Mode around the Globe: Kate Bartlett

Photographed by
MONICA YELVINGTON

Videography by
GABE RODRIGUEZ

Wardrobe by
PRIMARK
www.primark.com

Kate Bartlett
@katee_bartlett

How did you begin your career as an influencer?
A lot of people assume that I started doing social media when I started TikTok, but I’ve actually been creating and posting content since I was 16 years old. I was never really interested in the traditional extracurricular activities most high schoolers did and always knew I loved fashion and putting together outfits. One day one of my friends threw out the idea of starting a fashion blog and I kind of ran with it. Before school I would watch coding tutorials on YouTube so I could code edits and designs into my website, and after school every single day my mom would help me take photos of the outfit I wore that day. It was definitely not considered cool or normal at the time, but I truly believe I would not be doing what I am today if I had never started my blog in high school.

What can people expect to see when following you on social media?
On my social media, I have somewhat of a format that I stick to. On Tiktok, I like to do daily vlogs, photo montages, outfit videos, PR Hauls, etc. On my Instagram, I feel like I get a little bit more personal. I feel like Instagram is a really easy platform to connect with your followers and I love talking to people over DM’s.

A highlight and a goal you hope to accomplish in your career?
One of my biggest goals is to have my own business. Since I was a little girl, I always knew that I wanted to be my own boss and have my own company. At the moment, I’m focusing on growing my brand and following on social media, but in the next few years I would love to create my own company and lean in towards that. It will likely be in the fashion realm.

3 beauty products you cannot live without?
This one is easy: Charlotte Tilbury Light Wand Cream Blush, Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops, and Clear Brow Gel!

What tips & tricks can you extend to someone aspiring to have a career like your own?
The number one piece of advice I tell people who want to make social media their job is that you truly just have to own it. It’s very scary to put yourself out there on the internet and opens up room for a lot of judgment. But you have to just say “Hey, this is what I’m doing, take it or leave it,” eventually if you do/say/wear anything with enough confidence people will start to catch on.

What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer?
This summer has been full of travel for me which has been so fun but definitely looking forward to spending some time in the city with my friends. I’ve started to appreciate my “chill” time so much more lately.

Go-to outfit for a summer lunch with the girls?
It’s definitely been a sundress summer for me! But I never like to wear open-toed shoes in the city so I usually pair with sneakers or loafers and a slick back bun or loose waves.

Who/What inspires you?
I think social media is such a fun career because it’s so easy to be inspired by the people working around you. I think this is one of the few Industries where people at a young age can achieve great success and really change their lives with only one tool – their phones.

At what point did you turn your social media platform into a career? Are there any other careers you’d like to explore in the future?
It’s interesting because social media became my career while I was still in college. In May of 2021, I quit both of my part time jobs to support myself with just my social media – I truly do hope I can be my own boss forever!

What’s your dream collaboration?
I feel extremely blessed to have worked with so many of my dream brands already. Getting to work with names like Valentino, Ferragamo, and YSL were all pinch me moments for sure, but I really think my dream project would be creating and promoting my own brand.

How do you hope to influence people through your social media platforms?
I always want to be a positive light on social media and will forever stick by that. If I don’t have something positive and uplifting to share or am not in the mood, I simply won’t post. I want people to come to my page and smile and I think my followers appreciate that.

You gained hundreds of thousands followers overnight, can you explain the feelings that ran through your mind and what this experience was like?
At the time I didn’t really process the number. I wasn’t monetizing my social media at the time so it didn’t really mean much from a business standpoint at that time but I remember thinking to myself – “Woah, this might actually become something.”

Congratulations on graduating! What was it like going to college and maintaining a successful social media platform? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?
Thank you! When I was doing school online during covid it was a little bit easier to manage things. But when I went back to campus for my senior year, I really had to learn time management skills. I remember there were some days when I was coming to class straight from Fashion Week, or straight from a photo shoot. At the end of the day, it was tough, but I’m very thankful to have my degree.

What would you like to say to your fans?
Every single day I truly wake up and pinch myself that I get to do this as my full-time job, and I am so thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way and helped make my dreams a reality. I am full of gratitude always.