YouTube, for the average college student, is a website URL that is typed into the search bar during a boring lecture series in some general education class. But for Kallie Kaiser, YouTube started as a hobby and turned into a full-time job.
Kaiser, age 20, grew up in Naperville, IL with aspirations to break into the modeling industry.
“She always knew what she wanted to do,” said Katrina Gerber, a fellow graduate of Kaiser’s. “She still continued to do what she wanted to do and to me that’s inspiring and it’s really cool to see how popular she’s become.”
About two and a half years ago, Kaiser began a YouTube channel. After high school graduation, she initially took a gap year before heading off to University of Arizona to join her older sister.
“I wasn’t going to start YouTube,” said Kaiser. “I only worked and uploaded videos when I was bored and it’s now turned into a job.”
Kaiser describes her day-to-day work as consistently busy. She attends a community college this year in Santa Monica, while working on-set with other social influencers and collaborating with brands for photoshoots and videos.
Kaiser said she films every other day to keep her viewers updated. She said she uploads videos to her channel at least twice a week.
“I used to only upload once a week,” said Kaiser. “But once I moved out to L.A., I got connected to so many different people and everyone around you just motivates the crap out of you.”
Although Kaiser is motivated by her fellow social influencers out in L.A., on the home-front of college campuses Kaiser is inspiring future social influencers as well.
Gabrielle Burbary, hosts a YouTube channel with her twin sister Abby Burbary and has created an entire line of clothing called, Bella Gemelli.
“I have watched Kallie Kaiser many times before. She’s so adorable and has such a positive attitude,” said Burbary an aspiring entrepreneur at Michigan State University. “The first thing I look for when I watch videos is kindness and how genuine they are. That’s why I love to watch Kallie because I can tell she’s saying things because she truly cares about the best interest of her following.”
Burbary said that Kaiser has inspired her to expand her YouTube channel and work more diligently on the brand she hopes to create with her sister.
“Whatever you’re passionate in, whatever you find love for, commit every aspect of yourself into it,” said Kaiser. “What’s really cool about the world we are in today is that whoever you are that’s your power because no one else is like you.”
Check out Kaiser's videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/KallieKaiser