Not all influencers stick to beauty, fashion and lifestyle, and Kendall McCarthy, a current freshman at Texas Christian University, is an example of that. When she’s not producing content and partnering with companies — Crown and Clay, Cetaphil and Arctic Zero to name a few — she’s doodling! Her doodle account, titled @kenmacc.designes, showcases her creative and colorful stickers, which are available to buy on her RedBubble account!Â
No matter what she’s working on, Kendall’s always expressing her creativity, using social media as an outlet for her passion.Â
Her Campus: Tell us about your site/platform and why you launched it.
Kendall McCarthy: I’ve had Instagram since freshman year of high school, but I just became an “influencer” this May through an opportunity with Her Campus. I originally got Instagram to stay in touch with my friends, but it’s turned into an outlet for creativity and a place to share my favorite things and what matters to me.
HC: What do you hope your followers get out of following you?
KM: I hope that they get a glimpse into my life, as well as a little burst of happiness. Lena Daniels, one of my favorite influencers, always makes me smile with her creative content, and I hope to one day be on that level!
HC: What does your week currently entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
KM: My week is usually full of creating, planning, classes, meetings for organizations I’m in, and meeting with people! There’s a typical day as far as classes, but outside of class, every day looks different. That’s one of the things I love most about college!
HC: What are the best and worst parts about being an influencer?Â
KM: The best part about being an influencer is being a part of a community of influencers worldwide who all lift each other up! Working with brands and getting that experience is also a huge perk.
The worst part is when you put a ton of effort into content and it doesn’t do well.
HC: What advice would you give to a college woman with similar aspirations?
My advice would be to not worry about what’s popular too much! Post what makes you happy and then, at least, it’ll do well in your heart.
HC: Is running your platforms your full time job or a side hustle? Why did you make that decision?
KM: Running my platforms is a side hustle, because I usually only do gifted campaigns.
HC: Which people have had the most influence on you, and why?
KM: Lena Daniels and Emma Topp are my favorite people to follow on Instagram, because they’re both so creative!
HC: How has being an influencer affected your friendships and relationships?
KM: My parents definitely thought it was strange at first, but then they enjoyed reaping the benefits when I shared products with them! It’s strange to my friends, and they joke about me being famous, but the one thing I am confident in is that I’m the same person on and off-line.Â
HC: What has been the most surreal thing that’s happened to you as an influencer?
KM: The most surreal thing was when a brand reached out to me for the first time, and it wasn’t just another one of those accounts that ask you to pay for a product (which you should never do, btw). I was like, “OMG, I finally made it! This is happening!”
HC: What are your three favorite tools for content creation?
KM: Lightroom for photo editing, Planoly to plan out my feed, and my favorite social app is Instagram!
HC: What does the future of influencing look like for you? What’s next for you personally?
KM: The future of influencing is getting so much more real, and I love it! Gone are the days of FaceTune and retouching. My dream job is to be a social media manager for a female-focused company, so I’m very excited to see what my future holds.
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Behind the Feed is a weekly series showcasing a different member of the InfluenceHer Collective every week. Are you an influencer? Apply to join the IHC, and you could be featured in the future!