Natasha Caudill '20

Natasha Caudill’s journey has been anything but typical. When she thought about plans for her future, it’s safe to say she never imagined she would one day create viral videos for a career. But that’s exactly what happened. 

With more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok, Caudill works full-time creating videos about fashion and makeup, as well as spreading awareness about achromatopsia, a vision disorder she was diagnosed with at an early age that limits the ability to see color.

Caudill didn’t always have an interest in makeup. Makeup was just a hobby while she was at Knox; the real draw to the College was her interest in Abraham Lincoln. She recalled taking classes with Todd Heidt, Professor in Modern Languages, German, and Chair of International Studies, and Konrad Hamilton, Burkhardt Distinguished Associate Professor of History and Chair of American Studies, and how their classes encouraged her to dive deeper into the department. 

“They made me love waking up and going to class,” Caudill said. 

She graduated from Knox in 2020 with a degree in American studies. 

Caudill made the most of her time on campus, joining a wide variety of clubs and student organizations, including Student Senate and Blessings in a Backpack. She says she came to Knox to try as many new things as possible. Along the way, she was fortunate to meet many friends that she still stays in touch with.

It wasn’t until the summer of her senior year that Caudill told her friends she was starting a TikTok account. “I told them I was going to be famous on TikTok as a complete joke,” Caudill said. 

The inspiration to start the account came from a desire to explain her colorblindness, and she gradually gained viewers who wanted to know more about how she did her makeup without seeing color. She filmed a video explaining the process and it went viral overnight. 

“It got around a million views overnight,” she said. “That was the video that really started it all.” 

Three years later, Caudill now works full-time as a TikTok creator, partnering with brands and posting regularly. She continues to use the platform to help people understand achromatopsia by posting her content in both color and black-and-white versions to show what the world looks like through her eyes. 

One of the ways she has utilized her platform is to call out the oddities of makeup color naming, which can be confusing for those with sight problems. She recalled a situation at Knox when she believed she was using a black eyeliner based on the name, but was told by a friend after weeks of wearing it that it was actually purple. 

Caudill says it has been rewarding to become a voice for those dealing with the condition. “There is a wonderful, vibrant community of disabled creators online and I’ve connected with so many people,” Caudill said. 

Caudill doesn’t know if content creation will be a long-term career for her, but hopes to utilize the platform to develop a voice for public speaking about colorblindness. She will speak on a panel in New York in May, discussing accessibility in beauty products. Caudill sees herself continuing this career as a disability consultant. In the meantime, 2 million followers are right around the corner.

“I want to do more than just sit in my room filming videos,” Caudill said. “I want to use the platform I’ve built to make a difference.” 

Click on the episode listing below to hear the full KnoxCast podcast featuring Caudill, sharing in-depth stories about her time at Knox and becoming a TikTok content creator: