Ami Paris. If you told 15-year-old me literally anything I’ve done, there's no way she’d believe you.

LP: Did you ever imagine yourself living the life you do now? What did you envision yourself doing when you were a teenager?

ON: Growing up, I always loved YouTube and, of course, dreamed of being a YouTuber myself…but it felt so far-fetched. No one in Northern Ireland did stuff like that, so it just didn’t seem feasible. I had a passion for flying from a pretty young age and felt like that was a more achievable career path for me, so I started to pursue that one instead. When I was 17, I finally plucked up the courage to post a YouTube video, and here we are!

LP: When discussing your own hardships, covering topics such as mental health, heartbreak and isolation on social media, how do you balance authenticity while maintaining boundaries?

ON: Establishing boundaries on my podcast is definitely something I’ve had to navigate over the past few years. If I had it my way, I would share literally everything on the podcast, but I know that’s not healthy, and I have to keep certain aspects of my life private. I sometimes struggle to open up to people in real life, but when I’m recording my podcast, I don’t know what comes over me—I’m able to articulate how I’m feeling into words for once in my life, and sometimes that leads me to get a bit carried away! I actually feel a lot better after my recordings as I feel like I’ve processed a lot. I always say recording my podcast is like my therapy. 

LP: How do you handle criticism or negative feedback online, and what advice would you give to creators facing similar challenges?

ON: Social media can be a really daunting place, and if it’s what you want to do as a profession, you need to develop a really thick skin. I’m very lucky because I've been doing this for so long that I could read anything about myself, and it wouldn’t affect me. However, if someone in my life, like friends or family, said it to me, I’d be devastated because their opinion of me really matters.

LP: What exciting plans or goals do you have for your future? What aspirations are you hoping to fulfill? 

ON: Things are moving in an amazing and wild direction. I mean, I’m in a magazine wearing Chanel—my 15-year-old self would shriek! My parents are definitely framing this whole thing. In all seriousness, everyone, stay tuned to find out what’s next.

LP: Seeing as you’re Chanel Beauty’s cover girl, let’s get down to it. One step in your makeup routine you’d never skip?

ON: Lip liner! I’m a lip liner girly through and through.

LP: Your golden skincare hack?

ON: The Chanel Hydra Beauty Lotion Very Moist—a game changer.

LP: Is there a makeup trend you used to follow but are glad you don’t anymore?

ON: Foundation, I like to embrace my skin now.

LP: What are three items in your bag that you can't leave the house without?

ON: Lipliner (Chanel Le Crayon in Nude Brun), setting powder (Greasy Girls Rise Up) and earphones.

LP: Where is your go-to spot in London?

ON: Falafel King, Golborne Road.

LP: What is the thing you miss the most about home?  

ON: My family and my dogs. And this burrito place called Boojum. I’m a burrito fiend and no burrito in London even comes close to Boojum. It’s my first stop every time I land in Belfast.

LP: If an Erewhon smoothie were named after you, what would it be called and what ingredients would it feature?

ON: “Monday Blues”, and it would have blueberry, mango, coconut water, chia seeds and collagen. I’ve thought about this for a long time, so thanks for asking!

LP: What was your biggest lesson learned while overcoming heartbreak?

ON: Being single is better than being in a toxic relationship.

LP: Describe your ideal Friday night.

ON: Vodka pasta on my sofa with a true crime documentary on the TV.

LP: If you could say one thing to Olivia in high school, what would it be?

ON: It’s all going to be okay and you will figure it out. Also, stop bleaching your hair.