Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own.
Rachel Choy has been working in the retail fashion business for most of her career. She launched her social media platform ten years ago and has since grown her following to 200,000 people participating in her tight-knit circle of personal insights. But her journey to success was rocky. Despite the picturesque lifestyle, the entrepreneurial grind sentiment applies to influencers as well, and Rachel is no exemption.
As an Asian woman, Rachel has faced a lot of adversity over the years with people bullying her and not taking her seriously – especially when she launched her social media and blog content outlet. Despite the challenges, Rachel loves her job and keeps on growing her platform. “When I first started, it was just for fun. I used to do engagement three hours a night after I put the kids to sleep. To be honest, it’s fun, but a lot of work,” says Rachel.
Knowing what you want to do with your social platforms might be the most challenging feat of all. Like Rachel says “many people think, ‘I’ve been doing it for a month and I’m not really getting anything.’ They should just do it and work towards building a good community.”. Rachel’s platform started as a way to post about new arrivals and her experiences in New York City. Over time, she began including her kids in her posts and turned her platform into a lifestyle family kind of social media.
Her followers started asking her about work-life balance and how to make money on social media while maintaining a nine-to-five job. “I always tell them to start with something. They need to start creating because it takes time. If they’re passionate and if they want to do this – brand and partnership will come to them,” Rachel advises. She also stresses the importance of building a good community and engaging with followers.
“I work with brands and agencies over and over again because I have a good relationship with them. I build community with my followers, so I always reply to their DM whenever I can. These little things matter,” she says. Rachel has been able to form meaningful connections with her followers and fellow moms, even if she’s never met them in person. “I think we all sometimes become friends with someone that we never met. I was able to talk to a lot of moms even though we never met.” And for her, that’s what social media should be all about. The sharing of experiences and creating meaningful connections.
However, the internet can be a brutal place. And Rachel has been nothing but honest about the challenges she faces as an influencer. While she has managed to build a successful platform, Rachel has faced racial discrimination in the industry as well. “I know that they sometimes undervalue my work because of my race and the size of my following,” Rachel shares. Despite these setbacks, Rachel continues to persevere and is a strong advocate for women in the industry.
Rachel’s journey of perseverance serves as an inspiration to anyone facing adversity in their career or personal life. Through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to building a community, Rachel has been able to overcome the challenges and continue to grow her platform.
