Whether she’s screenwriting for her next short film, writing pieces for her self-titled blog, or performing as a party princess with the Pure Imagination Party Company, every day is a busy day for Sarah Hamilton, an LA-based influencer who recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University’s Film and Television Program.
On Instagram, Sarah describes herself as an author, actress, filmmaker, musician, model, artist and dreamer, all at the age of 23. So what’s it take to become the jack of all trades at such a young age?
Her Campus: Tell us about your site/platform and why you launched it.
Sarah Hamilton: I started with a blog (formerly, LockerStyler) that evolved into my YouTube channel when I started college back in 2015. I wanted to create, inspire, and share my adventures in LA when moving out from New York. Since then, it’s become a major part of my life and online brand to share my life as it is, and inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter what! I post vlogs, short films, web series and various content. Recently, I relaunched my official website portfolio with a consulting business, Dreams to Reality, where anyone can get individual advice on how to kickstart their dream life, based on my experience and knowledge as an author, actress, filmmaker and artist in the entertainment industry. I love to help others!
HC: What do you hope your followers get out of following you?
SH: My main message to my followers is and always has been to follow your dreams, no matter what! I grew up with a lot of wonderful dreams that I didn’t expect to be possible, but as I find my own unique path, trusting my intuition and doing what I want to do, I find that a lot of dreams have come true beyond what I would expect to be possible. You really can do anything you wish, and I’m here to help!
HC: What does your week currently entail?
SH: My lifestyle is very spontaneous and ever-changing, but if I were to have a typical week, it’s Monday through Thursday emails/castings/auditions/possible filming/blogging/working on my personal projects, and Friday through Sunday work as a party princess performer for children’s birthday parties around the LA area. I tend to take things day by day, moment by moment!
HC: What’s the best and worst part about being an influencer?
SH: The best part of influencing is definitely being able to authentically connect with others and inspire! The worst is probably the fear of coming across too “sales-pitchy.” My main advice for college ladies with major dreams, especially when it comes down to influencing, is to create what YOU want the way YOU want to! It’s easy to fall into the ideas of themes and aesthetics, but being your best self is the way to be for both you and your audience. The audience finds you!
HC: Is running your platforms your full time job or a side hustle? Why did you make that decision?
SH: With the amount of time and work I put into running my platforms, it should be a full-time job, but in reality, it’s a part of what I do on a more collective level. Upkeeping my platforms adds to my brand, which helps with personal projects and acting/writing/filmmaking opportunities. Everything is connected.
HC: Which people have had the most influence on you, and why?
SH: My favorite people to follow are such a range! I mostly follow my family and friends, but I also follow a range of influencers, actors, musicians, and creatives. The variety is amazing and I’m always open to connecting with new people. It’s inspiring to see different ways to live life and follow dreams!
HC: How has being an influencer affected your friendships and relationships?
SH: Being an influencer has allowed me to meet a lot of new people, both online and at in-person events (pre-pandemic, of course!). It’s built up my confidence and allowed for a lot of great collaboration. I also am more into making cool things happen in life, both for fun but also for content, which I think has been a lot of additional fun with my family and friends. I’m always up to something!
HC: What has been the most surreal thing that’s happened to you as an influencer?
SH: The most surreal thing that has happened to me as an influencer is really the constant ability to work with brands and create content. It’s amazing on both the acting and filmmaking side to have opportunities to create, get heard, and be myself to build up my voice and presence. I’m always learning something new, too, and the adventurous side keeps building with every new brand that I learn about!
HC: What are your three favorite tools for content creation?
SH: My top three favorite tools for content creation are definitely Adobe Premiere Pro for all video editing (it’s my go-to!), my laptop/phone/social media (especially Instagram) for connecting and multi-tasking, and my Canon G7X camera for vlogging/photographing!
HC: What does the future of influencing look like for you? What’s next for you personally?
SH: The future of influencing ideally is authentic and normalized to showcase more diversity and the blend of brand and personal values. Influencing should be more normalized with better opportunities being seen as a professional career path. Personally speaking, I’m working on music, the second season of the LA Mermaids web series, more vlogs, books, helping others with my Dreams to Reality business, and more acting/writing/filmmaking! You can keep up with me and my adventures online @sarahfhamilton.
Behind the Feed is a weekly series showcasing a different member of the InfluenceHer Collective every week. Are you an influencer? Apply to join the IHC, and you could be featured in the future!