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Mirta Miler — known globally as @mimiermakeup — joins us for a powerful conversation about sobriety, confidence, and the unexpected ways recovery reshaped her life and career. With more than 22 million followers across platforms and over 1 billion likes on TikTok, Mirta is one of Europe’s most influential beauty creators. But behind the glam, she faced a deeply personal battle with alcohol addiction.
Growing up in Croatia, Mirta explains that drinking culture was normalized — “especially being Balkan… it’s very normal to drink a lot and also drink daily.” She describes how her addiction wasn’t “textbook,” but showed up as an inability to stop once she started, frequent blackouts, and dangerous situations.
“When I started to drink, I was not able to stop… I could drink a whole bottle of whiskey.”
Even as her social media career exploded, alcohol quietly eroded her mental health. She continued creating content flawlessly — even after nights of heavy drinking — but inside, she felt exhausted, unhappy, and disconnected.
“Mentally, it didn’t affect my work… but mentally I was.”
Two years ago, she made a spontaneous but life‑changing decision to stop drinking. Sobriety became her greatest “glow‑up,” transforming her confidence, relationships, and sense of self-worth.
“I have never felt better… I will never stop saying how beneficial this was for me.”
Mirta also opens up about the pressures of the content‑creator world — events, festivals, industry parties — where drinking is often expected. She shares how she navigates sobriety in environments where alcohol is the norm, and how she still attends festivals and has fun without drinking.
We also discuss how her audience responded, how sobriety changed her content, and why authenticity, wellness, and inner beauty resonate so strongly with her followers today.
Mirta’s message to anyone in recovery:
“Be 1% better every day… trying is perfect.”
And her message to families:
“Be gentle… it’s such a sensitive situation.”
You can find Mirta on all platforms at @mimiermakeup.
Bio: Mirta Miler is a globally recognized beauty expert, trend forecaster, and digital creator with more than 22 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Known online as @mimiermakeup, she has become one of the leading voices in #BeautyTok, partnering with major brands including L’Oréal, Nivea, and Anastasia Beverly Hills. Named “European It‑Girl” by Glamour and featured in Allure and Numéro, Mirta is celebrated for translating fast‑moving digital trends into real‑world, wearable beauty.
Beyond her beauty influence, Mirta is a passionate advocate for sobriety and wellness. After struggling with alcohol addiction and achieving over two years of sobriety, she now shares how recovery transformed her confidence, mental health, and relationship with beauty. Newly engaged and planning a 2027 wedding, she continues to build a platform centered on authenticity, empowerment, and modern womanhood.
Voiceover
The Addiction podcast Point of no return.
Joanie Sigal
Mirta, thank you for being on the podcast today.
Mirta Miler
Thank you for having me.
Joanie Sigal
I know that you have quite a large social media presence that you have built, and that is very, very exciting.And for us, of course, being a podcast about addiction, we know that you had your own brush with addiction, and we are interested in talking to you about that and how your business on social media affected that and vice versa.So tell us a little bit just about your background and where you grew up and how you got into the business that you're in.
Mirta Miler
So I am originally from Croatia and I am here right now in my hometown, Zagreb.This is where it all started.This is where I started filming my videos.And I never started filming with a plan of growing such a big following.I really started doing it because I loved it and I still love it, continue to love it.And it just blew up with without any warning.And I really locked in for a lot of years when I started to see the response and the connection that I had with my audience.I think that it was like a mutual relationship, I always say, with my audience.And that's how we got to today, really.
Joanie Sigal
Wow.Now you did.You do have your own history of addiction.How did that come about?
Mirta Miler
Well, actually, with me, it's kind of a complex story because I do have some cases also in my family.I think it's pretty much like when you have a lot of people in your family that go through the same thing.It's kind of.It's.It's in your DNA.And unfortunately, my whole.My whole life actually, I really was running from all devices because I knew that this was an issue generationally and stuff.Not everyone was treated, but I knew that it was an issue.And then when, as I grew up, I think that alcohol for me wasn't such an obvious addiction.I always say that an addiction is not always textbook.You don't always see it in the same way.I think that people expect you to be drinking every day, binge drinking every day and drinking alone.And it comes in a lot of shapes and sizes.And for me, it was just like unable to.To stop.When I started to drink, I was not able to stop.I didn't have a.Like a break.I was never taking a break.I could drink a whole bottle of whiskey.I could like, it was crazy.And I noticed this in me when I was pretty young.But, you know, it's especially being Balkan.I don't know if you're familiar here.It's very normal to drink a Lot and also drink daily.No one sees it as that big of a problem.I think it's starting to.People are starting to become aware how dangerous it actually is, but it's normalized.And I didn't notice the issue for a lot of years.And then I was getting blackout, blackout, blackout whenever I would drink.And I was doing all these crazy things, putting myself in danger.And then one day I was just like, I need to stop.This is just not for me.I need to separate myself from this.And I really decided to make a change.
Joanie Sigal
That's very well done.And how long have you been sober now?
Mirta Miler
It's been over two years.It was June two years back.It was kind of spontaneous.It just happened by itself.There was not a big event.It was a feeling that I had.
Joanie Sigal
You made a decision, which is where it all starts.If you're going to get sober, you have to make that decision.Were you, while you were drinking and having the blackouts and such, were you at that time still doing your social media and did it affect that at all?
Mirta Miler
Absolutely, I was.Absolutely.I actually had a break from drinking for four years, but not like my decision, like, going sober.I was in a complicated relationship where it was kind of not forbidden, but you know what I mean.
Joanie Sigal
Yep.
Mirta Miler
And then for a couple of years, I. I really didn't drink that much.And then after that relationship ended, it really sent me on a spiral.So I was drinking.Especially with this lifestyle.I was already a content creator.It's kind of easy for you to get caught up in partying, going out and everything, and especially with me, because it wasn't really affecting my job, because I'm going to do my job no matter what.If I'm hungover, I'm still going to do my job and I'm going to do it excellently and I'm going to.
Joanie Sigal
Cover up the dark circles.
Mirta Miler
Absolutely.Absolutely.My friends were.My friends are always saying how they were shocked that I was able to go out and drink a bottle of whiskey and the next morning, wake up, sleep three hours, wake up and be absolutely, like, I would need a half hour of, like, meditation and I would be Zen and I would be ready to film.So it did affect me a lot.Mentally, it didn't affect my work.I was still on schedule and everything.But mentally I was.
Joanie Sigal
Yes, I understand the business that you're in.Beauty does.Now, I'm not familiar with it because I'm not in that business, but is it hard staying sober?Like, are there opportunities, like parties or what have you.That you are expected to go to and expected to participate in drinking or maybe even drugs.Do you understand?Is that.Does that affect you?
Mirta Miler
Yes, yes, yes, I understand.Well, absolutely.I think that since I am.I was based in Europe at this time, and in all of the European events, it's kind of.You're going to drink.If you're going to a festival, everyone is drinking.Every event, everything is kind of.Everyone is handing you a drink.It's a part of the job a lot of people say is drinking.You need to drink to make friends with people from the industry.And you know, you will get it more accepted if you get drunk together.I definitely saw a lot of this.It's not connected to beauty, but it is connected to content creation.When you go out and you get drunk with all of these people from marketing and stuff, you become friends more easily and you get into these circles.So it's definitely.It's definitely a part of the job.
Joanie Sigal
I can see that.And.And maybe.Maybe saying beauty was the wrong thing.Maybe it was more the celebrity, because when you're a content creator, such as you are, you are a celebrity.And so, yeah, I can see how that would.That would be a challenge, if you will.
Mirta Miler
Absolutely.Absolutely.It was.It was.And it was kind of hard to, for me, especially for the events and stuff like that, to say, no, I'm not drinking.Like, I'm not someone who drinks.It's.It's.It was hard in the beginning.
Joanie Sigal
And it's also hard, I think, for people who are around you who feel like it's okay, because even though your intention is not.You're drinking.I don't want to.Your intention isn't.You're wrong for drinking.But people take it that way.Do you know, because you don't want.And it's unfortunate because, you know, we've had people in the podcast who are trying to make sobriety the cool thing to do, you know, which it can be.You don't.You don't have to be drunk to have a good time.You know that.
Mirta Miler
Absolutely.
Joanie Sigal
But I think some.Some people feel like they do, and you might be making them wrong.Even though that's.That's not obviously not your intention, because I can tell it's not.So.So tell me what.What your life is like right now.I know you've been talking about being sober.You've been talking about that on other podcasts.
Mirta Miler
I have been talking about it mostly on my social media.Okay.I think that it's.I don't want it to be, like, my personality traits, right?But it actually, like, I'm really proud of it, and I will not shut up about it because people are like, okay, okay, we get it.But you don't get it, because it really changed my life.And I have never felt better since I did it.I couldn't have expected to feel this good.And I will never stop saying how beneficial this was for me in my life and for my relationships, for my work, for everything.It's just absolutely changed my life.And I really want to say, as you mentioned, if you're someone who can enjoy a drink in a responsible way and doesn't have an addictive personality, that is amazing.And that is not.I'm not saying anything.Even for my fiance.He still drinks alcohol when, you know, there's an occasion or something or, you know, a wine, a nice wine or something.And I'm like, babe, don't feel bad because of me.I can't because of, you know, I have my issues.But you absolutely do your thing.And I'm really glad that I'm surrounded by people who support my decision.
Joanie Sigal
Absolutely.You have to be.And that's a huge point.You cannot decide for yourself that you're going to get clean and sober and then be surrounded by people who say, oh, it's just one drink.Don't worry about it.It's not going to affect you.So that very well done you for getting yourself into that type of an environment.You know, Mirta, what I see when I look at you, and I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but the message I get is you are a beauty expert and a beauty expert in terms of makeup and the physical.But with your sobriety, you are also beautiful inside.And I feel like that's something that you're promoting, which is huge because there can be so much attention on this line or that line or this line.Wrinkle.And the beauty comes from within, and I can see it in you.And I think people respond to that.
Mirta Miler
Yes, I think it's actually.There is a physical aspect to it.I'm not going to lie.When I watch my videos, at the time, I didn't see it.I thought that I looked fine.It was just me without makeup, and that's fine.And it is fine.I was still beautiful.Not gonna say anything about that.But when I look at the videos, I can see, like, it actually, like, I get goosebumps because I can see it.There's, like, the dark circles.I look so tired because I was.I Looked very unhappy because I was.And it's obvious to me.It's not going to be obvious to someone else.I hit it pretty well.But I could definitely also see a physical aspect of, of the situation on my like, appearance, like face wise and also body.There, There's a lot that changed.
Joanie Sigal
Wow.Well, you are so beautiful.And I like, I say I can see it from within, not just your face.Has.When you started getting honest about your sobriety and your need for sobriety, did your social media audience, did it change?
Mirta Miler
Well, actually, it really didn't.People really were super supportive because I think that I have an international audience that really understands the needs for an individual to go sober if they feel like it.I feel like in the Balkan region, maybe there kind of was kind of some opinions like, you were never an addict.You're.You know when you have to stop with something.I mean, you should as an adult and you know, when you have a problem.I personally do.I do have an addictive personality.I could get addicted to anything, actually.Like, I'm just trying to, to shake off a, a gum addiction.I have, like, I, I could get addicted to anything and anything my fiance knows.Like when I like something, it starts to be a very, very serious situation.Pretty pret.
Joanie Sigal
Yeah.
Mirta Miler
I feel like maybe the, the Balkan audience was a little bit, you know, iffy about it, but.
Joanie Sigal
And I think I asked it incorrectly.I didn't even, I didn't mean so much.Did, did it change more than, did it grow?Because I could imagine that more people would want to listen to you more because now you're not only like a stunningly beautiful person, but you're a stunningly beautiful person who maybe faces the same issues that the rest of us face.
Mirta Miler
Yes.I feel like there, there's definitely.I feel like that always the audience that comes to you is the audience that feels inspired by you or that wants to be like you or that is living the similar lifestyle to you.And that, that is absolutely what.What I also want because I know that when I was drinking and when someone was talking about sobriety, when I wasn't ready for that, I don't think that I was following these content creators.I was like, oh, my God, what are you talking about?You know, it was making me feel bad, even though it wasn't supposed to, but it definitely did make a little bit of a change in my audience.I think that maybe before there was more party people.I still have my party people.And let me be clear, I still go to parties.I went to Four or five music festivals this year, and it was.I had a blast.I.No alcohol, no nothing.I had an amazing time.So it's definitely.You can make your own fun.
Joanie Sigal
Yes, exactly.Exactly.That's a great piece of advice.Mirta, what would you say to our audience?You know, our audience is largely people in recovery, a lot.Also of families and friends of people who maybe need to get into recovery.What kind of advice would you give them?
Mirta Miler
Well, for.For the people who are in recovery or who are want to make a change and want to start recovery, there's also people who maybe had a setback in their recovery journey.I would say that just be 1% better every day.Like, if you can make just one small, small change every day, one small change.You don't have to be perfect.That was my big issue in the beginning.Like, you have to be perfect.It has to be perfect.You can make mistakes.We're all human.You're going to make mistakes, you're going to have setbacks, you're going to have hard days, but you really need to.I always talk to myself from the future and I always do something.I always try to do something nice for myself tomorrow.So really, if you're in recovery or considering it, think of yourself tomorrow and don't try to be perfect.Trying is perfect.That is, that is the perfect step to, To a perfect future.And if you're someone who is a friend or family of someone who needs help or is in recovery, I would say that to be gentle, to really be gentle, because it's.It's such a.Such a sensitive topic and sensitive situation, you really need to approach this person with a lot of, you know, understanding and a lot of love and really be there for them in this, in this period, because support their decision, whatever they try, whatever kind of approach they try to take with it, and, you know, spread positivity to that person as much as they can because that's.That's what we all need.
Joanie Sigal
I love that.And you're such a positive person.I really appreciate that about you.So how do people find you on social media?
Mirta Miler
Well, people can find me on all social media.My handle is Mimirmakeup on everything.They can also search up Mirta Miller, roll the R&1L.And yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in my future videos and my future content.
Joanie Sigal
Thank you so much.And I, I.Tell me again, I'm sorry, tell me again your handle.I didn't quite get that.I got the Mirta Miler, but I.
Mirta Miler
Didn't get the Mimi Mimir makeup.
Joanie Sigal
How do you say that?
Mirta Miler
Sorry, Mimi.
Joanie Sigal
Me M I, m I.
Mirta Miler
Yes.Er, makeup.
Joanie Sigal
Okay.Perfect.Okay.I'm going to put that out there because I think that, I think you are inspiring for women of all ages.And as I said before, your positivity and your inner beauty shines through.And I think in the business that you're in, I think it's so important to put that forth along with all of the exterior beauty that you talk about.
Mirta Miler
Yeah.Oh, my God.Thank you so much for having me.I really enjoy that.
Joanie Sigal
You are very, very welcome.You keep, you just keep positive and keep beautiful.I think you, you will inspire many.Thank you so much.
Mirta Miler
Thank you so much.Thank you.
Voiceover
You have been listening to the Addiction Podcast, Point of no return.For more information, reach out to us on Facebook or go to www.the addictionpodcast.com.Our email is the addiction podcast@yahoo.com.