In this heartfelt episode of the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast, host Meredyth Willits welcomes powerhouse content creator, makeup artist, and spiritual cousin to the masses—Ariel Lathon, also known as @ladypainted90.

Ariel doesn’t just show up on your For You Page—she shows up in your soul. With over a million followers and a voice that feels like a hug and a wake-up call all in one, Lady Painted shares the truth behind her viral affirmations, the beauty of building chosen family, and the radical act of healing out loud.

Together, they dive into:

✅ Why “Hey Cousin” is more than a catchphrase—it’s a healing invitation ✅ The real impact of narcissistic parenting and emotional regulation ✅ Social media as therapy, not performance ✅ How codependency, people-pleasing, and perfectionism mask deeper wounds ✅ The truth about shadowbans, niching down, and doing content your own way

They also unpack what it means to grow up unseen, how trauma steals your voice (and how to take it back), and the real reason women—especially Black women—are still told how to look, act, and feel in every damn room.

If you’ve ever felt silenced, small, or like you didn’t belong, Ariel’s voice will remind you:

✨ You’re not broken—you’re brilliant ✨ You can create your own family, love, and legacy ✨ And yes—you’re doing a good job

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00:00 Introduction to the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast 01:00 Meet Lady Painted: makeup, mentorship, and “cousin” culture 03:30 Finding connection across race, region, and realness 06:00 Why we say the things we need to hear 08:00 Testimony after the test: speaking what you’ve survived 11:00 Trauma, therapy, and the role of social media 14:30 Emotional regulation and childhood rewiring 17:30 Healing through humor, makeup, and storytelling 21:00 Losing your identity to narcissistic parenting 24:30 Avoidant attachment and “Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents” 28:00 TikTok, shadowbanning, and the changing algorithm 31:00 Balancing creativity, burnout, and the pressure to niche 34:30 Building a platform that saves lives—literally 38:00 Codependency, overgiving, and healing the inner child 41:00 Racism, calling in vs calling out, and social media fatigue 45:30 Why fixing the heart is the only way to fix the hate 49:00 The pressure cooker of womanhood in today’s world 52:00 Accountability, patriarchy, and the cost of silence 56:00 On parenting, people-pleasing, and learned guilt 59:30 Marriage myths, communication breakdowns, and real love 1:02:00 Why your light is still on—even if you feel in the dark 1:05:00 Boundaries, burnout, and making peace with saying no 1:10:00 Ariel’s testimony and the DM that changed everything 1:15:00 Healing, validation, and reclaiming your voice 1:20:00 Meditation, rest, and finding time for yourself again 1:24:00 Final thoughts on legacy, self-worth, and living free

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🔗 Connect with Ariel Lathon / Lady Painted: TikTok: @ladypainted90 Instagram: @ladypainted_mua Facebook: Ariel Lathon Website + Merch: linktr.ee/ladypainted90

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🎙 Stay in the Loop with Meredyth Willits: Facebook: Meredyth Willits Instagram: @meredyth_willits TikTok: @meredyth_with_a_why YouTube: Meredyth Willits YouTube

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