Meet Chelsey Cherry

We were lucky to catch up with Chelsey Cherry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsey, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something I struggle with constantly. Sometimes, no matter how many people tell me they enjoy my work, I still see myself as ‘not good enough’ because I’ve been working so hard and for so long.

There are still voices in the back of my head trying to convince me that my work isn’t good, but I’ve accepted that I am not perfect. I’ve decided that my ideas are important, they deserve to hold space, and that the world needs to see them, regardless of if the execution is perfect or not. I understand that I am on my own path to success and even if this path doesn’t lead to where I desire, I’m so grateful to have the privilege to be a content creator and to have the ability to bring art to life.

Numbers and social media algorithms also get in the way of me believing in myself. Creating makeup looks take so much time and effort, and being hidden from your followers can almost instantly deplete motivation, especially when other types of content requiring less energy seem to constantly blow up. Freeing myself from comparison and focusing on improving my own skills has alleviated me from this. I understand not every one of my posts will go viral, but I’ve started to use posts that flop as a learning experience to grasp which types of content my audience leans towards.

These are mentalities that I’m slowly trying to incorporate into my daily life as a creator and it’s not easy practicing what I preach. Imposter syndrome has almost led me to quit content creation many times, but looking back, it’s so rewarding to marvel at how many times my community has supported me, and how the strength of my own willpower has become strong enough to help me overcome it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Being a content creator is kind of surreal. Having the ability to build an online presence based off of my art and likeness is never something I would have expected to do growing up, especially since I was never the super popular girl at school, but having a community and tons of friends inside of my tiny little phone is the best part about this experience. Sitting down for hours, listening to music, drawing on my face, and taking pictures is definitely something that brings me peace, but the exhilarating part begins after sharing my work with the world. Whether it’s a makeup look or a cosplay, bonding over makeup products and favorite characters in the anime we’re watching is the most rewarding part about what I do. Knowing that my art is able to bring people together is heartwarming, and I hope that one day I can do this on a much larger scale someday.

Recently I’ve become a streamer and it feels like I’m recording an episode of iCarly every time I’m live. Twitch is one of my smaller and most tight-knit communities at the moment as a small percentage of my total followers are gamers, but hanging out and playing Fortnite or Apex with them has revived my love for being a content creator. All the hard work and sleepless nights making content in between school and work feels like it’s paid off when I’m making memories with the community I’ve built.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Although raw talent definitely helps, I’ve learned that anyone can be a content creator as long as they are consistent, flexible, and authentic. Consistency is the main key to success to grow as a creator. Despite the imposter syndrome, despite the distractions, despite all the other obstacles in your life, if you keep going nothing can stop you. Even if the content isn’t good at first, naturally it will improve over time and your audience will find you.

Flexibility is equally as important. The internet is constantly changing with new trends and memes so it’s important to be willing to try new strategies and picture/ video styles that will resonate with more people when creating content.

Authenticity is also imperative. What separates you from others? Why would someone choose to engage or follow you if your content is like the rest? I stated previously that engaging with trends is key, but finding a way to still allow your individuality to shine within that is what defines a star in my opinion.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

My biggest challenge as a content creator is time management. Balancing work and other life responsibilities on top of being a creator that is consistently posting and thinking of new ideas can be exhausting. Content creation is almost a full-time job in itself and can get overwhelming quickly. I’m working hard to be realistic with myself and priorities to combat this, but it’s so difficult. Kudos to those creators who seem to have it all figured out!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Chelsey Cherry

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move