Have you ever wanted to be a YouTube star but didn’t know how? Or have you ever wondered how YouTubers go from the small screen to become TV show hosts, directors, or models? YouTube has been a sensation ever since its genesis back in 2005. People watch other people do anything from going to the zoo to playing video games. According to Fortune, YouTube has grown from a simple video sharing site to a $70 billion industry through content creators and viral videos. One of those content creators, LearningToBeFearless, has not only become a YouTube star but has transcended into real life fame.
LearningToBeFearless, otherwise known as Alexandra Thomas, is a body positive YouTuber, Instagram model and clothing designer. She has over 180,000 subscribers and her channel has a total of 14 million views. Her videos are all about accepting yourself for who you are, fashion and make up tips, and positive affirmation. In an interview, she described the journey to becoming a YouTube personality and what motivates her everyday. First off, becoming a YouTube celebrity, like most things, doesn’t start with the intention of getting famous. Alexandra got her start on YouTube because she found various plus sized fashion YouTube channels. As she watched them, she began to gain confidence in herself and was inspired to help other women the same way those channels had helped her.
Having inspiration to start a project and actually starting it are two different things. Alexandra’s advice for this next step into the YouTube community would be to “Get started now! Don’t want to start a channel. Just do it today! Upload a video being YOU and stay true to yourself.” The secret would be authenticity. Any famous YouTuber’s story has always said that they didn’t intend to become famous or to change the world. They were all “doing what they loved” or in Alexandra’s case, were just being themselves.
Now that you have started your YouTube channel, be patient. YouTube fame, attention, or success takes time. Alexandra’s experience in this has been that channel growth takes time. What got her through the frustration of it was continuing to make and upload videos because of her love of her YouTube channel. The advice she gives to other is to “do it for the love and passion of it, and you have no other option but to succeed.”
Once your channel has gained some traction because people love you for who you are, it’s time to make some professional moves. Because YouTube is a community of other content creators, it is wise and healthy to collaborate with other content creators that relate to what kind of content you make. Alexandra advises specifically to “do some collaborations or following some trends in the YouTube community to help get your name out there. But also do original content, things that are true to you!” Not only will you be able to make friendships and learn more about what other channels are doing, you will also be able to build up your specific channel. It can get you more views and you get to have fun in the process.
Once channel growth becomes bigger than the scale that you intended or if you achieve your channel goals, it’s important to remember the origins for your channel. It keeps you grounded whenever YouTube fame becomes larger than life and it also keeps you grounded. The reason that she started her YouTube channel was to help other women. In her own words she wanted “to help at least one girl out there feel a little better about herself.” When it comes to her channel growth, she says, “no matter how big it ends up growing, I want to keep my message the same & passion alive.”
After getting exposure from other YouTube channels, different forms of social media, and setting up meet and greets for fans, that’s when you know you are on your way. But with any path to fame comes some negativity. If you were to go on any YouTuber’s video, you will more than likely see a mix of really positive comments and very negative comments. According to Alexandra’s experience, “comments actually do affect us. I think a lot of people who leave comments don’t realize we DO read them. And they can hurt us. Putting something out there behind a keyboard isn’t just going into cyber space, real people read them.” And people can get really nasty. But, she also says, “we do read the positive ones too. And they can make a day turn around!”
Despite the hardships, especially for a body positive YouTube star in a weight obsessed culture, Alexandra Thomas has been able to stay true to herself. She is now an Instagram model with a following of 91,000 people and she has a clothing line with Society Plus titled “Learning To Be Fearless by Alexandra” Collection. Who knew that starting a YouTube channel would “turn into a hobby that can pay the bills!” Follow these steps by Alexandra and you can also be a YouTube star. Always keep your goal in mind just as Alexandra has done, “I’m still growing and gaining confidence every day with my subscribers.”
Check out Alexandra on YouTube, Instagram, and her clothing line!
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