"Exhausted, she filmed a candid video of herself crying getting ready for one of her shifts. The video took off, racking up 2 million views before her shift was even over (it's now at 52 million views). "I felt like no one was showing real emotions while getting ready for something ordinary, like going to work," Fang recalls. "I just recorded it. I didn't think it would take off.""
"From that day, she made "get ready with me" videos a daily ritual, sharing her life and growing her audience. She quickly discovered that social media could be a way to build a career. Partnerships quickly followed with brands like Glow Recipe and Dior, along with billboard campaigns and a monthly beauty column for The Cut. Now an NYU student, Fang has turned those videos into an estimated $4 million in earnings last year through brand collaborations."
Gen Z creators are redefining online influence by using platforms for education, advocacy, entrepreneurship and culture rather than only entertainment. The creator economy is a $250 billion global industry projected to double by 2027, signaling sustained commercial opportunity. Viral moments can spark careers: a candid video drove massive viewership, led to brand partnerships, media columns, billboard campaigns and millions in earnings while enabling continued education. Creators build large, engaged audiences through relatable content and short-form sketches that translate into partnerships, recurring revenue streams and cultural impact beyond transient virality.
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