If you believe the contents of your Instagram feed, the life of an influencer looks so much better than yours.
Everything is just glossier, from the perfectly captured Buddha bowls to the seemingly endless holidays accompanied by the obligatory #blessed.
To be a social media influencer, your life needs to be a little extra.
And unless you’re fast-tracking your road to Insta-success through Married at First Sight (What? People go on reality shows for Instagram followers?) or buying followers, it often takes a “real” job to make extra happen.
Yes, they’re just like you, folks – working hard to make a buck. For those who aren’t celebrities, it’s a constant juggle of the day job and the side hustle, which is often a passion project that develops into a commercial entity.
According to Taryn Williams, CEO of influencer and creative talent agency theright.fit, brands are increasingly looking past high-follower “celebrity” influencers for people who are “genuine brand advocates”.
“We see a large number of talented folk adding ‘influencer’ as another string in their bow, to create highly engaging authentic content,” Williams tells Mamamia.
So how do influencers pay the bills to do that? Mamamia spoke to six influencers whose day-to-day careers may surprise you, from the fashionista who helps people on Centrelink benefits find jobs, to the YouTuber who works four jobs including the Macca’s night shift.
Instagram: @lauraalbertin
Followers: 190k
Name: Laura Albertin
Day job: Recruitment specialist
Insta niche: Fashion, beauty, lifestyle and travel