Article written by Hannah Tolley
What’s your definition of a social media influencer? For some, it might be a person who promotes brands through their platforms. For others, it might be someone who documents their life and shares it with the world. For me, it is someone who spreads authenticity and can create a platform that allows them to share their voice, but also the voice of their supporters. Emma Chamberlain embodies what an influencer is. Her YouTube videos hold weight, and her words reach far beyond just a computer screen.
I first started watching Emma as a sophomore in high school. Just like anyone who has social media, you go through waves of favorite influencers. However, Emma never left the top spot on my favorites list.
She first started her YouTube channel in the summer of 2017. In a matter of a few months, she had already hit 150,000 subscribers. Just a year later, she moved from her hometown of San Francisco to further her career in Los Angeles. Now at age 20, she has gained over 10 million YouTube subscribers, has started her own coffee company, has a thriving podcast and has many business ventures in the fashion industry. Despite all of those achievements, her biggest accomplishment as an influencer, in my opinion, is the ability to inspire viewers by just being herself.
In the world of social media, we are exposed to pictures that create a false reality, videos that only show a glimpse of the real world and influencers who use their platform to create an image of themselves that isn’t really who they are. I never felt like I was watching an influencer when I saw Emma’s videos. I felt like I was watching a friend. Her channel became a safe space for me and many others.
As a sophomore, I was navigating mental health and the formative years of high school, so was Emma. She grew up on her channel and shared with her viewers all the ups and the downs in her life. It was a breath of fresh air to follow an influencer that wasn’t all glitz and glamour, that talked openly about their struggles and created content that wasn’t forced. As I continued to watch her channel, I found that her videos were relatable, her intentions were authentic and her videos weren’t her job, they were her safe space too.
On her channel, she never fails to be herself. One moment she will be talking about her anxiety, and the next moment she’s showing us her favorite foods. She posts days in the life of her busy schedule, but also days where she’s just sitting at home reading a book. Viewers are drawn to her because she is real. We all have days where we don’t leave the house, but also days where we are on the go shopping or run never-ending errands. Emma doesn’t put up a façade and shows all aspects of her life, whether they are glamorous or not.
Emma also shares her life and advice on her podcast “Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain.” She discusses keys to a happy life, fashion trends, mental health, growing up and so much more. She puts what we are all thinking into words. If I’m being honest, I’m not a big fan of podcasts, but hers is a must-listen. Her podcasts are very casual and are like having a conversation, rather than just her talking through a microphone.
I can relate to Emma. I can relate to her struggles with anxiety and friendship problems. I can relate to her iced coffee obsession and always wanting to shop. I can relate to her being a young adult trying to navigate what life throws at her.
Her videos are casual and real. She spreads her voice and allows us to share ours through her platforms. She doesn’t use heavy editing or only chooses to show the happy moments in her life. Emma Chamberlain is the epitome of an influencer and I encourage everyone to watch her videos.
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