Digital Star Jasmine Luv Left Accounting To Follow Her Calling

Whether she's a petty professor educating students on the art of being petty, your ride or die best friend helping you spy on yet another ex-boyfriend, or Starter Pack's Ayana Martin trying to figure out adulting like the rest of us, Jasmine Luv's hilarious comedy is sure to leave you in tears.

With her natural comedic gift paired with her relatable content, it wasn't long before Jasmine Luv gained a following and unknowingly launched her career in entertainment. While she always knew she had a great sense of humor, she never thought this would actually be a career she'd end up pursuing, taking it upon herself to create content by and for women, being the voice we all needed. What some might not know is that at the height of becoming a Vine sensation, she was working as an accountant before discovering her true calling.

So she did, and never looked back!

Now just two years later, the multi-hyphenate has since garnered over 1 million followers on Instagram, received accolades as an "It Girl" on the BET Social Awards, was named one of the "top online influencers" by VH1, and is currently the leading lady in AT&T/Hello Lab's new show Starter Pack.

Stepping out of her comfort zone, believing in herself, and following the gift God has given her, changed her life and career as she once knew it to be. Jasmine Luv's rising career is proof that success does come from following your dreams, you just have to be brave enough to take a leap.

Here's her story:

Who is Jasmine Luv?

Jasmine Luv is a funny, witty, down to earth girl who ultimately just loves to make people laugh and have a great time. I love to be positive and give out positive energy. I'm just an all-around positive girl who wants to make an impact in a positive way.

Was comedy and acting your childhood dream or was it something that just happened for you?

So it's funny, I've always been that funny friend, like the clown in my friend group but NEVER would I have imagined that I would be doing this for millions of people.

I went to school and got my Masters in Accounting. After school, I found an accountant job and I realized I just wasn't happy there. I liked what I did but I didn't LOVE it, so I just started making videos on Vine. Back when Vine was popular, I would see nothing but men on Vine doing funny videos. At the time I was just like, "Ok, wait, hold on, there's nothing that I can relate to for women." I knew personally that I was going through a lot of situations at the time, you know from petty bestfriends, or crazy relationships (laughs). So from there, I just started to go home after work, get in front of the camera, write my sketches out, film them, and put it out there. It then started to grow a fanbase and from there, I was just like, "Wow I really enjoy this, this is something I really LOVE," so in 2016 I decided to quit my accounting job to move out to L.A to pursue entertainment and grow as an entertainer.

Take me back to the early stages of your career, what was the grind to break into the industry like for you?

I moved out here in July of 2016 off of a brand deal that I was offered. It was a year worth of monthly deals, so in my head I was like, "Ok great, this is the money that I'll be able to pay my rent with and it should be no problem." I always tell this story because it's crazy (laughs). It was in July, I had went and got my nails done, and mind you the nails out here are ridiculous compared to South Carolina - it's on a whole different level. So, I had already spent like $100 on nails, just to go to my car and get this email. The email read, "Thank you so much for understanding, however this brand deal contract is voided because we ran out of money." I was like, "How in the world do you do that?" They obviously had some trouble that they weren't telling a lot of influencers so, just like that, the contract was done. I was so nervous because that's what I came out to L.A on.

So the first couple of months in L.A were definitely rough but I learned a lot out here; I started to grow [as an entertainer] and things eventually started to get better. I feel like everyone goes through that out here. You have those rough few months but eventually it gets better.

How has social media impacted your career?

Social media definitely helped me, and not even ways that are financial but it taught me more about myself and what I loved. Like I said at first I thought it was accounting that I loved, and then I realized something totally different. It was just like, "Wow, I enjoy writing, I enjoy producing and directing." Social media taught me more about myself.

"Social media taught me more about myself."

What advice would you have for others looking to use social media to build their careers?

For other people who want to get into digital and social media, I always tell people you have to love it! It's not something where you're just like, "Oh, I want to be Instagram famous," or "Oh, I want to make money." You have to love it because people see that. It comes through your videos and it comes through your message.

Secondly, you have to be patient! A lot of people want to put that video out in hopes it's going to go crazy and when it doesn't happen, they get discouraged. Don't get discouraged just keep doing it and putting it out there. If you love it, people will see it and it will eventually grow. So, [I'd say] patience and doing what you love - mainly those two things. If you love what you do and are patient with it, it will eventually take you to where you want to be.

"If you love what you do and are patient with it, it will eventually take you to where you want to be."

To keep up with Jasmine and her rising career in comedy be sure to follow her @Luv_jjp. Also catch her as the hilarious leading lady, Ayana Martin on AT&T/Hello Lab's new show Starter Pack.

*Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Featured photo by @snapagogo