German social media influencer and model Theresa Forster is living out her dream.
But she is the first to admit that success doesn’t come without challenges.
She said one of those obstacles she needed to learn to overcome was accepting that some people become overly critical of those in her profession.
“People should learn to let us live and stop criticizing every single thing we do,” she said. “We are simply human beings with feelings.”
Forster said it is often a hardship to be scrutinized in the public eye, sometimes feeling like a target all the time.
“It’s so exhausting always having to justify ourselves,” she noted.
She said she also learned to overcome her regrets in regard to her career.
“I should have started earlier. When I first started out, I always listened to people around me, and they were laughing at me. Even my parents did,” she said. “They just didn’t take me seriously, so it took me a lot of time to start. But from the day I did start, I got successful very fast.”
Forster said another struggle she has faced is trying to change the perception of those in her industry by some who feel as though her line of work is easy. It is not all about just taking pictures and receiving gifts and looking good, she noted.
“There is much more to do if you want to be successful in this industry,” she said. “Usually, clients are paying us for our views and our reach, so we have to obtain those numbers every day. That is not easy and can be a lot of pressure.”
She said in addition to the competition that influencers are faced with each day, it is a constant task to add value to the lives of her followers.
“Otherwise, people will get bored and will forget about you fast,” she said. “So, this job is associated with heavy psychological pressure.”
As with everyone, excitement and interest in everyday life comes and goes, and that is no different for an influencer. Simply put, not every day presents the opportunity for fantastic content. But, Forster notes, it is her job to sometimes make something out of nothing for the sake of the followers.
“It is completely normal going through life phases and their ups and downs,” she said. “Sometimes you need some time to rest, and you just would rather lay in bed. Or sometimes you don’t feel good. But, if your main source of income is through Instagram, and you’re taking it seriously, there can’t be any days off. And so, you push yourself to keep going.”
She said these are the reasons many influencers turn to fake drama and telling lies in an effort to produce good content. She, however, finds more truthful and creative ways to get her content out there.
“For some, fake publicity is better than no publicity. But not for me,” she said. “I have to obtain those numbers, and for me, life has to be attractive for my followers every day.”