Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ OperAmericano.
Hi CJ, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my wild journey to becoming a content creator as a young high school girl from a small town in northern Colorado. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life so I used the internet as an escape from my pain, from heartbreak and trauma to family dysfunction and financial hardship. I had many interests but I had trouble finding focus and didn’t have a great role model at the time that I could look to for guidance. Social media was where I found friends that made me smile and took me out of my reality. Not the healthiest coping mechanism, but I ended up taking inspiration from the content I was consuming online. I remember watching creators like Liza Koshy and CyreneQ and being so inspired by their light, how they entertained their followers, and how they were able to financially support themselves. I never dreamed that content creation was a career I could pursue until I started sharing my own hand-drawn Snapchat art on social media as a way to express my creativity. I found myself telling stories by using art to help illustrate and bring my content to the next level. I really enjoyed creating art, it cheered my soul and was a form of self-therapy. I was able to build a small audience by sharing my mini-stories and Snapchat art on Instagram. I thought of each new follower as a friend, and I didn’t feel as alone.
When I turned 18 years old, Buzzfeed found my Instagram page and featured my archived “Snapsterpieces” and fan art in an article. From there, my stories and drawings were noticed by Shonduras (aka Shaun McBride), a popular Snapchatter at the time. Shonduras thought I had potential and pitched me to Disney Parks, a brand he had worked with previously. Then Disney reached out and hired me to run their official Disneyland account for their 60th Anniversary Diamond Kickoff Party. This was my favorite campaign and one of my most memorable experiences to date. After working with Disney, I was really able to grow my own audience, and I realized that I could make social media a full-time career.
I went on to work with other brands like Apple, Coca-Cola, Walmart, MARVEL, Pilot, Pandora, ABC (now Freeform), and many more. I launched FOXTV’s Snapchat and taught Rob Lowe how to livestream. Through these campaigns, I was able to work my way out to Los Angeles and hustle my own business.
Now I’ve been in Los Angeles for the last 7 years working as a full-time content creator and have continued to grow my audience on Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube (@OperAmericano). I’ve had really amazing experiences like singing karaoke at a Hollywood premiere with the encouragement of actor/singer Skylar Astin, content strategy lunches with actor Adrian Grenier, being featured in The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times and being a featured face in a Taco Bell Commercial for the World Cup! Last year I was also one of the top challenge winners in Spotlight, Snapchat’s in-app entertainment platform for user-generated content. By submitting my content to Spotlight Challenges, I was able to win cash prizes for creating top-performing Spotlight Snaps using specific Lenses, Sounds, or Topics.
In addition to being a creator and “mother” to the most beautiful and sweet adolescent corgi named Butters (@YourBestieButters), last September my boyfriend popped the question and now I am engaged to the man of my dreams. As a little girl, I never imagined I could make a living doing what I love. I’ve worked really hard, and I’m so grateful for the life I’ve created.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My road has been far from smooth, especially in the early days. I may open up more about my entire story someday, but I prefer to keep some chapters closed for now.
In the beginning, life as a content creator was difficult and my finances were unpredictable. I’m sure my fellow creatives can relate to the term “feast or famine” when it comes to work. I worked as a barista, server, and many other small jobs to make ends meet. I did what I could to keep a roof over my head, but it was discouraging to take time away from my personal career goals. During this period, I suffered from a few health scares, lost my job when my restaurant went out of business, dealt with some major family issues that tested our faith and sanity, and started to experience horrific panic attacks. Thankfully, I am doing much better now.
In addition to my personal struggles, pursuing a career as a content creator and putting myself in the public eye wasn’t easy and made me feel very vulnerable. I had to have a thick skin to survive intense scrutiny and criticism from strangers. Coming from a small town in northern Colorado, it also took me a long time to learn who my real friends were and navigate the shark-infested waters of the LA entertainment scene. I learned many lessons and grew stronger along the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I was originally known for my Snapchat content, from my weekly segment called “What’s That Tune Tuesday” (a musical cover guessing game) and my “Snapsterpieces” (for which I was once named one of the top 5 Snapchat Artists in the world). However, my most successful content has been my detailed painting videos, turning purses, tree stumps, and even eggs into art! Now I’m a comedian, musician, and artist on the platform, and dabble in Lens creation. A couple of my Lenses went viral during the pandemic and I have also been fortunate to have some success winning cash prizes from Spotlight Challenges, which will ultimately help pay for my wedding this year and give me a much-needed financial leg up. I love that my creativity has been rewarded on Snapchat, and I’m not slowing down anytime soon.
I am also very proud of my work on TikTok. When I started, most users were lip-syncing and creating music videos. That didn’t interest me so I decided to pave my own way and ended up being one of the first comedy and art-themed creators on the platform. I even attended the Hollywood release party of TikTok and helped push the button that “introduced it to the USA”. I’m now known on Tiktok for my dog videos featuring Butters, my DIY/artist content, comedy skits, and music/gaming streams.
You can also find me on Instagram and YouTube, where I post similar content and try to keep it all positive and pass on the happiness that social media gave me! I hope to help other young people who may be lonely and struggling to find direction and give them the strength to change their own lives. Whoever you are, wherever you are from, it is possible to improve your situation. You just have to take the first steps and be consistent in your drive to succeed.
I’m most proud of the creators I’ve been able to mentor and inspire. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing I’ve made a difference and helped someone along their own path to success. I’m so thankful for my own mentors and hope to continue fostering talent and passion in up and coming creators. I’m also proud that I was able to change my own life and provide a brighter future not only for myself but my future family.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
When you are actively pursuing your dreams and are able to financially support yourself with your passion/s. Additionally, I find success in work that inspires or uplifts others.
Contact Info:
- Snapchat: https://t.snapchat.com/BLw4cVfQ
- Instagram: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_operamericano&d=DwMFaQ&c=ncDTmphkJTvjIDPh0hpF_4vCHvabgGkICC2epckfdiw&r=BX_h71pzKyH6Y5Lx54nNiQ&m=OQXXpdkO0ZQWDG6Ml_58IgLzai1SMZE8QuxdFnwzmKyKXvXolE7ir8p3jKLIVua2&s=9WJxC7GP4SI4Rb-uxWhDSbQT9CucnLM6grmRoWQTVTI&e=
- Facebook: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__m.facebook.com_operamericano_&d=DwMFaQ&c=ncDTmphkJTvjIDPh0hpF_4vCHvabgGkICC2epckfdiw&r=BX_h71pzKyH6Y5Lx54nNiQ&m=OQXXpdkO0ZQWDG6Ml_58IgLzai1SMZE8QuxdFnwzmKyKXvXolE7ir8p3jKLIVua2&s=__JO1VPxlBaTbPD8ggaGd1LjXCNIhXxBtMZGVtAeAA8&e=
- Linkedin: https://t.snapchat.com/YjLRDsS0
- Youtube: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__m.youtube.com_c_CJOperAmericano&d=DwMFaQ&c=ncDTmphkJTvjIDPh0hpF_4vCHvabgGkICC2epckfdiw&r=BX_h71pzKyH6Y5Lx54nNiQ&m=OQXXpdkO0ZQWDG6Ml_58IgLzai1SMZE8QuxdFnwzmKyKXvXolE7ir8p3jKLIVua2&s=gt_u9tFWBgbd91i8cetUuEH5dLRCm4bzWI3lC6raN3Y&e=
- Other: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.tiktok.com_-40operamericano&d=DwMFaQ&c=ncDTmphkJTvjIDPh0hpF_4vCHvabgGkICC2epckfdiw&r=BX_h71pzKyH6Y5Lx54nNiQ&m=OQXXpdkO0ZQWDG6Ml_58IgLzai1SMZE8QuxdFnwzmKyKXvXolE7ir8p3jKLIVua2&s=Y9od_zxQaihV8MO8EhHDigv2s2BRlQTdnD5ruzh68y8&e=
Image Credits
CJ solo shot – Main Image – CJ Operamericano_Photo Credit Sasha Renee Photography CJ and dog – CJ OperAmericano 1 Photo Credit CJ OperAmericano Rabbit artwork – CJ OperAmericano 2 Photo Credit CJ OperAmericano CJ, Fiance and dog – CJ OperAmericano Photo Credit Sasha Renee CJ multiple image shot – CJ OperAmericano 3 Photo Credit CJ OperAmericano
