I talk to Jasmine Chiswell about her Tik Tok videos that went viral . Her love of vintage clothing , Marilyn, movies and what its like to live in a house Marilyn Monroe lived in
I talk to Jasmine Chiswell about her Tik Tok videos that went viral . Her love of vintage clothing , Marilyn, movies and what its like to live in a house Marilyn Monroe lived in
Hi guys. Welcome back to my podcast. I am just so happy with the amount of guests I'm getting, because obviously we've gone from Scott talking about a few years ago, doing the biggest Marin exhibit. We've had the wonderful Susan Griffis and her amazing career as Marilyn in film and TV. Then we've had Greg Schreiner talking about way back in the seventies and eighties when I wasn't even born at him. Um, we had Marilyn and now we're going to go right up to 2021. I know we were in, but this started in 2020 and the year of Tik TOK. I mean, wouldn't matter. Monroe even recognize this. I know she loved the phone, but I always wonder if Mary Monroe would be there on her new, latest Apple, you know, downloading all these apps, but there's a girl out there and she's called Bo Tik TOK, Marilyn Monroe, and her name is Jasmine. And you've, you've probably all seen her. Well, if, if you've not seen her, you're not on Tik TOK. So she's, uh, she's amazing. And she's joining me from Los Angeles. Hi Jasmine. Hi. How are you? I'm good. How are you? I'm very good. Thank you. My cats just decided to come over as we were talking about animals. Um, so you've gone from Scotland. I mean, I don't know lots about you. You're going to tell me all about it. And our listeners you've come from Scotland and now you're living the American dream.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. It's still so surreal to think about it. Honestly. I still am like, wow, this is crazy. Oh my goodness. But yeah, I don't not to say that. I don't miss Scotland. I do miss a lot, especially like the food, my friends, my family, but I do like it here as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I bet. I mean, I've gotta be honest. I wouldn't miss Scotland. If I was living in LA, I was in LA last January doing the, the, the big fear to show that I did there living on LeBron Hollywood. And I've got to say not for one bit. Did I Ms. England? Sorry, England. But now it's back here and it's freezing cold. So you're in the best place. Now you are famous for being a Tik TOK, Marilyn. So number one, first of all, you were this beautiful because you're only 27, right? You're 27 and you were a brunette just been at university and then suddenly you turned into Marinette. I mean, are you, would you consider yourself a Marin look like, or more like a vintage style, like a Marilyn girl? How would you describe yourself?
Speaker 2:Um, I think I've never actually thought that being a look like, I think I just started just by just dressing vintage and it was just one day I went outside and someone's like, Oh my goodness. She looks so much like Marlon. And I was just like, Oh wow. That's like such a big compliment. And it just kind of went from there. And it's been such a surreal journey. Yeah.
Speaker 1:What changed your cause? I know I was exactly the same about like someone says it don't know, but, um, when did you do your hair color? Because I changed my hair color when I was like 13, 14, and it was a mistake because I just bought some light highlights. So, which was back in those days, terrible. It was just pure bleach and it all went wrong and I ended up being a blonde. So because you look so beautiful, you look beautiful both ways. So what made you go bleach, blonde, Marilyn? What was that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think, well, I was actually, I was blowing all my life apart from one year, so I was always been blonde. Um, I always had, had highlights in my hair. My mom was like, you have to keep your blonde hair. So I was like, okay, mom. And, and then I think when I first moved here, because I was like, I'm so scared to go to the hairdressers. I let my roots just grew out so long. I have like kind of natural, kind of mostly Brown hair. So like kind of dirty blonde version on really light Brown hair. And I was just like, do you know what? I'm just going to box down my hair and just dive. Right. Um, which I, I was so bad at it, to be honest with you. And then I think when I started dressing vintage, I was just already on the, like, started to go back to being blonde and I just kind of went from there and I just started just going, okay, I'll just make it really light and not just do highlights and just kind of bleak. I have so many stories as you probably have as well with bleach and things like that.
Speaker 1:I know it can be so damaging. I figured out a way now, but, um, yeah, I've been, I've been all colored, all shades of orange and yellow and white and different shades. That's that's bleaching. So everyone started saying to like, Marilyn. So how did this tick tock tick tock is a relatively new thing. I think some bearing fans, if they're younger will know tick talk on the older ones, they're like still getting to grips with Instagram. So how was it, how did Tik TOK come about?
Speaker 2:Um, it was really abandoned. So I, obviously I worked in the film industry when I was in the UK and when I was here, I, well, obviously I started with Instagram and my husband was like, you have to be on Tik TOK. It's like the new app to be on. And I was kind of nervous about going on it. Cause I always say, I thought it was just for kids. I was like, it's a catch-up and I wasn't sure if I was too old to be on it. I was like, I don't know. Well, I'm like really much about it. And I just posted one video and it kind of went viral and I was just like, okay, this is insane. This app. And I just started posting more like vintage content and showing all things. I have like different makeup things and yeah, it kind of went from there really. And I was just like, wow, tic, talk's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:So describe this video. Cause if it's the one I'm thinking of, it's when you're doing like different outfits, right. You're changing from like all different series of different vintage fifties clothing. Is that the one?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've done those ones. That was one that went. And then the first one was, it was just like what people see. But when I dressed, when I'm outside, like the streets and grocery stores and things like that, and I've had people just come up to me and you see all like you're weird or, and just laugh at me. And I, I made a video like that and um, that one went viral and I was like, okay, this is crazy.
Speaker 1:I love those people. They're lovely. Aren't they? That you think I really need to know that. Thanks. Thanks a lot for that. So, um, it went viral and then obviously people are going to look at the Marilyn image and um, then the, the thing that really excited them is that you live in Murray Monroe's home. Yeah. So describe that.
Speaker 2:Oh, I get it. I start to like, I crazy story. So my husband and I, um, we are all ties was actually maybe about 10, 15 minutes away from her Brentwood home. And we were just curious when I was like, Oh, there's nothing to do. Let's just go for a jive. And we went to we're Housewives and we saw this big demolition sign. We then find out, obviously it was the next door neighbors. They were knocking something died and making it building a new house. But we thought it was her highs at the beginning. And we were like, Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're always remodeling aren't they they're remodeling around there all the time. So, yeah.
Speaker 2:Um, and my husband did, he just looked on Google where, how their houses were just to kind of, to look at. And he came across this one and it was for sale and the open houses the next day. And he was just like, let's just go with the check out. And we fell in love with it is like, obviously it's one of her homes, which is so cool, but we also love it because it feels so homely. And we felt just at home there and yeah.
Speaker 1:Which home is this? Cause obviously I've been to LA, is it the, um, is it the Joe DiMaggio Marilyn House that kind of, is it where she had the divorce where she stood there and she talks about her divorce.
Speaker 2:It's not it's the one is in the Hollywood Hills. He stayed there just when, well, the, a lot of people say it's where the highs, where they fell in love and things like that.
Speaker 1:That's where you fell in love, but it's the house where you to live in love. So you met your husband in, in cause it's, you know, to be 27 having this great Tik TOK career. I bet. I know I get these weirdos and you know who you are. Some of you are listening that go home, honey. Hey babe. Hey baby. Lovely. So it's great that you can be out there with your husband cause he's vintage as well. Isn't he?
Speaker 2:Yeah. He dresses vintage every day too. Is that how you met? No, we actually met, we met on a dating app called Bumble and we're always like, we should come up with different stories of Jaime Matt, and we're just like, no, we'll just stick to the Bumble stuff. Um, so it's like for us, how we met and I was dressing kind of like in a grunge way. And so was he, and it was kind of funny how you both kinda went from that style to vintage, which is just so different. Um, and I started dressing vintage first and then about six months later, he was like, I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it. And then he started buying vintage and I was like, Oh, thank going in of vintage. And he was like, yep,
Speaker 1:It's so much fun though. Isn't it? And you stand up for, except for the people that, you know, have an opinion on everything. It's so lovely to, to escape into this, uh, modern to see on Tik TOK. Cause if you go through tick tock, it is a very young person app. So to see, um, to see vintage on there is such fun and your little ideas, that's my cat to see your, um, ideas of putting all these, you know, how we dressed in the fifties was that, does that all your idea, if you have, you've been influenced by, is there like vintage people that you admire, Dita Von Teese and people like that? Is there people that you look at and think this is good because a lot of the clothes you do, Marilyn obviously didn't wear, so it's this fifties or, you know, all incomes of fifties. Is there any idols you have in that whole scene?
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean, I love so many different actresses from that time and OCD, Ty APU out knowing who Peter was and for those like video ideas, like my husband and I just certainly just kind of think about them myself. And we were like, okay, let's just do this video. Cause it's a lot of fun. And we watch a lot of movies. Like we watch them every night. And so I love just like watching how people dress back then. And we watched a lot of documentaries and like home footage and that's kind of where I get a lot of my ideas for a lot of different outfits and things like that because it's
Speaker 1:So good to find vintage because I noticed that when I was in America, you can pick it up compared to the UK. I mean, you struggle in the UK or it's really expensive. Whereas over there it's, it's like, it's just everywhere. Isn't it. It's so much fun.
Speaker 2:And there's a lot of fun. And I know now I know for my husband, for guys vintage clothes, it's really hard because I think guys back then, I don't know if it's the same. No, but they just like wear the same outfit until it's completely done. And I love my vintage friends are just like, yeah, it's hard to find guys vintage. So I know for him, he struggles, but I know like for me, like there's so many like stores, you can go and thrift and dislike so much stuff and it's so cool. It's amazing for sure.
Speaker 1:You say you love other actresses. Cause obviously like you say, you just described yourself as a lookalike. It's more like a vintage girl that looks like Marilyn. Right. Which I love, I mean, I hate describing myself as, as a look lookalike, but I don't really know how else to describe it.
Speaker 2:But is there like when you,
Speaker 1:I knew everyone was saying, you look like Marilyn, is there things that you'd like to do now? Because you're so young. I mean, I've had a great career. I'm 44 and it was still going great. You know COVID but is there things that, cause I know you're a director in your, in your own, right? So is there things that you want to do be away from Maryland mean Tik TOK, great way of making money and, and, and getting your name out there. But is there anything you want to do away from Maryland? Cause I know being in the business so long was it looked like myself. It's a real struggle to try and get out of, get out of that thing once you're in it. But you're so young. So there's many directions you can go in.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean, for me and my husband, um, we both like want to start up different companies and things like that. And I would love to go back into directing again and writing things because I love write horror stories. I know it's, I'm still bizarre. And um, I would love to go back in and get back into the film industry in that way. And I feel like every day, even though I'm making tech talks, I'm like, I'm still like, you know, like coming up with the ideas and filming it. So I still feel like I get to do that, but I definitely have to get back into behind the camera as well. This one point pressure is
Speaker 1:It's so hard to come up with because I know with content even just coming up with guests to be on my podcast, you know, cause I want to keep my podcasts basically about the different aspects of Marin, Anna Marie Monroe in the modern age and Tik TOK. You're a great guest to have because that's, you are on sick talk and it's so quick, like people scroll through it and it's gone. Is it hard to keep that content up? You must be sitting there thinking, Oh God, what can I wear today?
Speaker 2:I'm not going to lie. Oh my goodness. It is, it can be so hard. Some days I wake up and I'm just like, I have no idea who I'm going to make today. And I sometimes I'm just like, okay, I have to think about some ideas that I've wrote down on a notepad a few months ago and my clothes add up big piles everywhere. I'm just like, Oh my goodness. But, um, it can be really difficult and it can be hard, especially when, if you've had a day where you're just like the video don't do that well. Or if you see a lot of hate comments, it can be hard to be like, okay, have to get up and keep doing it again the next day and keep posting and keep, keep going and pushing forward. And I do have those days a lot. Yeah.
Speaker 1:I feel you on that. It is. It's a very hard social media when you're trying to, I think it needs to be, and you'll know this because you're so good on Tik TOK is it's. I think a lot of people take it a lot too more seriously. Um, what you're doing than they should, it is just fun. And it's your, your projected an image and you've got to constantly come up with content and I think that's the modern age we're living in. It's you know, if you're putting out that much of content and trying to get ideas, you are playing with Marilyn's image. And I think if anyone takes it too seriously, um, they're going to get, they're going to get dragged down by it. Because to me it seems like you're just really just trying to make content because that's the modern world we live in. If Mary Monroe is alive now she probably would have to come up with different ways or, or I'm not saying you twist the truth, but put a heat up the truth a little bit, just to create a little bit of, you know, I don't think you walk around every day with your hair like that or your lipstick like that. I think there's times when you're like, do you know what? I really don't want to put anything on today and do this content, but that's the business that you're in and it's the modern ways. Isn't it? The modern world.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean, for me, I mean I know surprise and all, but I do pink curl my hair every single day. It's like a habit now where my makeup, I still have my hair done. It's so resigned. My husband's always like Jasmine, you have your hair done. I'm like, I don't know what it is. I just, because my haircut's kind of like a mullet. So if I don't Carla, it looks terrible.
Speaker 1:I can relate to that because at the moment my hair is back in a scrunchie because it's either Marilyn style or a scrunchie, but I'm definitely not making any content with a scrunchie in my hair.
Speaker 2:I'll have to see whenever I'm like doing that. Like I can't show like my mullet, this is so bad. Oh yeah, no, definitely. It's, it's one of those things like every day it's like, okay, especially now with like the virus and things, it's, it's difficult to like, make sure your get yourself up and be like, let's keep going, keep going, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Totally. And it's
Speaker 1:What do you think if you had to think of Maddie Monro nowadays? Um, and she had to be subjected because so many celebrities are to this constant level of, um, media of like making these discontent because I've got actor, friends that say, Oh, you know, uh, musicians that go, Oh my record companies wanted me to do more content and then they don't want to do it. They want to be playing their music, but it's how to stay relevant. Isn't it? So it's a lot of pressure. What, how do you think Marilyn Monroe would cope with the amount of pressure that is on you really to keep this content up?
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. I think she would circuits. I think she would do fine. I know that she would have people as well helping her and like, I know for me, especially like my husband's, he helps me a lot as well. If I'm having a day, I'm just like, I can't think of something he's Hey helps me. And I'm sure she would do amazingly because even if she even posted just a few times a week or something like that, everyone would just love her. So, because she had such an amazing way that she had back then, so she would definitely capture the audience. Know she'd she'd have she do well
Speaker 1:Is a pressure though, isn't it? So I think it really is. I think you'd be, I think that's your age. I've been very positive about like at 44, I'm just like, Oh God, I have to walk away from social media for a week. I need, I need a rest. It's like constant noise. But, um, when you're young and you, and you've got a good company like that, you're doing, what's been your favorite Tik TOK that you've done. The one that was,
Speaker 2:Oh, I needed to have so many different things. Um, I, I was enjoying doing like people who are giving me requests and say like try email style or something like that. And I was enjoying just kind of, well, people are as well. They were enjoying to see me just try these different, crazy makeups and different like style trends of today. And they were fun to do a major. I spent like a lot of money on them and I was like, Oh my goodness, this is too much. But it was a lot of fun. Um, I definitely see them and obviously like doing things around the house and things. I love to make sure that I'm getting back to, especially like the Maryland fans and things like that. So they get to see the house it's not just hidden and things like that. I definitely see that those types of videos.
Speaker 1:What would you like to say to Marin and fans? Um, I know that you have a lot of fans that, you know, think you're amazing, but if there's some people that what, they're a bit like, Oh, well, cause you know, some fans are never gonna like impersonators, but what would you like to say, um, about the act that you do in your, your, your Tik TOK tributes to Maryland? They, they, I think they come from a place of fun and they come from, you know, you are running a business at the end of day. Like I have to do a business and there's things, you know, that I wouldn't like to keep playing her dying, but, but she died. There's nothing I can do about that. And I've had people saying, Oh, you shouldn't play her dying. Well, I can't just stop the film company from, you know, so can you imagine, like I don't do this thing. Sorry. Um, yeah. So what would you like to say to fans that are listening and may have preconceived ideas of what you're like and, and the real you and your tribute?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I would say that I put a hundred percent me online and I know like obviously people make up things and um, I really see that I always try and strive to be as kind and I would never promote Marlon in any bad way. I always want to, you know, encourage people to know about her and spread more awareness to even like a younger generation than I just want to promote kindness and positivity. And that's really what I strive for everyday. And hi, I'm online is hi I'm everyday.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree. And it's very, it's very, very hard when you're having online image and people don't get to meet you and know you. I know that people that I've known now had preconceived ideas of me and it's that they are protective about Marilyn. But what the good thing is is you are hitting a really young generation and hopefully by looking at you, they'll look up Marilyn and they'll discover things about her. And I think it's important to keep her in the modern age. So what's the future for you? What do you think is going to happen? Because in the end it's got to run out of content or not.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. I think for me, there's, we've had a few things that's coming up in the works this year, which my husband and I both excited about. And I think I just want to keep creating content and create happy content and try and also get back into you, directing for sure. Back to making scary movies. All I love to do and things like that. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So is that your dream to make it so you could do a scary movie, like, um, a Marilyn Monroe horror movie, I guess that's not been done in it in a nice way. She's not the horror. Maybe she slays all the horrible people.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah. No something definitely something I'd love to make a whole movie like a big cinema one and yeah, for sure. In the future and yeah, just keep going and just see what, where this takes me the first year.
Speaker 1:What's, what's your favorite horror movie then for all our horror fans that are listening.
Speaker 2:I love so many. Um, I think the one that I really liked and it's obviously it's old. No, but the conjuring, that was one that I absolutely loved a lot. Um, and also Alfred Hitchcock, I loved his movies. That was what really got me into like the kind of thriller kind of writing and things like that. So I think that was the first thing I actually, my brother invited us the story, hopefully she's not listening, but one of my brother's ex-girlfriends she gave him an Alfred Hitchcock box set and he was like, I don't even know who this is. And I was like, Oh my goodness. I do. I was like, do you mind if we like, I can get you another gift or something and then we can treat. Um, so she didn't know. He was like, yeah, I read, I watched all those movies and I actually was watching them when
Speaker 1:Genius. He really was a genius. So what is, what is your favorite movie then? Um, of his,
Speaker 2:It is of his, obviously I love cycle. Um, but I think vertical or to catch a thief. I love it.
Speaker 1:So the amazing thing about psycho I heard recently was that you never actually see getting stabbed in the shower, but you really think you do. And that was the genius of his direction. Cause you only see the knife and her face screaming. You never actually see him stop her. And I think nowadays we see so much, I saw a recent horror movie about online, his kids online. Oh God, what was his name? And um, they, they, there was doing Facebook content and then they go to this place in Russia and it was horrific. It was it's literally just like you saw everything. And I thought now you don't do that. All that Alfred Hitchcock thing where we were less is more, it's actually more frightening.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Cause you're using your imagination instead of just seeing it. I would definitely agree with you.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That's the way to go down. So when you win your first Oscar, you're going to dedicate it to Maryland.
Speaker 2:You got come with me, Suzy.
Speaker 1:I'd be like, I didn't win one, but Oh, it's so good that you,
Speaker 2:Oh, make it together or anything of Marilyn's that you own? Well, we actually, we actually found two magazines that date back to when she actually did stay here and we find them in an incinerator and my wardrobe actually, when we first moved in and it was really weird. There are like, there's one article at the back that is circled in red pen and there's different things underlined. So we're just like, I don't know if this was hires. We have no idea, but the, obviously there are a little bit, but
Speaker 1:Yeah. Well, if it's from the same time that she was there, then it really couldn't be it couldn't it because who else would have had them at that time?
Speaker 2:Yeah. It could have been hard. It could have been Joel. It it's just like, it's all crazy. Um, but we have, we have quite a few things from other like Hollywood actresses and things like that. We've managed to get, but so much, a lot of Maryland's things are just so expensive. I'm just like, Oh wow. That would be a dream. I'm just like, it's just so pricey.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I mean, I've got a few things, but I couldn't buy them now and I definitely couldn't buy them now since COVID, um, if you could own anything of Maryland's, what would it be?
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. Probably something of her makeup. I love makeup and I love collecting old makeup. It's like her makeup or something like that for sure.
Speaker 1:Oh, well, it's just been such a fun talking to you and please tell us your tick-tock channels, your Instagram channels for people listening. They can look you up.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's just a Jasmine. Cheswell on all of my social medias. And thank you so much, Susie, for having me. It's such an honor to talk with you. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's been a pleasure and I really cannot wait to see where you go with your career. Cause it's so exciting and it really is a modern take on impersonation and vintage and it's, it's really good fun. I started doing Tik TOK and I literally, I, it wasn't for me. So I really had, I really admire your, your commitment to this and they are really, really fun and brightens people up.
Speaker 2:Thank you so busy. That means so much.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Keep on. And you're living the dream girlfriend from Scotland to Hollywood.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's still so surreal. I still can't believe it. My dad's still like, Oh, it feels weird that you're still not here. I'm just like, Oh, that don't make me homesick.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm sure we can all start traveling soon and you can go anywhere you want. But um, thank you so much and really keep it up and you know, I'm sure it's it's this is the modern age.
Speaker 2:Definitely is. I wonder what's going to happen after tick dog. I'm like, what's the next I have this going to come, right? Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because that's what I was saying about the end of it. It does, it does tend to come around. Doesn't it? YouTube seems to stay, but there's these different, um, these different ones, but why it's there just keep entertaining everybody.
Speaker 2:That's that? I'll definitely keep doing it.
Speaker 1:Bless your heart. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you as well as Susie. Thank you so much. Bye.