Social media changed the game for magicians, and Anna DeGuzman knows that better than most.
The professional close-up magician, illusionist, and card artist got her start as a teen, teaching herself through YouTube videos and magic books. Some 12 years later, she's become a Magic Castle member, a runner-up on America's Got Talent, and the host of her own interview show on Complex's YouTube channel. Then, of course, there's her successful TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channel that earned her the title of Featured Creator at VidCon 2026.
Having come into her own while posting online, DeGuzman's seen how more magicians making content ups the ante for the art form.
"Magic is so much more accessible now, which also makes the art need to elevate, to keep up," DeGuzman told Mashable. "Because now you're like, OK, how do I make sure this is 360-proof, and if people play it back in slow motion, they still don't figure it out?"
Her social media savvy also influences her IRL live performances.
"I think in visuals. If someone were to watch your story of my show, and they only saw 15 seconds, is that a captivating visual that makes you go, oh, that's interesting, what's happening?" DeGuzman said.
I can personally attest to DeGuzman's skills, as she combined her mentalism techniques and card artistry during our interview to determine the birthday of my childhood crush (a member of a certain Disney Channel boy band). I can't lie — it felt just like magic.
