Wannabe Influencers, who hoped to achieve fame and success, are being pushed back into ‘real jobs’ due to increasing credit card debt.
Influencers who dreamed of making it big forced back into ‘real jobs’ with mounting credit card debt
The struggles of wannabe influencers
Young social media hopefuls are maxing out credit cards, couch surfing, and performing unpaid labor. Many are on the brink of abandoning their dreams due to creative burnout.
Despite these challenges, Gen-Z remains eager to become content creators. A recent survey revealed that 57 percent of young people aspire to be influencers.
Real stories of aspiring influencers
One such aspiring influencer is Chloe Barbour, 21. Her Instagram features lavish vacations, trendy outfits, and luxury vehicles.
However, she works as a direct support professional at Optimae Life Services in Ames, Iowa. There, she earns $16 an hour, working 80 hours a week just to survive.
“I’ve reached burnout a few times,” she admitted. “I had to take months off to focus on my mental health.”
Barbour felt misled about her career path. She believed that auditions and photoshoots would quickly advance her career. Instead, she found herself in a typical 9-to-5 job in the mental health field.
Wannabe Influencers, Barbour faced pressure to appear perfec
The pressure to present a perfect life online has been overwhelming for Barbour. “I can’t pay my utility bill the next week because I want to go to this opportunity,” she shared.
“Or I can’t go out with my friends because my money goes toward unpaid gigs.”
Barbour’s gigs often require her to travel, making it difficult to get time off from her day job. Additionally, modeling opportunities often come with just two weeks’ notice, while she typically needs a month’s notice to request time off.
Despite walking in New York Fashion Week this year, Barbour left feeling worse off due to hidden expenses.
Barbour faced the challenges of location and finances.
Barbour recognizes that her location limits her modeling opportunities compared to New York or Los Angeles.
However, moving to these cities is not financially feasible for her. “It would be too taxing on my budget. I need to be more financially stable before I can move,” she explained.
Recently, she had to withdraw from a luxury modeling retreat after discovering unethical practices by the organizer. “Had the photographer not sounded the whistle, we would have never known,” she stated.
Now, she faces a $400 non-refundable ticket to New York City while scrambling to find new opportunities.
After four years of self-funding her career, she finally secured her first paid gig. Set for November, it will pay $1,000 for three days of work.
Another aspiring influencer’s journey
Zay Jeffrar, 19, is another aspiring influencer. He works as a health aide in Staten Island, New York, while studying full-time. With nearly 2,200 Instagram followers, he dreams of becoming a successful online personality and model.
“I live three different lives; it’s exhausting, but I refuse to let my dream die,” he said.
Jeffrar chose the College of Staten Island for its proximity to Manhattan, allowing easy travel for auditions. Although he landed a runway show at New York Fashion Week, balancing his responsibilities is a challenge.
“I can’t afford to not get cast,” he explained. “I’ll travel to a casting call, wait for hours, only for my name not to get called.”
The reality of brand deals
Jeffrar has landed some brand deals but often gets paid in clothes and products. “Bigger names get paid. I’m not a big name yet,” he noted.
He understands that brands take advantage of micro-influencers for free labor in exchange for exposure. “I’ll get featured on the company’s Instagram, but that’s the most I’ve been ‘paid,'” he added.
In contrast, high-profile influencers like Alix Earle can make a year’s salary with one sponsored post. Earle reportedly earns between $40,000 and $70,000 for brand partnerships.
However, Earle is an anomaly. According to an industry report from NeoReach, 48 percent of content creators earned less than $15,000 in 2023.
While the average salary of a TikTok influencer is $131,874, this figure is skewed by social media stars like Charli D’Amelio, who earns six figures per post.
The struggles of wannabe influencers reveal the harsh realities behind the glamorous facade. While many dream of success, the journey is often fraught with challenges, financial instability, and burnout. Aspiring creators like Barbour and Jeffrar continue to fight for their dreams despite the mounting pressure.