September 28, 2022 • 27 mins
Host Caroline Hendershot is joined in studio by social media influencer and TikTok star Kate Norkeliunas. They kick things off by talking about Norkeliunas’ identity as an influencer and her journey to TikTok (0:17). She highlights how food culture and connection has been a strong influence in her content (3:41). The two also discuss the evolution of social media and what it means to be a role model in today’s society (5:53), as well as the passion and fun of connecting with the public (8:18). Hendershot and Norkeliunas explore the pressures of social media (10:52), but also the balance that Norkeliunas tries to have in keeping her content true to herself; as well as follower attraction to real and relatable content (12:04). She also recalls taking the jump to quit her job in the fashion industry and pursue content creation full-time (18:05) and how the New York State of Mind is motivational to her brand (20:30). Lastly, they talk about the loyalty, excitement, and passion of being a Jets fan (22:30) and the fun of football being for everyone (24:12).
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome in to New Yorker. I'm Caroline hender Shot so
excited to have you guys listening. Who are another episode
New Yorker, a podcast based on New York and all
of its facets of football fans. Today, I have Kate
North Colooness joining me. She's also known as Kate from TikTok. Yeah,
I am Kate from TikTok. Well, just at Kate now right, Okay.
(00:25):
I was gonna say, you change the user name when
I was applying to get verified on TikTok. I can't.
You couldn't have TikTok in the name. So they asked me,
they said, do you want just at Kate? And I
was like yeah, like were perfect. It was like this
opportunity I was. I had to grab it. I had
to take it. I'm just at Kate now, okay, perfect,
(00:45):
nice and simple, clean, easy to go. Okay. So Kate
for people who don't know you or what you do,
how would you explain it to them? So I really
got my start on TikTok with food, but I really
feel like I have become more of lifestyle content overall,
body positivity, just really showing that it is okay and
(01:05):
it's cool to be yourself on social media and and
be the person that you are off of social media
on social media and vice versa. Right, Okay, So you
graduated from Merrison and you were trending towards a fashion
like you had do have a degree in fashion, do
b f a in design? Okay? And I saw a
really fun um interview of you on Good Morning America
(01:28):
of like remaking a bridal gown into a new outfit?
Was that part of like curriculum or no. So one
of my friends and I got the opportunity to be
in this wedding dress revamp competition on Good Morning America
And basically we had to deconstruct a wedding gown and
(01:48):
turn it into something completely different and it had to
be sustainable. So we used tumeric to die fabric, we
used roses to diet so it was green or it
was yellow and purple, and we deconstructed it all, took
all the beads apart, put it all back together. We
did not win the competition, okay, but it was just
the best experience. It was so much fun. We were
(02:10):
we were in the middle of Times Square where they
were filming, and it was it was incredible, but it
was not a part of the curriculum. It was just
a fun opportunity. Okay, cool, cool cool. So then coming
out of college with that b f A, what was
your first job? So my first job I got as
an assistant designer at a men'swear company and I worked
(02:31):
there for three years. I became an associate. During the pandemic,
we obviously went and worked from home. We thought it
was gonna be two weeks a month. And at this
time I had known what TikTok was. I had downloaded
the app um. I was making a salary. Like in
New York City, you can you can make a salary,
(02:52):
but also if you're under a certain amount, you can
make overtime. And so I had the opportunities to make overtime.
But they took away that opportunity to make overtime because
of the pandemic and letting people off. And I was
just grateful to even have a job at that point.
So they took away our over time and we really
had to work within our eight hours. They were very
strict about it. So I had a lot of time
(03:14):
on my hands, and so during my lunch break during
after I would work, I would make TikTok's and watch
a lot of YouTube, a lot of Netflix, and specifically
on YouTube, I was watching muck bangs and I don't
know what was I don't know what was drawing watching
people eat, but I was so fascinated by it, and
I think subconsciously in the back of my mind, I
was thinking, I haven't seen this on TikTok, so let
(03:36):
me try it out. And I did and the video
blew up. And that's kind of how I got my start.
And it's funny enough because obviously I'm very open about
my eating disorder and my recovery process and that whole journey,
and Taco Bell used to be one of my biggest
fear foods and that's the thing that has given me
this career. No way that is that's like so special
(03:58):
because it's such a full surp goal moment. But okay,
I'm going to go back for a second, because what
what was the first video? Obviously muck banging is something
for those who don't know, it's just eating food in
front of a camera while talking to the camera. Right
Normally it's eating like a whole menu of food. But
I call my muck bang subpar because I'm eating, I'm
(04:20):
eating one meal with everyone, and it's it's just a
it's a fun way to connect with people. I think,
you know, because food in general is a fun way
to connect with people. Yes, that's like the center of all. Hey,
you want to go grab dinner, you want to go
out to lunch kind of thing. That's the center of everything.
And especially we're both Hoboken girls. The best food, best food,
(04:42):
the best best food. I'm gonna remind me to bring
that up later because I need to know your favorite
go to. But okay, so the first video that you
release that kind of blew up. What was it? The
taco beout muck bang okay, and what specifically were you
talking about? Just I had filmed about five min It's
a footage eating eating my Taco bellt order and I'm
(05:04):
pretty sure it was the cruntrap Supreme Delicious that went viral.
But then I was thinking to myself after I posted
that one video, I was like, is this a fluke?
And I will this do well in other videos? And
when I say to people when they asked me about
doing TikTok or doing social media, if you find something
that does well, repeat it again. Try it over again.
(05:26):
So I so I did exactly that. I had about
five minutes of footage of this, and I just posted
the rest of the videos and they kept doing well,
and I was like, what is going on? People are
watching me eat? This is so weird. And then it
turned into, like I said, more lifestyle now, um, really
just showing so much of my life, but also keeping
those boundaries for the things that I that I don't
(05:48):
want to necessarily show. But but my main focus is
to be that person that I needed when I was
little on social media. Right, we were talking a little
bit before off camera about how different social media has
changed in since even like just since we've been introduced
to it, and it's so different now because in high
school and in college even it was so much based
(06:11):
on perfection and this looks way cooler than I'm actually enjoying,
Like this is so much cooler than any of you
are doing and all of that, and so it's it's
crazy because when you were making those videos, did you think, oh,
I want to be this role model that I never
(06:31):
had or did it just naturally come to you. I
have always wanted to help people. I've always wanted to
put the kind of positivity that I have in my
bones out there. I've just always been that kind of person.
I don't really know how to explain that further, but
this has been the most fulfilling thing I've ever done
in my life because I can see I can't see
(06:55):
the total impact, but when people come up to me
and hoboken or they messaged me, they let me know
how much I'm helping them, But what they don't really
understand is how much they've helped me as well. And
one moment that I can specifically remember was when I
was on TikTok. At the beginning, I still was very
much in my disordered eating kind of phase, at least
(07:16):
my at least the brain that it comes with it.
And it's really hard. It's not a it's not a
full stop. You know, in recovery. You are constantly working
towards yourself every single day. And I always say that
it is a marathon, not a sprint. With this. Every
day is working, you're working towards it. And I had
gotten Levan Cookies, and if you don't know what Levan
(07:37):
Cookies is, it's the amazing cookies in New York City,
and they sent them to me, and at this time
during the pandemic to everyone was going outside and working
out and walking and being active, you know, because you
were in your apartment and you were just like going crazy.
So I went on camera and I said, oh my gosh,
guys leaving something these cookies. I'm gonna go take a
(07:58):
run so that I can deserve these cook And I
remember this comment because it really just changed my perspective.
It was like an ah ha moment. And someone was like, Hey,
you can just eat the cookies. You don't need to
go work out. You deserve them reds. So it was
just it's just these things that I don't think that
people realize how much they're impacting my life and teaching
me and changing my perspective in this whole journey. Is
(08:19):
it Is it strange to have someone who obviously you
share a lot, so people feel like they know you,
but someone you've never met in person kind of give
you this advice that you just clicked for you in
a way that maybe nothing else had. Yeah, I mean,
I think just seeing it, you're you're putting yourself out
(08:40):
there that much. And at that point, I think I
had a couple of thousand followers like maybe like fifty
thou on TikTok so And for a reference, how many
do you have? No I have on TikTok I have
one point nine I believe, and then on instant that's
million million. Okay, just just check in everybody. We went
from thousands to millions and then um and Instagram. I
(09:01):
think I'm at like two fifty. I don't I don't
really over analyze the numbers, because yes, there are all people,
and I'm so grateful that everyone's there. But I've been
in that place, like growing on social media, where it
would drive you absolutely nuts, and I just don't want
it to be that way. For me. It's it's always
just been fun and I just try to keep it,
keep it so fun. Wait, what was your question? It's okay,
(09:23):
we're going off on tangents Um. Having someone who you've
never met give you that advice, I think. I think
just realizing that when you have a following like this,
you have people looking up to you and just wanting
to everyone everyone is everyone's a human at the end
of the day, and we're all allowed to grow and learn.
And I think that just seeing that other people also
(09:45):
can teach you something and it's adapting and it's learning
and being that positive influence and making sure that you're
adjusting to those changes, you know, because it is important.
I've realized that I have these platforms and I have
the power to put out positivity and to and to
really just like show, like I said, it's it's cool
to be yourself. And again, I think that when people
(10:06):
give me advice, and when people and I it's constructive
criticism of course, you know, because there are sometimes I
just get like the most absurd comments and I let
them roll off. But with something like that, it really
did make me think. And I'm so grateful for that
comment because I can remember to this day and that
was like almost three years ago. Now, wow, yeah, that's crazy,
how lasting of an impact just just a random comment
(10:31):
that sometimes people I know, sometimes people will kind of
get caught up in social media and they don't even
think what they're writing and they just write it and
it can backfire, but like also it can be something
so positive like that. So it's kind of crazy how
just a reactive instinct to comment on something can totally
one eighty a person in their life and all these decisions. Okay,
(10:53):
so with social media obviously comes a lot a lot
of pressures in all different facets. But two fold question,
do you think there is a pressure for you specifically
to post just because we're always on social media? Like
how do you keep up with that? I feel like
I get overwhelmed and I am not good at posting whatsoever.
(11:17):
I think I have such a great management team, and
we have talked about this often, because there is that
pressure to to want to post and to keep update,
keep people updated, and all this stuff you know that
comes along with it. But the conversations I've had with them,
they're just very supportive. They're like, Hey, if you want
to take time for yourself, you can take time for yourself.
(11:39):
You know, you don't have to post every single day.
You don't have to keep up with it all the time,
you know, make sure that you're taking care of yourself.
And they are just such incredible people and remind me
that daily, just to make sure that you're keeping up
with yourself, you know, before keeping up with everyone else, right,
prioritizing yourself over the mental health and making sure that
(12:02):
I just I take the breaks that I need, you know.
But I also what's great is I don't ever feel
that pressure necessarily because what I'm posting is just for
fun anyways, and so I think it's just making sure
that I continue keeping my content myself because it's it's
just not it's not it doesn't feel like a job.
It just feels like fun, right, It's like more of
(12:22):
just a this is a reflection of me and what
I'm doing. Does did it ever at any point in
when you started to kind of blow up, did it
feel like, oh, no, I I need to be perfect,
Like did you start going down that rabbit hole? I
honestly never felt that way, And I think it was
because TikTok changed the game for social media. You on
(12:46):
Instagram previously you were able to edit and I know,
and I'm I've seen this on TikTok. Now where you
can you can fully edit your body in a video.
You can really do this stuff and it's it's really dangerous. Um.
But on Instagram it was so easy to get away
with editing yourself and where you were or how it
made it, how the perception of your yourself, you know,
(13:09):
And I feel like it's so different on TikTok because
it is video form content, you can't change a lot
of the things like you can't change where you're at,
you know, when in a video. I'm sure that there
are some people that can do that, but but I
but but I can't do that. Me and my editing
cannot cannot do that. So I think that TikTok brought
this whole new force to social media in a way,
(13:30):
you know, where it's it's almost like forcing us to
be even more ourselves, more real and realistic. Yeah, it's
it's crazy because I feel like it's the exact opposite
of everything that we grew up consuming of. If you're
perfect and that's what you want to be, like, that's
(13:54):
what you're going to see. And now it's more like
the more real the content is, the more genuine and
funny and authentic, and the more the followers go towards that,
which is so funny. So it's even funny, just like
cleaning videos I find myself watching on TikTok and I'm
just like, why am I watching this? Like I never
knew that I enjoyed watching someone like clean a carpet,
(14:18):
or it's so odd to see the things that you're
interested in based on your four ups, you know. I know,
sometimes if you're watching TikTok with another person and you're
watching their account, You're like, oh, that's really different than
I love. I love comparing for you pages with my
friends and like, are you guys on like right now?
(14:38):
Right now? Currently? I think everyone's on this, but that
movie with Harry styles everyone and all the drama. And
then I also what came up on my four you
page the other day was this this girl talking about
she um shoes. She reviews sneakers for people. People people
sending pictures of their wear and tear on their shoes
and she recommends what shoes that they should wear. That's
(15:03):
actually so funny because that's that's things people will have
legitimate jobs to do that. And now she's like, yeah,
you just send me a pick. She's like, for fun,
I love like reviewing sneakers, and she was like, I
feel like the Hoka two is the best for you
or whatever the shoes and everyone's like okay, I'm like
so good. When did you think, like, Okay, these videos
(15:29):
are really gaining traction. I can make a career out
of this. So in December twenty twenty one, twenty I
how long had you been on TikTok for it? So
I started TikTok like. I started gaining a following on
TikTok in April, and in December, I had started posting
(15:49):
Christmas videos as well, and my birthdays in December, and
I've always just loved them. And this was when the
duet feature on TikTok was first getting induced. And I
saw this video and it was cup I thought it
was cupcakes being made, but I was reacting to I
ended up reacting to how the tray was being made.
It was. It was a fifteen second video and I
didn't even really even say anything. It blew up like
(16:12):
it went stupid viral. I think it got like a
million likes and I was like what. I really was like,
what is this? And so again you try it out
again to see if it works. And then with that,
when that happened, that's when I saw a really big
I saw really big growth on the platform. I grew
a hundred thousand followers one night. Oh my god, I
can remember that being like I woke up, I'm like, wait, no,
(16:33):
that's not right, refreshed, and so I just kept posting
those and then um in December, I was I had
about nine hundred thousand followers in and I was like,
maybe I can do this as a full time thing.
I saw my peers that I had been go like
growing up or getting their following on the apps, like
(16:56):
start to do this as their full time job, and
like maybe this is for me. I don't I don't know.
And I had gotten a couple brand deals and I
was doing everything myself and I was like, this is crazy,
this is so exciting. And then in April one, I
had my first conversation with a management team. I fell
in love with them. There m still my managers today.
(17:17):
That's the best people, just the best people. And when
I sat down with them and talked with them, I
had um just about a million followers on TikTok, I
had about thirty thousand followers on Instagram. And I only
know these numbers because I had to tell them all
my analytics. And they were like, hey, you could do
this full time. You have it's great, Like you're you're
(17:37):
killing it. I'm like, I was like, you really think
And they were the first people that truly believed in me.
Not to say that my family, my boyfriend, my friends,
they were always supportive, but because it's such an unconventional job,
and they were already in the space they were they
were so supportive and so behind it. So that kind
of lit a fire like under my butt, and I
(17:58):
was like, all right, Like this is awesome. Like when
I have people that believe in me, you believe in
yourself more, you getting the confidence to know that you
could possibly do this. Was that scary being like I'm
going to quit my stable job and go into this
platform that just popped up like a year ago, so
I think it was. But when you start to when
(18:19):
you start to make money off of it, and then
my my financial goals with social media. When I had
I had goal set in mind. I wanted to make
what I was making at my full time job, and
when I was like, all right, like I want to
double what I'm making at my full time job. And
so when I hit these financial goals, all of a sudden,
it's not as scary. It's not as scary, And like
(18:42):
we talked off camera, I feel like I I've had
I've always viewed money as a certain way, and um,
I just always want better than not to say that
my parents did not provide incredible amounts of stuff for
me when I was growing up, but um. Again, it's
just setting financial goals and making sure you're hitting those goals.
(19:04):
And when I before I quit my job, I made
sure that I had a certain amount in in my
in the bank and that way I could pay for insurance,
because when you quit, you lose insurance, lose these things.
And when I did quit my job, my mom was like,
what are you doing? Because it is an unconventional job.
It's not something that people normally take risks on, you know,
And it's also a space where our parents couldn't even
(19:26):
my parents, my mom could not wrap her head around.
Oh my mom still cannot that the fact that you
can make money off the internet and then you could
do this as a full time job, you know. So
it is. It was scary and it was but it
was the right timing. Right. So when I quit, I
was going to be going into a new position at work,
and I just felt like it was the right time
(19:47):
for me to take that leap of faith. And I
when I took it, it was it was like I
quantum leaped into a whole new life, you know, and
you just feel like you're you're going in the right direction.
And I also just think that we don't take chances
on ourselves enough in this life, and at the age
that I'm at, I am not married, I don't have kids.
I have to worry about myself financially, and obviously my
(20:09):
loved ones like that, they are always in the back
of my mind. But at the end of the day,
I'm not necessarily taking care of another person. Do I do.
I take care of other people, absolutely, but but it
really is a perfect opportunity to take And so I
did write like, if if not now, when when? So
you kind of just have to jump into that abyss,
even if it is scarier or not. When we were
(20:32):
talking off camera, you were born but not raised. Born
in New York, born in New York, lived here for
a couple of years, maybe three years. Then I moved
to Germany, lived there for two and a half years.
Then I moved to Florida for about eight months. Then
I moved to Washington State for about three years, and
(20:54):
then I moved to back to Florida. And I was
in Florida from sixth grade until my is two years
of college until I transferred colleges, and then you went
ended up going back to New York because you went
to Marist just so crazy. You were quite literally all
over the map. But my point being New York obviously
a soft spot for you. Now living in Jersey, does
(21:17):
it feel any different being an influencer in the New
York tri state area versus maybe being more off the map. Yeah,
I mean, if you can make it here, you can
make it anywhere. You know, there is really something special
about this area, whether it is New York or Jersey.
You know, because you when you live in Hoboken, you
(21:37):
are essentially a part of New York City. Like I
always think that, because you can see New York City
the skyline like I'm there, but like the best view
of the city you get, and you get the best
of both worlds. You get, you get the view, but
you get you get this homie feeling and it's a
little smaller, a little quaint term. It's easier to get
to met life too exactly. It's like it's one touch.
(22:00):
It's so simple. So uh, Like I said, if you
can make it here, and there is something so special
about New York and you can get emotional thinking about it.
Whenever I listened to Frank Sinatra, I'm like, this is
so powerful. I'm having the best time here. It's just
it's just people are different here, you know, and there
is such a camaraderie in this area, and especially with
(22:21):
the Jets and New York and we we know that
from past seasons and all of these things, you know,
but um, it's a great area to be in. Well,
it's it's so crazy, because I think that's one of
the best things about New York is the loyalty, especially
with the Jets fan base. They are so so loyal
(22:42):
and that's something that as a sports fan just in general,
I love loyal fans because it's it makes the winds
that much better and more meaningful. And it was funny
when you came to the preseason game against the Giants
this this season, you were saying it was kind of
emotional for you being on the field, which is so
(23:04):
funny because I have said that to people like every
time I am on the field, every game, and every
time I am like, wow, this is such a crazy
experience and it just makes you weirdly emotional that you
wouldn't think, well, first, I just I am so grateful
to even be there and have the opportunities to be
(23:24):
able to connect with the Jets, you know, and and
to be able to get on the field and and
bring my boyfriend, who has grown up loving the Jets
to you know, and I think that that connection right
there is just enough for me. And I grew up
watching the Jets every Sunday with my dad um because
we obviously I was born here, he grew up in
(23:48):
in the Hudson Valley area and love the Jets. So
it was just something that was so established in our household.
My mom would make Sunday dinner, you would hear, you
would hear like the theme songs playing such a homey
feeling and then with the fall too, you know. I
was saying that the other day to someone. I'm like,
the seasons are changing Sunday night, but it's cooler in
(24:11):
the mornings. You can feel it best. It's the best.
And while I I love the feeling of it, do
I understand the sport. I'm gonna be honest with you know,
but I like watching it. Yes, I like watching it.
What I told you is, I don't need you to
explain cover too to me, Like, if you enjoy watching it,
that's that's the best part about football. It is truly
(24:33):
for everyone. I talked to Roger Goodell in a Q
and A a couple of months ago, and he said,
the female NFL fan base is some of it's like
the most growing category, but also the most passionate. It's
it's it's crazy. Everyone's like, oh, sports for guys, but
it's it's so much more than that. Sports means so
(24:55):
much more to people than just the sport itself. It's memories,
it's nostalgia, it's all a that, and for me, I
enjoy watching other people enjoy this sport Like that is
why I love it. When when I was at the
preseason game, I'm sitting there and I'm watching the Jets
come out, and there's this guy and he and I
took a video of it and it's just like it
(25:15):
literally is so moving. He's cheering like the Jets coming
out and then high fiving his friends. And that's the
stuff that I cannot get, like I will. I am
such a baby when it comes to stuff I will.
Literally I look back and I was crying at the video,
was crying because I was like, this is the stuff
that I live for. I just love I love having
something that brings people together, you know, especially just in
(25:36):
these times, and it's just fun that that something like
a sport can bring people together and it's and it's
so nice when no matter who you are, no matter
where you come from, no matter what, you have that
same connection and it's just as strong for everyone around you.
So it's it's so special. But before I let you go,
(25:57):
I need to know the hobo can question, Yeah, what
is your favorite place to get? I'm going to go
with breakfast because I'm a big breakfast person. Breakfast in Hoboken.
Breakfast and Hoboken. There are a couple of spots. Recently,
I have fallen in love with this place. Oh I
love this place for lunch. But I didn't realize that
(26:17):
they had like a whole breakfast menu. GI's Cafe Okay,
super good, but also Luca Brass Okay, Brasa. I don't
know where that. I don't know if it's Bras, it's
on first um incredible breakfast wraps, incredible breakfast raps. Man.
But I mean I have I have the food list.
I'll give it to you. You'll hear the plug for
(26:41):
if anyone needs the food. It's people should be going to.
But Kate, thank you so much for coming. I'm so
glad we got to dive into everything. You helped me
understand TikTok even a little bit better. Thank you enough,
and hopefully you're at more games this year. Yeah me too,
I'm so excited. Thank you so much. That's a wrap
on my episode with Kate. Thank you so much. Kate,
(27:02):
you are an amazing guest. Make sure you all rate, review,
and subscribe on the I Heart Radio app or wherever
else you listen to your podcasts. And that's it for
us on this episode of New York CERB. We'll see
you next time.
Welcome in to New Yorker. I'm Caroline hender Shot so
excited to have you guys listening. Who are another episode
New Yorker, a podcast based on New York and all
of its facets of football fans. Today, I have Kate
North Colooness joining me. She's also known as Kate from TikTok. Yeah,
I am Kate from TikTok. Well, just at Kate now right, Okay.
(00:25):
I was gonna say, you change the user name when
I was applying to get verified on TikTok. I can't.
You couldn't have TikTok in the name. So they asked me,
they said, do you want just at Kate? And I
was like yeah, like were perfect. It was like this
opportunity I was. I had to grab it. I had
to take it. I'm just at Kate now, okay, perfect,
(00:45):
nice and simple, clean, easy to go. Okay. So Kate
for people who don't know you or what you do,
how would you explain it to them? So I really
got my start on TikTok with food, but I really
feel like I have become more of lifestyle content overall,
body positivity, just really showing that it is okay and
(01:05):
it's cool to be yourself on social media and and
be the person that you are off of social media
on social media and vice versa. Right, Okay, So you
graduated from Merrison and you were trending towards a fashion
like you had do have a degree in fashion, do
b f a in design? Okay? And I saw a
really fun um interview of you on Good Morning America
(01:28):
of like remaking a bridal gown into a new outfit?
Was that part of like curriculum or no. So one
of my friends and I got the opportunity to be
in this wedding dress revamp competition on Good Morning America
And basically we had to deconstruct a wedding gown and
(01:48):
turn it into something completely different and it had to
be sustainable. So we used tumeric to die fabric, we
used roses to diet so it was green or it
was yellow and purple, and we deconstructed it all, took
all the beads apart, put it all back together. We
did not win the competition, okay, but it was just
the best experience. It was so much fun. We were
(02:10):
we were in the middle of Times Square where they
were filming, and it was it was incredible, but it
was not a part of the curriculum. It was just
a fun opportunity. Okay, cool, cool cool. So then coming
out of college with that b f A, what was
your first job? So my first job I got as
an assistant designer at a men'swear company and I worked
(02:31):
there for three years. I became an associate. During the pandemic,
we obviously went and worked from home. We thought it
was gonna be two weeks a month. And at this
time I had known what TikTok was. I had downloaded
the app um. I was making a salary. Like in
New York City, you can you can make a salary,
(02:52):
but also if you're under a certain amount, you can
make overtime. And so I had the opportunities to make overtime.
But they took away that opportunity to make overtime because
of the pandemic and letting people off. And I was
just grateful to even have a job at that point.
So they took away our over time and we really
had to work within our eight hours. They were very
strict about it. So I had a lot of time
(03:14):
on my hands, and so during my lunch break during
after I would work, I would make TikTok's and watch
a lot of YouTube, a lot of Netflix, and specifically
on YouTube, I was watching muck bangs and I don't
know what was I don't know what was drawing watching
people eat, but I was so fascinated by it, and
I think subconsciously in the back of my mind, I
was thinking, I haven't seen this on TikTok, so let
(03:36):
me try it out. And I did and the video
blew up. And that's kind of how I got my start.
And it's funny enough because obviously I'm very open about
my eating disorder and my recovery process and that whole journey,
and Taco Bell used to be one of my biggest
fear foods and that's the thing that has given me
this career. No way that is that's like so special
(03:58):
because it's such a full surp goal moment. But okay,
I'm going to go back for a second, because what
what was the first video? Obviously muck banging is something
for those who don't know, it's just eating food in
front of a camera while talking to the camera. Right
Normally it's eating like a whole menu of food. But
I call my muck bang subpar because I'm eating, I'm
(04:20):
eating one meal with everyone, and it's it's just a
it's a fun way to connect with people. I think,
you know, because food in general is a fun way
to connect with people. Yes, that's like the center of all. Hey,
you want to go grab dinner, you want to go
out to lunch kind of thing. That's the center of everything.
And especially we're both Hoboken girls. The best food, best food,
(04:42):
the best best food. I'm gonna remind me to bring
that up later because I need to know your favorite
go to. But okay, so the first video that you
release that kind of blew up. What was it? The
taco beout muck bang okay, and what specifically were you
talking about? Just I had filmed about five min It's
a footage eating eating my Taco bellt order and I'm
(05:04):
pretty sure it was the cruntrap Supreme Delicious that went viral.
But then I was thinking to myself after I posted
that one video, I was like, is this a fluke?
And I will this do well in other videos? And
when I say to people when they asked me about
doing TikTok or doing social media, if you find something
that does well, repeat it again. Try it over again.
(05:26):
So I so I did exactly that. I had about
five minutes of footage of this, and I just posted
the rest of the videos and they kept doing well,
and I was like, what is going on? People are
watching me eat? This is so weird. And then it
turned into, like I said, more lifestyle now, um, really
just showing so much of my life, but also keeping
those boundaries for the things that I that I don't
(05:48):
want to necessarily show. But but my main focus is
to be that person that I needed when I was
little on social media. Right, we were talking a little
bit before off camera about how different social media has
changed in since even like just since we've been introduced
to it, and it's so different now because in high
school and in college even it was so much based
(06:11):
on perfection and this looks way cooler than I'm actually enjoying,
Like this is so much cooler than any of you
are doing and all of that, and so it's it's
crazy because when you were making those videos, did you think, oh,
I want to be this role model that I never
(06:31):
had or did it just naturally come to you. I
have always wanted to help people. I've always wanted to
put the kind of positivity that I have in my
bones out there. I've just always been that kind of person.
I don't really know how to explain that further, but
this has been the most fulfilling thing I've ever done
in my life because I can see I can't see
(06:55):
the total impact, but when people come up to me
and hoboken or they messaged me, they let me know
how much I'm helping them, But what they don't really
understand is how much they've helped me as well. And
one moment that I can specifically remember was when I
was on TikTok. At the beginning, I still was very
much in my disordered eating kind of phase, at least
(07:16):
my at least the brain that it comes with it.
And it's really hard. It's not a it's not a
full stop. You know, in recovery. You are constantly working
towards yourself every single day. And I always say that
it is a marathon, not a sprint. With this. Every
day is working, you're working towards it. And I had
gotten Levan Cookies, and if you don't know what Levan
(07:37):
Cookies is, it's the amazing cookies in New York City,
and they sent them to me, and at this time
during the pandemic to everyone was going outside and working
out and walking and being active, you know, because you
were in your apartment and you were just like going crazy.
So I went on camera and I said, oh my gosh,
guys leaving something these cookies. I'm gonna go take a
(07:58):
run so that I can deserve these cook And I
remember this comment because it really just changed my perspective.
It was like an ah ha moment. And someone was like, Hey,
you can just eat the cookies. You don't need to
go work out. You deserve them reds. So it was
just it's just these things that I don't think that
people realize how much they're impacting my life and teaching
me and changing my perspective in this whole journey. Is
(08:19):
it Is it strange to have someone who obviously you
share a lot, so people feel like they know you,
but someone you've never met in person kind of give
you this advice that you just clicked for you in
a way that maybe nothing else had. Yeah, I mean,
I think just seeing it, you're you're putting yourself out
(08:40):
there that much. And at that point, I think I
had a couple of thousand followers like maybe like fifty
thou on TikTok so And for a reference, how many
do you have? No I have on TikTok I have
one point nine I believe, and then on instant that's
million million. Okay, just just check in everybody. We went
from thousands to millions and then um and Instagram. I
(09:01):
think I'm at like two fifty. I don't I don't
really over analyze the numbers, because yes, there are all people,
and I'm so grateful that everyone's there. But I've been
in that place, like growing on social media, where it
would drive you absolutely nuts, and I just don't want
it to be that way. For me. It's it's always
just been fun and I just try to keep it,
keep it so fun. Wait, what was your question? It's okay,
(09:23):
we're going off on tangents Um. Having someone who you've
never met give you that advice, I think. I think
just realizing that when you have a following like this,
you have people looking up to you and just wanting
to everyone everyone is everyone's a human at the end
of the day, and we're all allowed to grow and learn.
And I think that just seeing that other people also
(09:45):
can teach you something and it's adapting and it's learning
and being that positive influence and making sure that you're
adjusting to those changes, you know, because it is important.
I've realized that I have these platforms and I have
the power to put out positivity and to and to
really just like show, like I said, it's it's cool
to be yourself. And again, I think that when people
(10:06):
give me advice, and when people and I it's constructive
criticism of course, you know, because there are sometimes I
just get like the most absurd comments and I let
them roll off. But with something like that, it really
did make me think. And I'm so grateful for that
comment because I can remember to this day and that
was like almost three years ago. Now, wow, yeah, that's crazy,
how lasting of an impact just just a random comment
(10:31):
that sometimes people I know, sometimes people will kind of
get caught up in social media and they don't even
think what they're writing and they just write it and
it can backfire, but like also it can be something
so positive like that. So it's kind of crazy how
just a reactive instinct to comment on something can totally
one eighty a person in their life and all these decisions. Okay,
(10:53):
so with social media obviously comes a lot a lot
of pressures in all different facets. But two fold question,
do you think there is a pressure for you specifically
to post just because we're always on social media? Like
how do you keep up with that? I feel like
I get overwhelmed and I am not good at posting whatsoever.
(11:17):
I think I have such a great management team, and
we have talked about this often, because there is that
pressure to to want to post and to keep update,
keep people updated, and all this stuff you know that
comes along with it. But the conversations I've had with them,
they're just very supportive. They're like, Hey, if you want
to take time for yourself, you can take time for yourself.
(11:39):
You know, you don't have to post every single day.
You don't have to keep up with it all the time,
you know, make sure that you're taking care of yourself.
And they are just such incredible people and remind me
that daily, just to make sure that you're keeping up
with yourself, you know, before keeping up with everyone else, right,
prioritizing yourself over the mental health and making sure that
(12:02):
I just I take the breaks that I need, you know.
But I also what's great is I don't ever feel
that pressure necessarily because what I'm posting is just for
fun anyways, and so I think it's just making sure
that I continue keeping my content myself because it's it's
just not it's not it doesn't feel like a job.
It just feels like fun, right, It's like more of
(12:22):
just a this is a reflection of me and what
I'm doing. Does did it ever at any point in
when you started to kind of blow up, did it
feel like, oh, no, I I need to be perfect,
Like did you start going down that rabbit hole? I
honestly never felt that way, And I think it was
because TikTok changed the game for social media. You on
(12:46):
Instagram previously you were able to edit and I know,
and I'm I've seen this on TikTok. Now where you
can you can fully edit your body in a video.
You can really do this stuff and it's it's really dangerous. Um.
But on Instagram it was so easy to get away
with editing yourself and where you were or how it
made it, how the perception of your yourself, you know,
(13:09):
And I feel like it's so different on TikTok because
it is video form content, you can't change a lot
of the things like you can't change where you're at,
you know, when in a video. I'm sure that there
are some people that can do that, but but I
but but I can't do that. Me and my editing
cannot cannot do that. So I think that TikTok brought
this whole new force to social media in a way,
(13:30):
you know, where it's it's almost like forcing us to
be even more ourselves, more real and realistic. Yeah, it's
it's crazy because I feel like it's the exact opposite
of everything that we grew up consuming of. If you're
perfect and that's what you want to be, like, that's
(13:54):
what you're going to see. And now it's more like
the more real the content is, the more genuine and
funny and authentic, and the more the followers go towards that,
which is so funny. So it's even funny, just like
cleaning videos I find myself watching on TikTok and I'm
just like, why am I watching this? Like I never
knew that I enjoyed watching someone like clean a carpet,
(14:18):
or it's so odd to see the things that you're
interested in based on your four ups, you know. I know,
sometimes if you're watching TikTok with another person and you're
watching their account, You're like, oh, that's really different than
I love. I love comparing for you pages with my
friends and like, are you guys on like right now?
(14:38):
Right now? Currently? I think everyone's on this, but that
movie with Harry styles everyone and all the drama. And
then I also what came up on my four you
page the other day was this this girl talking about
she um shoes. She reviews sneakers for people. People people
sending pictures of their wear and tear on their shoes
and she recommends what shoes that they should wear. That's
(15:03):
actually so funny because that's that's things people will have
legitimate jobs to do that. And now she's like, yeah,
you just send me a pick. She's like, for fun,
I love like reviewing sneakers, and she was like, I
feel like the Hoka two is the best for you
or whatever the shoes and everyone's like okay, I'm like
so good. When did you think, like, Okay, these videos
(15:29):
are really gaining traction. I can make a career out
of this. So in December twenty twenty one, twenty I
how long had you been on TikTok for it? So
I started TikTok like. I started gaining a following on
TikTok in April, and in December, I had started posting
(15:49):
Christmas videos as well, and my birthdays in December, and
I've always just loved them. And this was when the
duet feature on TikTok was first getting induced. And I
saw this video and it was cup I thought it
was cupcakes being made, but I was reacting to I
ended up reacting to how the tray was being made.
It was. It was a fifteen second video and I
didn't even really even say anything. It blew up like
(16:12):
it went stupid viral. I think it got like a
million likes and I was like what. I really was like,
what is this? And so again you try it out
again to see if it works. And then with that,
when that happened, that's when I saw a really big
I saw really big growth on the platform. I grew
a hundred thousand followers one night. Oh my god, I
can remember that being like I woke up, I'm like, wait, no,
(16:33):
that's not right, refreshed, and so I just kept posting
those and then um in December, I was I had
about nine hundred thousand followers in and I was like,
maybe I can do this as a full time thing.
I saw my peers that I had been go like
growing up or getting their following on the apps, like
(16:56):
start to do this as their full time job, and
like maybe this is for me. I don't I don't know.
And I had gotten a couple brand deals and I
was doing everything myself and I was like, this is crazy,
this is so exciting. And then in April one, I
had my first conversation with a management team. I fell
in love with them. There m still my managers today.
(17:17):
That's the best people, just the best people. And when
I sat down with them and talked with them, I
had um just about a million followers on TikTok, I
had about thirty thousand followers on Instagram. And I only
know these numbers because I had to tell them all
my analytics. And they were like, hey, you could do
this full time. You have it's great, Like you're you're
(17:37):
killing it. I'm like, I was like, you really think
And they were the first people that truly believed in me.
Not to say that my family, my boyfriend, my friends,
they were always supportive, but because it's such an unconventional job,
and they were already in the space they were they
were so supportive and so behind it. So that kind
of lit a fire like under my butt, and I
(17:58):
was like, all right, Like this is awesome. Like when
I have people that believe in me, you believe in
yourself more, you getting the confidence to know that you
could possibly do this. Was that scary being like I'm
going to quit my stable job and go into this
platform that just popped up like a year ago, so
I think it was. But when you start to when
(18:19):
you start to make money off of it, and then
my my financial goals with social media. When I had
I had goal set in mind. I wanted to make
what I was making at my full time job, and
when I was like, all right, like I want to
double what I'm making at my full time job. And
so when I hit these financial goals, all of a sudden,
it's not as scary. It's not as scary, And like
(18:42):
we talked off camera, I feel like I I've had
I've always viewed money as a certain way, and um,
I just always want better than not to say that
my parents did not provide incredible amounts of stuff for
me when I was growing up, but um. Again, it's
just setting financial goals and making sure you're hitting those goals.
(19:04):
And when I before I quit my job, I made
sure that I had a certain amount in in my
in the bank and that way I could pay for insurance,
because when you quit, you lose insurance, lose these things.
And when I did quit my job, my mom was like,
what are you doing? Because it is an unconventional job.
It's not something that people normally take risks on, you know,
And it's also a space where our parents couldn't even
(19:26):
my parents, my mom could not wrap her head around.
Oh my mom still cannot that the fact that you
can make money off the internet and then you could
do this as a full time job, you know. So
it is. It was scary and it was but it
was the right timing. Right. So when I quit, I
was going to be going into a new position at work,
and I just felt like it was the right time
(19:47):
for me to take that leap of faith. And I
when I took it, it was it was like I
quantum leaped into a whole new life, you know, and
you just feel like you're you're going in the right direction.
And I also just think that we don't take chances
on ourselves enough in this life, and at the age
that I'm at, I am not married, I don't have kids.
I have to worry about myself financially, and obviously my
(20:09):
loved ones like that, they are always in the back
of my mind. But at the end of the day,
I'm not necessarily taking care of another person. Do I do.
I take care of other people, absolutely, but but it
really is a perfect opportunity to take And so I
did write like, if if not now, when when? So
you kind of just have to jump into that abyss,
even if it is scarier or not. When we were
(20:32):
talking off camera, you were born but not raised. Born
in New York, born in New York, lived here for
a couple of years, maybe three years. Then I moved
to Germany, lived there for two and a half years.
Then I moved to Florida for about eight months. Then
I moved to Washington State for about three years, and
(20:54):
then I moved to back to Florida. And I was
in Florida from sixth grade until my is two years
of college until I transferred colleges, and then you went
ended up going back to New York because you went
to Marist just so crazy. You were quite literally all
over the map. But my point being New York obviously
a soft spot for you. Now living in Jersey, does
(21:17):
it feel any different being an influencer in the New
York tri state area versus maybe being more off the map. Yeah,
I mean, if you can make it here, you can
make it anywhere. You know, there is really something special
about this area, whether it is New York or Jersey.
You know, because you when you live in Hoboken, you
(21:37):
are essentially a part of New York City. Like I
always think that, because you can see New York City
the skyline like I'm there, but like the best view
of the city you get, and you get the best
of both worlds. You get, you get the view, but
you get you get this homie feeling and it's a
little smaller, a little quaint term. It's easier to get
to met life too exactly. It's like it's one touch.
(22:00):
It's so simple. So uh, Like I said, if you
can make it here, and there is something so special
about New York and you can get emotional thinking about it.
Whenever I listened to Frank Sinatra, I'm like, this is
so powerful. I'm having the best time here. It's just
it's just people are different here, you know, and there
is such a camaraderie in this area, and especially with
(22:21):
the Jets and New York and we we know that
from past seasons and all of these things, you know,
but um, it's a great area to be in. Well,
it's it's so crazy, because I think that's one of
the best things about New York is the loyalty, especially
with the Jets fan base. They are so so loyal
(22:42):
and that's something that as a sports fan just in general,
I love loyal fans because it's it makes the winds
that much better and more meaningful. And it was funny
when you came to the preseason game against the Giants
this this season, you were saying it was kind of
emotional for you being on the field, which is so
(23:04):
funny because I have said that to people like every
time I am on the field, every game, and every
time I am like, wow, this is such a crazy
experience and it just makes you weirdly emotional that you
wouldn't think, well, first, I just I am so grateful
to even be there and have the opportunities to be
(23:24):
able to connect with the Jets, you know, and and
to be able to get on the field and and
bring my boyfriend, who has grown up loving the Jets
to you know, and I think that that connection right
there is just enough for me. And I grew up
watching the Jets every Sunday with my dad um because
we obviously I was born here, he grew up in
(23:48):
in the Hudson Valley area and love the Jets. So
it was just something that was so established in our household.
My mom would make Sunday dinner, you would hear, you
would hear like the theme songs playing such a homey
feeling and then with the fall too, you know. I
was saying that the other day to someone. I'm like,
the seasons are changing Sunday night, but it's cooler in
(24:11):
the mornings. You can feel it best. It's the best.
And while I I love the feeling of it, do
I understand the sport. I'm gonna be honest with you know,
but I like watching it. Yes, I like watching it.
What I told you is, I don't need you to
explain cover too to me, Like, if you enjoy watching it,
that's that's the best part about football. It is truly
(24:33):
for everyone. I talked to Roger Goodell in a Q
and A a couple of months ago, and he said,
the female NFL fan base is some of it's like
the most growing category, but also the most passionate. It's
it's it's crazy. Everyone's like, oh, sports for guys, but
it's it's so much more than that. Sports means so
(24:55):
much more to people than just the sport itself. It's memories,
it's nostalgia, it's all a that, and for me, I
enjoy watching other people enjoy this sport Like that is
why I love it. When when I was at the
preseason game, I'm sitting there and I'm watching the Jets
come out, and there's this guy and he and I
took a video of it and it's just like it
(25:15):
literally is so moving. He's cheering like the Jets coming
out and then high fiving his friends. And that's the
stuff that I cannot get, like I will. I am
such a baby when it comes to stuff I will.
Literally I look back and I was crying at the video,
was crying because I was like, this is the stuff
that I live for. I just love I love having
something that brings people together, you know, especially just in
(25:36):
these times, and it's just fun that that something like
a sport can bring people together and it's and it's
so nice when no matter who you are, no matter
where you come from, no matter what, you have that
same connection and it's just as strong for everyone around you.
So it's it's so special. But before I let you go,
(25:57):
I need to know the hobo can question, Yeah, what
is your favorite place to get? I'm going to go
with breakfast because I'm a big breakfast person. Breakfast in Hoboken.
Breakfast and Hoboken. There are a couple of spots. Recently,
I have fallen in love with this place. Oh I
love this place for lunch. But I didn't realize that
(26:17):
they had like a whole breakfast menu. GI's Cafe Okay,
super good, but also Luca Brass Okay, Brasa. I don't
know where that. I don't know if it's Bras, it's
on first um incredible breakfast wraps, incredible breakfast raps. Man.
But I mean I have I have the food list.
I'll give it to you. You'll hear the plug for
(26:41):
if anyone needs the food. It's people should be going to.
But Kate, thank you so much for coming. I'm so
glad we got to dive into everything. You helped me
understand TikTok even a little bit better. Thank you enough,
and hopefully you're at more games this year. Yeah me too,
I'm so excited. Thank you so much. That's a wrap
on my episode with Kate. Thank you so much. Kate,
(27:02):
you are an amazing guest. Make sure you all rate, review,
and subscribe on the I Heart Radio app or wherever
else you listen to your podcasts. And that's it for
us on this episode of New York CERB. We'll see
you next time.
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