Better Dead Than Basic: Alix Earle Gets Ready for Cannes Lions 

In Cannes, everyone shines—but Alix Earle (@alixearle) is here to remind us that get ready with me isn’t just a trend; it’s a power statement. While prepping to speak on the main stage at Cannes Lions—the world’s most important advertising and creativity event—Alix lets us peek into her routine… and into her mindset.
What starts with hair and makeup turns into a masterclass in personal branding, authentic collaboration, and navigating the business world as a woman… all while still chatting about Love Island.

A Glowy Face and a Sharp Mind: Her Story with Poppy

What Alix shared while curling her hair went way beyond aesthetics. She’s part of a panel with the beverage brand Poppy, now recently acquired by Pepsi. But she’s not just a face for the brand—she’s an investor and key player in its growth.
She shared how her relationship with Poppy began organically:
“I was already drinking Poppy in college, they sent me PR, and I became a fan. One day I said: I want to be part of this in a bigger way.”
And she made it happen. Poppy didn’t just listen—they invited her to actively help shape the brand. The key to success? They never tried to control her content.
“They let me be myself. No rigid briefs. That changes everything.”

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Creative Freedom: The Formula That Actually Connects Alix Earle

Alix knows followers can smell inauthenticity from a mile away. That’s why she values brands that let her pitch weird, fun, and disruptive ideas. Like when she filmed a face cream ad… while sitting on Braxton’s back as he did push-ups.
“I told them: trust me. And it worked.”
That authenticity and freedom to be unpredictable is what sets her content apart. And it’s what, according to her, traditional brands are still trying to figure out.

Cannes, Nerves, and Mental Wigs: What She’s Thinking While Doing Her Makeup

Beyond the glow and excitement over her favorite outfit, Alix doesn’t hide her pre-stage nerves. She says she slept well and feels ready, but she knows today’s crowd is the largest she’s ever spoken to.
Tomorrow she’ll be at a more closed-door event filled with CEOs and CMOs, but today is her moment to connect with real people, with other creative women, and show why her voice matters beyond makeup.
Between lost mascara, a brutally honest take on Love Island, and a confession that she’d “lose her mind if they put her in that reality show,” Alix proves you can talk business without losing your humanity, lightness, or authenticity.

Note by Michelle Zambrana