Quantcast
RELATED

The creator economy is booming, and there are no signs of it slowing down anytime soon. And of those leading the pack of what is now a $21.1 billion industry is social media influencer Monet McMichael.


After landing on Forbes Top Creator list at number 47, the nursing school grad turned beauty, lifestyle, and fashion “It Girl,” the social media starlet sat down with the publication to discuss her trajectory and how she stands out among the sea of budding content creators in her industry.

How Monet McMichael Pivoted From Nursing School To Making $4 Million A Year As A Beauty Influencer

ou may be wondering how someone can go from being a nursing student to skyrocketing to online fame in just a year's time. In Monet’s case, it was all about showing up online and creating a corner of the internet that was safe and relatable for the women and girls in her community.

“I think with social media, nowadays, it’s like you never know what’s kind of like real, or not,” she says, “So I kind of feel like you always know in my corner that it’s just the realest.”

“I kind of feel like the big sister where it’s like you know you can look up to me whether you’re older or younger, it’s a place where we can all learn from each other,” she adds.

While she’s garnered a devoted fan base of 3.6 million TikTok followers on her own, Monet touched on the transition from being a full-time student and content creator to building a team that helps her manage brand deals and new opportunities.

“So I was doing it on my own for the first year and then once I hit my senior year of nursing school, I was like, I don’t know if I can balance this all by myself,” she reflects. “Even answering emails was taking up half my day.”

She continues, “I recently expanded my team, working with an agency now, which I’m super excited about because the possibilities are just endless.”

With social media being her full-time job, it can be tricky finding the balance between using the app for leisure and content inspiration, while keeping your mental health in mind. “I’ve been working on that work-life balance,” Monet says. “It’s fun, but it’s also work — so it’s like scrolling for inspiration but also trying to create that boundary of where it’s good for my mental health just to disconnect and be present.”

Before taking a full leap into content creation, Monet approached a “fork in the road” where she had to truly decide whether being a full-time social media influencer was the path she wanted to take. However, leaning into the full range of opportunities that her online platform has granted has led her to the life of her dreams.

“This being my career now is an absolute dream,” she reflects. “I'm definitely chasing it right now, but I’m so glad I graduated, so glad I got my degree, but I learned so much in nursing school that can never be taken away from me.”

“Believe in yourself, because I know, so many people, including myself, lived in so much doubt for a while where it’s like you stop yourself from so much,” she says. “You would never know.”

Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.

Featured image by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

 

RELATED

 
ALSO ON XONECOLE
Luxury Hairstylist On Viral 'Hey Boo' Texts & Professionalism In The Hair Industry

As Black women, our hair is our crowning glory - whether we paid for it or not. We take pride in how we wear and take care of our hair. As with everything, hair care and hair styling have evolved over the years. Long gone are the days of Blue Magic (although I hear it’s making a comeback).

Now, we have a plethora of creams, oils, conditioners, shampoos, and stylists to choose from. Beyond wearing our natural curls, we have a range of options, from wigs and sew-ins to tape-ins, I-tips, and K-tips. So much choice! But you know what they say about too much of a good thing...

KEEP READINGShow less
Can You Actually Get An STI/STD From Kissing? Yes. And No.

One of my favorite things to do is kiss. In fact, kissing is so important to me that I once stayed with someone longer than I should’ve, in part, because he was such a good kisser (to the point where I can confirm that “kissing orgasms” are a real thing) and I also once broke up with someone because he absolutely sucked at kissing (ugh). Kissing is sexy. Kissing is sensual. Kissing is intimate.

And science says that kissing can boost endorphin levels in your body; reduce feelings that are associated with stress and anxiety; elevate your immunity; help to lessen allergy-related symptoms; soothe headaches and period cramp discomfort; make you horny (yes, literally), and even decrease your chances of getting cavities.

KEEP READINGShow less
LATEST POSTS