What Putting Myself Online Taught Me
Written by Katrina Bui
As a Criminal Justice major with an Advertising minor, I never expected that stepping into content creation and brand ambassadorship would shape me in such a meaningful way. What started as something fun, just sharing moments of my life, turned into a journey of growth and self-discovery.
I began posting casually, simply because I enjoyed capturing and sharing happy moments. That changed during my junior year when I landed my first paid brand ambassadorship with JOYBA (a fruity bubble tea company). At the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but that opportunity pushed me to take a leap. From there, everything became a “full send.” I started putting myself out there more, applying to other brands.
A year later, I was accepted into ambassadorships with brands like Victoria’s Secret and Hollister; companies I had grown up shopping at. That experience felt surreal. What made it even more meaningful was that I didn’t have a massive following. With just under 3,000 followers (around 2.7K), I was still able to make an impact. That’s when I realized something important: success in this space isn’t defined by numbers.
Through this journey, I’ve learned that growth comes from experimentation. Trying new content styles, stepping outside my comfort zone, and collaborating with different brands taught me that curiosity matters more than perfection. Not everything will work, and that’s okay. The process itself is what builds you. And the journey itself is pretty fun too!
And that brings me to the most important lesson: relationships matter. Whether it’s with brands, fellow creators, or my audience, everything is built on authenticity and trust. I’ve always made it a priority to only work with brands that align with me and would never want to promote something just for money, because people can tell when something isn’t real. Staying authentic has allowed me to create more meaningful and lasting connections.
Putting myself online has taught me that being successful isn’t about chasing numbers or trends, it’s about staying true to who you are, taking risks, and continuously growing. For me, that’s what truly makes the journey worth it. This is your sign to get out of your comfort zone and try something new; you never know where it will take you.
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