Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Lam
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always had a passion for content creation and storytelling, a love that began at the age of 12. Back then, the idea of being an influencer or earning money from creating content felt like a dream that was out of reach. I thought I needed to be someone extraordinary to achieve those things.
But as I started creating content during my freshman year of college at UCLA, I realized that you don’t need to be “special” to do these things—you just need to take action. So I stayed consistent, focusing on the type of content that would attract the brands I wanted to collaborate with. I applied to hundreds of college ambassador programs through marketing agencies like Her Campus, Home From College, Campus Collaborative & Intern Queen, while actively networking with like-minded creators both online and at UCLA.
Fast forward 3.5 years, and I’ve had the privilege of working with over 100 brands, including Stanley, Valentino Beauty, and Nike. I’ve earned over $20K in revenue—all while managing this part-time as a full-time college student, with just around 3K followers on Instagram.
The truth is, you don’t need fancy equipment or a massive following to get started. All you need is a phone, an app like CapCut, and the courage to take that first step. You can do a lot with very little—you just have to start. I hope my journey can serve as living proof that anyone can turn their passion into a reality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The hardest part of being a content creator is learning to be okay with judgment. Putting yourself out there means exposing yourself to criticism, being misunderstood, or even labeled as “cringe.” Despite having been a creator for almost four years now, I still struggle with this. But when those feelings creep in, I have to remind myself: So what if people judge me? What am I going to do about it—cry? Sure, maybe. I’m sensitive… But the sun will still rise tomorrow, and I’ll get over it. If it won’t matter in five years, I shouldn’t spend more than five minutes being upset by it. I can’t control how others perceive me, but I can control how I see myself. And that’s what truly matters.
It’s equally important to learn how to filter out the noise. People will always have something to say— telling you what you should or shouldn’t do, but the key to this is being selective about who you take advice from. The truth is, most people don’t do what I do, and they don’t understand what it’s like because they haven’t experienced it. I’m always open to constructive criticism and improving myself daily, and as much as I’d love to take everyone’s advice (being a bit of a people pleaser), I’ve learned that not all advice is worth listening to. Often, it’s just noise that can weigh you down and fill you with self-doubt. The key is to stop taking advice from those who aren’t living the life that you aspire to have or are making progress towards it. Other people won’t always believe in you or see your vision, but that doesn’t matter—what truly matters is that you believe in yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I primarily create content focused on college lifestyle, fashion, and beauty. I enjoy making short-form videos that capture my everyday life—whether it’s behind-the-scenes moments from brand partnerships, event recaps, or relatable struggles as I navigate college and transition into adulthood.
Right now, I’m most passionate about documenting my journey as someone who’s navigating her 20s while working to build a personal brand on social media. Since most of my audience consists of college students or recent grads, I want to share both the highs and lows of my experiences. Social media can often feel fake, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to unattainable standards. As a creator, I believe it’s just as important to show my low points as it is to share the highlights because real life isn’t always perfect—and that’s okay. I hope that by being vulnerable about my own struggles, I can help others feel a little less alone in what they’re going through.
My goal for 2025 is to prioritize storytelling and being more authentic in my content, using my platform to cultivate a space that’s both real and relatable.
I’m primarily active on Instagram, but I’m excited to expand to YouTube and LinkedIn in the coming months.
What matters most to you?
As a creator, what matters most to me is staying authentic while entertaining and inspiring my audience. I hope the content I share encourages others to take that first step towards chasing their dreams.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.ica.lam/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lam12/
Image Credits
Sofia McMaster
Will Bollini
