UGC that feels real — and is built to convert.
I'm Alena Macri, a Chicago-based UGC creator and video producer/editor. I make short-form content for beauty, wellness, fashion, food, and travel brands — polished, but still authentic — for organic and paid social.
- Beauty & Skincare
- Wellness
- Fashion
- Food
- Travel & Lifestyle
Background in advertising & media strategy — so every video starts with a hook and a reason to stop scrolling, not just a pretty shot.
Chicago-based, always traveling Based in Chicago and on the road often — I've been to a lot of places over the past year and bring my camera wherever I go.
Start here
See my style in 30 seconds
If you're a brand deciding whether I'm a fit, start with the reel — then look at the formats below for what I can make for you.
Top-performing Instagram reel
Fourth of July fireworks over the Chicago skyline, filmed from the water — my most-liked reel, with 12,425 likes, and a quick feel for how I shoot.
Watch on InstagramHow I build a UGC video
- 1Hook in the first 3 secondsA line, texture shot, or before/after that earns the watch.
- 2Real-life storytellingRoutines and moments that feel like a friend recommending it — because that’s what converts.
- 3Edited for the platformTight cuts, captions in mind, and versions that work organic or as an ad.
UGC portfolio
Content I create for brands
Real reels from my Instagram — tap any card to watch it there. Every one is a format I can recreate for your product, campaign, and timeline.
Reel · Haircare routineSalon haircare, at home
My latest Target finds from Nick Stenson Beauty — an at-home haircare routine filmed in my bathroom, the way I'd actually use the products.
Reel · GRWMNo-makeup makeup
Lashes and lips doing all the work — a Grande Cosmetics get-ready-with-me where the product is part of getting ready, not an ad break.
Reel · Event coverageA day at The Wellness Retreat
On the ground at The Wellness Retreat with RateFit in Chicago — the classes, the energy, and the drinks in between, filmed as it happened.
Reel · Styling momentSummer errands, styled
A little treat and a workout set — an everyday styling moment from a summer errands run, filmed in-store at Alo.
Reel · Food momentDinner & drinks, up close
A plated dinner moment shot close enough to taste — the kind of food reel people save for their next night out.
Reel · TravelA traveler, wherever I land
Picking dinner in a sunny villa garden on a recent trip — travel content that puts a product inside the trip, not next to it.
Brands I've worked with
Services
Two ways to work with me
UGC is my main thing. Social media support is the second lane — for brands that need ongoing content help, not just one video.
UGC video creation
Short-form videos made for your brand to post — or to run as ads — that don't feel like ads.
- Concept & hook tailored to your product
- Filming & editing, ready to post
- Content for organic and paid social
- Beauty, wellness, fashion, food & travel niches
- Gifting, paid, and campaign collaborations
Good fits
If any of these sound like you, we're probably a match:
- You're launching a product and need creator content fast
- Your ads need a more native, creator-led feel
- You want routine, GRWM, or lifestyle content — not a studio shoot
- You need a creator who understands media strategy, not just trends
Social media on the side
Alongside UGC, I do social media work for brands — helping plan, create, and keep content consistent.
- Short-form content planning & ideas
- Filming & editing support for brand channels
- Lifestyle content that fits the brand's voice
- A creator's eye, with an advertising background behind it
Current project — wellness brand
I'm doing ongoing social media work with a wellness brand right now. I'm keeping the name off my portfolio for the moment — when the work is ready to share, the samples, role, and results will go right here.
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About Alena
Chicago-based, traveler at heart
I'm Alena — a UGC and lifestyle creator specializing in beauty, wellness, fashion, food, and travel. I create short-form content for organic and paid social, with storytelling, strong hooks, and engaging edits at the forefront.
Senior Associate Media Planner at dentsu
I'm a traveler at heart — I've been to a lot of places over the past year, and I'm always planning the next trip. That includes my vacation in Italy every summer, but travel for me is year-round. So I can make content that works at home in Chicago and on the road, wherever I am.
I also bring a professional background in advertising and media strategy. That means I think like a marketer and film like a creator — a combination brands tend to feel in the final cut.
How it works
From brief to ready-to-post
Simple, clear, and fast to start — here's what working together looks like.
Say hello
Email me your product, timeline, and what success looks like — gifting, paid, or a campaign.
Concept & hook
I pitch the angle and opening hook for your approval before anything is filmed.
Shoot & edit
I film and edit the video in my style — natural, polished, and platform-ready.
Deliver
You get the finished vertical video, ready for organic posting or paid social.
Questions
Before you email
What kind of brands do you work with?
Beauty, wellness, fashion, food, travel, and lifestyle brands — especially those that want creator content that feels authentic, not scripted or studio-produced.
Do you do gifting as well as paid work?
Yes — I'm open to discussing UGC, gifting, and paid creator opportunities. Tell me what you're planning and we can figure out the right fit.
Can you film travel content?
Yes. I'm a traveler who's been to a lot of places over the past year, so on-the-go content is a natural fit. I'm based in Chicago, travel often throughout the year — including a vacation in Italy every summer — and can film along the way for getaway, summer, and holiday campaigns.
Do you also help with social media, not just UGC?
Yes — alongside UGC videos, I do social media work on the side. If you need ongoing content support, mention it in your email and we can talk through what you need.
Let's make content your audience actually stops for.
Tell me about your product, your timeline, and the kind of video you're picturing. I read every email myself.