Brett Chody is a name that resonates with many people on social media. While her online presence continues to grow, few are aware of her roots before she became a familiar face in the digital world. In her hometown, Lake Forest, Illinois, Chody is a local icon who inspires many young adults in the community, including students attending LFHS. 

Chody has always been using her voice to inspire others by sharing her opinions. Her first platform was The Forest Scout, LFHS’s student newspaper, where she was an avid member. She wrote a wide variety of influential pieces during her time at the high school: stories about the successes of her peers, polarizing topics in the community, as well as food and fashion recommendations.

“I had always been interested in broadcast journalism because I loved English and writing. Once I started writing for The Forest Scout, I received a lot of traction on my articles. The encouragement I received from my journalism teacher, Mr. Scott, instilled confidence in me,” Chody said. “Writing for the student newspaper influenced my college decision as well because I wanted to go to a school that had a strong journalism program.”

Chody graduated from LFHS in 2018 and committed to the University of Southern California (USC) to pursue a major in journalism while also running track.

Chody was on the Varsity Cross Country and Track teams all four years of high school. However, just after a few months at USC, an abundance of injuries resulted in her retirement from running during college. Chody became burnt out and no longer carried her passion she developed in high school. 

After graduating, Chody joined a run club in LA called Venice Run-Club, which reignited her enthusiasm for running. She did her first half-marathon in November after graduating from USC. Soon after, a friend convinced her to run the LA Marathon.

After successfully completing the LA Marathon, a new love was sparked. Chody went on to run the Boston Marathon, followed by the NYC Marathon. 

Earlier this year in New York City, Chody held her first “Brett Bites Run-Club,” via request from her followers. While she was in the city, she posted on her social media telling her followers where to meet and at what time. On a cold Saturday morning, Chody was nervous— not knowing how many people were going to come. To her surprise, the turnout was far greater than she had anticipated. 

“I was blown away by the turnout of over 100 girls. It was surreal and so much fun. I am definitely going to start doing more of them in the future. It was so cool to see the community I’m building on social media and meet some of my followers in real life,” Chody said. 

One of Chody’s future goals is to continue to host run clubs in multiple states. 

“I’m running the Chicago Marathon in October, and I would like to organize a run club before it. I plan to have it be much more built-out than the New York one by collaborating with friends and having fun goodie bags for girls who come, making it a fun experience,” Chody said. “I am hoping to create a model that I will replicate in other cities as well to go and be able to do that with my followers around the country.” 

Chody shares her love for the running community on social media. She offers advice for those interested in running marathons, emphasizing the importance of taking gradual steps towards their goals and avoiding overexertion in a single day. By highlighting the positive impacts running has had on her life, Chody motivates young adults to find their own outlets to relieve stress— just as running does for her. 

Chody started her Instagram account, Brett’s Bites, when she was a junior in high school. As a varsity athlete, Chody highly valued exercise and eating the right foods, which led to her accounts creation. 

“In high school, I was obsessed with health influencers like Shut the Kale Up, who inspired me to start Brett’s Bites. Back then, I was only sharing smoothie recipes and my healthy food favorites,” Chody said. 

During COVID, Chody decided to revamp her Brett’s Bites account, shifting its focus from being solely about food to covering her entire lifestyle. 

“There were times in college when I posted on Brett’s Bites and only had about 5,000 followers. I posted the same amount then as I do now, because I enjoyed it. I believed in myself and knew that there would be people out there that would want to hear and will listen to what I have to say,” Chody said. 

Chody’s desire to become a well-known presence in the digital world started from the development of her Brett’s Bites account. 

“I think that it was a calling I felt, even back in high school. I’ve always been very outspoken and wanted to share my opinions with the world. It’s been almost five years of posting super consistently on Brett’s Bites, and it’s been really awesome to see my account grow, reaching more and more people,” Chody said.

Anyone who follows Chody knows that she is constantly sharing updates throughout the day on her Instagram, giving her followers a look into her every-day life. She continues to expand her brand to new platforms, amassing a large following on TikTok over these past few years. Just recently, Chody started entertaining her following on YouTube as well, where she is currently posting weekly life vlogs. 

“I would say that I’m an open book with my social media presence— I think that’s a big part of my brand. I’m never forcing myself to share something that I’m uncomfortable sharing. I think that a big reason I’m set apart from other creators that people follow is my authenticity and being genuine and that’s a big part of Brett’s Bites and my brand in general,” Chody said. 

Over time, Chody has been able to build a balance between her personal life and her online presence because once you put something out in the media, you can never get it back.

“I will say that there are a few things in my mind that are off limits to talk about on social media, and I just kind of set that boundary within myself. I think with influencers, a lot of their followers feel like they’re entitled to everything in their lives. Everyone is different as to what they want to share,” Chody said. 

This April, Chody has her first line of merchandise coming out. In the future, she plans to continue growing her social media identity by producing content that she loves creating. 

“My ultimate dream is to launch a brand or company of some sort and use my platform to launch it. I know that a lot of creators do things like that, but I want to be very intentional with it. Not just starting a brand to start one,” Chody said. 

Chody attests to her family and friends for shaping her character and playing a significant role in her success. 

“Growing up with two older sisters was a great experience. I had two role models at my disposal. My sister Hannah is eight years older, and my sister Elle is five years older than I am,” Chody said. “I got to see them move through each chapter of life far before I was going to go through it. I was able to learn from their mistakes, while also following in their footsteps in my own way. They really paved the way for me by setting great examples.” 

Chody’s family has always been a strong source of support. Her older sister, Hannah Chody, also has a social media presence, which gives them a shared experience to bond over. 

As someone who spends a lot of time online, Chody’s loved ones remind her of the importance of living in the moment. 

“I tend to be good at putting my phone down and being present with my friends, but it’s very easy to get caught up in social media. I credit my boyfriend with being my grounding presence— it’s nice to have someone who isn’t always online. He doesn’t even have TikTok!” Chody said. 

For the past seven years, Chody has been best friends with another big name in the virtual world, Jake Shane. The two attended USC together, and are now living together. 

“My roommate, Jake Shane, is massive on social media. It’s been amazing to see him grow, and to see how many people he continues to reach,” Chody said. “His exposure in the media has exposed my account to people as well— I’ve gotten to go on his podcast and be in his videos. I think that I’ve grown as he’s grown. I’m very grateful for that and proud of him.” 

Chody is not only a content creator, but she is also a social media manager for her family’s renowned business, Garrett Popcorn. 

Chody started working for Garrett’s social team nearly two years ago, running all of the company’s organic social media pages, organizing gifting campaigns with influencers, and handling any paid work that the company does.

“I kind of work on the opposite side of brand deals than what I do for my own social media pages,” Chody said. “There is so much work that goes into it that most people don’t necessarily realize.” 

Chody’s vested interest in the brand is essential to its success. She has successfully transformed the brand’s social media presence to appeal to a younger audience.

“It’s been great to revamp our socials, giving them a more Gen Z and current vibe. While many Garrett fans are older, like moms, we definitely want to reach the younger demographic too,” Chody said. 

In a rapidly changing digital landscape, the significance of social media marketing continues to grow. Chody highlights the advantages younger generations will have in navigating these platforms.

“I believe that social media marketing will become increasingly important over time. I think that especially girls my age and younger have grown up with social media, so we are specifically well-versed in platforms. I think that the younger you are, the more tech-savvy you tend to be. I think that it will be very beneficial as young girls start looking for colleges and internships,” Chody said. 

For those who desire to follow in Chody’s footsteps in content creation or social media marketing, she underscores the importance of authenticity when posting online. 

“Everyone has something to bring to the table, you just have to figure it out. So don’t copy anyone else’s content, or force talking about something if it doesn’t feel right. Talk about what you would’ve wanted to hear, and what you’re knowledgeable about and that’s what will make people want to follow you.” 

Chody has always been passionate about creating meaningful content that resonates with her audience. 

“I always aim to create content that I would have wanted to see as a young girl, and I believe that’s what I’m continually striving for,” Chody said. 

Chody’s social media presence is valued by many young adults across the country, but especially for those living in Lake Forest. Community members, including LFHS students, teachers, and parents, have praised her impactful social media presence.

One of Chody’s former English teachers, Mrs. Konz, believes that she is a positive influence in the online world for young adults.

“Since I have known Brett, she has always been bright, inquisitive, and savvy. She was independent— in thought and in style. I am not surprised that so many people, especially young women, are interested in what she has to say,” Konz said. 

LFHS Varsity Dance athlete, Sophia Brincat, emphasizes the significant impact of Chody’s running content on her life.

“I absolutely love watching her running videos! Her words of encouragement make running seem so effortless, reassuring everyone that they could run like her if they wanted to. During my off-season from dance, I decided to take up running as a new hobby. I appreciate how she shares her post-run recovery process to remind her followers about the importance of staying healthy and preventing injury,” Brincat said. 

Junior Phoebe Silver has followed Chody on social media since she was in middle school, watching her online presence grow over the years. 

“I love seeing Brett on my social media because she’s more real than a lot of other influencers. Even though she has thrived in LA, she still keeps close connections with her home in Lake Forest,” Silver said. 

Junior Tess Uihlein discovered Chody through watching videos of Jake Shane. After learning that Chody grew up in Lake Forest, Uihlein began following and watching all of her content as well.

“Watching Brett thrive on social media is so cool because she grew up in the same town as me. Unlike some influencers, she is famous for all the right reasons and sheds such a positive light throughout her videos,” Uihlein said. 

Chody’s influence has reached far and wide, touching the lives of many, including her younger cousin, Claire Boyle; Boyle shares how she has always had deep admiration for her. 

“Long before social media, she was someone who pushed herself to be the best, so it’s no surprise her dedication resonated with so many. But, I didn’t fully grasp her influence until my classmates started stopping me in the halls and asking me about her,” Boyle said. “Even now, at boarding school in Connecticut, I see Brett’s influence extend beyond Lake Forest. She is some of my close friends’ favorite influencers, despite them being from all over the world. It is surreal to see people so fascinated by my cousin.”