So, you are one of the millions who think you can be an influencer? But do you actually have what it takes? 

To help answer that question, The Forest Scout interviewed three alumnae who are making it as influencers.  Behind the perfectly polished and curated posts, they agree that there is a tough side to it all; one that doesn’t make it to their feed.  

What people might not realize is that an edited, clear-cut 60-second video can take hours to create—just one of the three to four videos influencers post every day. 

“A lot of people think it’s just taking cute photos or filming fun videos—I truly wish it was that easy. There is so much more going on behind the scenes: planning, editing, negotiating, analytics, contracts, constantly coming up with new ideas,” said Lexi Mars, a 2012 graduate, who has 247K followers on Instagram.

Mars makes fashion and lifestyle content. She’s worked with a wide variety of brands, A few big ones being Revolve, Sephora, Sports Illustrated, Nike, L’Oréal and F1. What she started as daily content and outfit inspo has turned into a full-blown career. 

Mars is just one of the influencers grinding out content that consumes our daily feeds. They persuade us on almost everything: what to cook, what to buy, what to eat, what to watch, what issues to pay attention to. Even who to vote for.

Influencer culture began taking shape in the early 2000s with YouTube. Now—it’s everywhere. If you ask any student in the halls, most of them have an account on TikTok and follow a couple of creators. 

But, influencer marketing isn’t just a trend anymore—it’s a $33 billion industry. 

For influencers, staying relevant means staying visible. You have to constantly be posting, whether it’s in between classes, late at night or on the go. 

“It’s a full-time job that blends creativity, business, and strategy all at once. I can’t remember the last time I took a day off,” Mars said.

So, how does one grow a following that cares about what they have to say?

Sadie Specketer, who graduated in 2021, has built a TikTok platform of 76.5K followers, all while still balancing being a college student.  

“Just start. A lot of people wait until the “right moment” when, in reality, there is always a need for more original and unique content,” Specketer said. “As cliché as it sounds, being yourself is the most important part of creating content.” 

Influencers have created a balance between their everyday lives and their content. 

After graduating from University of Michigan in 2024, Ava Manelis moved to NYC to pursue her career. 

“My 9-5 is working as an influencer coordinator at Armra Colostrum, a wellness supplement brand. I also work part-time at the front desk of soul cycle. This leaves me with minimal hours to find time to edit and respond to brand deals,” Manelis said. 

Manelis began creating content in high school. Back then, she was the editor-in-chief for The Forest Scout—covering everything from news to fashion. 

“I was lucky enough to be a part of the Forest Scout. It helped me learn to be a better writer, and it made me a more creative person. I’m constantly writing, whether it be on social media or in my emails,” Manelis said. “Although I didn’t end up doing something exactly in journalism, social media is a lot more similar to it than people think. I’m having to write up scripts and concept ideas for brands, and I email different influencers and brands as well.” 

Now, Manelis has a platform of 16.1K on TikTok. Her feed blends calm visuals with relatable advice, ranging from wellness and fun lifestyle content. 

The successes of creating content can be very rewarding: free food, free workout classes, cool events, and PR from all types of brands.

“Start by posting about the things you genuinely love, and don’t worry about being perfect. Stay consistent and be yourself,” Mars said. “Try out different types of content to see what sticks, and focus on learning and enjoying the process rather than chasing followers or likes. And of course, be mindful of what you share — protect your privacy and always think long-term.”

But having a large following can also come with some challenges—just as any other job. It can be a little scary putting your own content out for others to see and maybe even judge. 

“When you put yourself out there on social media, it’s kind of scary, because you still care what people think of you. But just know, not everyone is going to like your content, and that’s okay,” Manelis said. 

These challenges aren’t always visible on the screen, but instead they are behind the scenes. Although they make their content look effortless, it’s not as easy as you may think. 

“Sometimes you will get hate about your appearance when you weren’t insecure about it, and then it’s pointed out to you by thousands of people. Although I’m not a huge creator, I definitely still struggle with insecurity and sometimes get hate on my platforms, which can be difficult,” Specketer said. 

Influencers don’t just display their lifestyles; they reflect their own quirks. 

“There is an overwhelming amount of creators trying to become popular by making the same content as someone else; very rarely does this work,” said Specketer. “Bringing something new to the app is the most effective and authentic way to grow.”