I became a full-time content creator, but quit after I realized I was sacrificing my morals for a paycheck. It made me insecure and anxious.

"For my first two years as a content creator, I saw it as a fun side hustle to do while in university. I posted TikTok and Instagram videos about video editing and fashion, and later transitioned to beauty when I found it to be the most lucrative. But when I went full-time with content creation after graduating from my university in 2024, I realized it was only the "dream" life on paper."

"I abandoned my dream because I felt creating content was a more creative and free path. When I first went full-time with content after graduating, I loved it. In a typical week, I'd attend four to eight brand events, do one to two days of content shooting, and do some video editing nearly every day. I received all sorts of free products, worked with brands I loved as a child, and met some of the most amazing people."

Evelyn Ramli began content creation as a university side hustle, posting TikTok and Instagram videos on video editing, fashion, and later beauty. After graduating in 2024 she went full-time and earned a solid income while attending brand events, shooting content, and editing daily. Despite financial rewards and perks, she experienced insecurity, anxiety, and moral compromises. She cut ties with a major sponsor over opposing beliefs and ultimately accepted a pay cut to take a corporate marketing job for greater stability. She values structured workdays but continues to question whether the switch was the right choice.

Read at Business Insider