LA-Native Shannon 'Blu' Oakley Makes a Splash on Social App LIVIT

LIVIT is an international live streaming app for rising music artists, entertainers and influencers across the board. Making a splash in the overseas market, the buzzworthy platform is now breaking grounds in the U.S. in unique and innovative ways.During the pandemic, streaming has become increasingly popular; not only in terms of creators engaging with their fans, but bringing in extra cash flow in a time of uncertainty. This resonates especially in younger generations who are seeking to connect with the outside world, in which oftentimes they are lacking the freedom to head to work as normal.With the LIVIT app, streamers are able to monetize their content in real time. Viewers have the option to "gift" or donate money to their favorite creators, supporting their artistry. This allows content creators on LIVIT to take charge in building their own careers.

LIVIT enables users to watch real, entertaining and live content 24/7, as well as make real connections with streamers and viewers. Streamers on Livit make money from their content by gaining in-app coins from fans.Viewers can also take a look into the lives of the hottest talent and most captivating personalities, while being a part of the supportive community by commenting in streams and attending exclusive events.

Head of Operations for LIVIT in the U.S., Armin Collosi gives additional insight on the future of streamers on the LIVIT app stating:

"I'm excited to see the next generation of content that streamers are going to produce once they're allowed to explore the world again. Traveling and exploration content is one of my favorites, along with getting more behind-the-scenes content from some of my favorite musicians and artists. Watching these musicians in their creative process and getting a behind-the-scenes look as to how challenging it can be to create some of the most influential songs of all time."

Today we also focus on Shannon “Blu” Oakley, an upcoming and popular streamer on the LIVIT app. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Oakley is a model and actress who goes by the name of RoyalBlu. She tries to use her platform as a message to young women that you don't need to sell yourself in ways you're uncomfortable with to achieve success. She wants young women to grow up knowing that they have options. I had the opportunity to speak with the artist about her creative endeavors alongside her involvement and success with the LIVIT app.

Find Shannon “Blu” Oakley on the LIVIT app viaRoyalBlu

Q: What drove you to collaborate with the LIVIT app?

A: I have always had a passion for entertainment. I love making people smile and spreading positivity. When LIVIT was a brand-new app two years ago, they reached out to me regarding a contract and I knew immediately that live streaming would be right up my alley. It's entertaining people on my own schedule from the comfort of my own home... my dream job! I am honored to be a part.

Q: What kind of content do you like to bring to your viewers?

A: My content is categorized as "IRL" streaming and focuses mainly on dialoguing with the chat. I do makeup and walk through the process of it for the first hour or so, and then the second hour is a discussion topic about my passions: mental health awareness, motivation, video games, comic books, and so on! We also do karaoke and trivia.

Q: What features do you like on the app that you don’t get on others like TikTok and Instagram?

A: LIVIT has so much to offer that you can't find elsewhere. First of all, there are free ways to support that don't require financial donations... just spending time in the stream can rank up my EXP, and you get a handful of daily coins to send to streamers! But above all else, LIVIT has a community like no other. I've met some of my best friends on the app, and I've recruited my own personal friends to stream as well. It is an inclusive, wholesome community with a strong potential for growth as an entertainer. We even (before the pandemic) had offline in-person events. I was flown from my college town in Georgia to Los Angeles for the first time ever for a Halloween event. I walked a red carpet at the W Hotel, met my fellow streamer friends in-person, and fell in love with the city I now proudly live in. And LIVIT paid me to do it!

Q: What inspires you and drives your vision on the account?

A: I am inspired primarily by the idea of broadcasting a positive message to people around the world. My biggest passion and goal as an entertainer is to prove to young women that you do not have to sell yourself for success. Women in the media are horribly hyper-sexualized, and growing up I believed that was what I had to do if I wanted to make it big one day; but as a Christian, it was putting myself out of my moral code. I'd do anything to prove to young girls like myself that you do not have to do that if you are not comfortable with it. I want to break the stigma that women are just objects to be eyed. That burning desire is what gets me out of bed and onto LIVIT every single day.

Q: How has your streaming routine changed since the pandemic?

A: My streaming routine changed significantly during the pandemic. Beforehand, I was streaming part-time (30 hours a month tops) and I'd be lucky if I scraped a hundred bucks a month. A few months into the pandemic when all my modeling and acting gigs were unceremoniously shut down, I was stuck at home with nothing else to do, so I nearly tripled my hours, my follower count skyrocketed, and by nothing short of a blessing from God... my rent was covered too!

Q: How has streaming overall on LIVIT helped you to connect with fans and viewers around the world?

A: LIVIT is a global app. Its roots lie with the company 17Media, which has the extremely successful Taiwanese app known as 17Live. When LIVIT first started two years ago, I was among the first Americans on the app. Most of my audience were from all around Asia. My first big supporter was a sweet older man from Taiwan who spoke very little English. I learned some phrases in Taiwanese to welcome him and thank him, and it just spread from there. I can greet and thank people in Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, and Taiwanese. But even beyond that, being a streamer allows fans from around the world to tune in and chat with me personally. They can ask me questions, tell me about themselves, and together we form a bond that feels more personal than if someone were just to be following me on Instagram.

Q: At the end of the day, what do you want viewers to take away from your streams?

A: At the end of the day, I want my fans to know that they are loved. Not only am I eternally grateful for their support, I absolutely love the fact that people will come chat with me every day. I'm closing in on 200,000 followers right now, but all of them have been there for me through thick and thin. Through a slew of heartbreak, long-term medical issues, my greatest successes and my worst failures... they have been there for me. Without them, I wouldn't be able to stay in Los Angeles. Even to those who have only been in my streams for a minute, every single person I meet is cherished so deeply by the community and by me. I want people to leave my stream with a smile on their face knowing that I consider them special.