​

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

What/ who inspired you to start a Youtube channel and when did you start it?

​

I had been watching a few Youtubers for a few years, and always thought it would be such a fun, creative outlet, so once I got a new camera I decided to try out my own vlogs. I guess in particular I would have to say it was Zoella and Alfie Deyes, both channels that make blogs and always talk about how fun and special it was to go back and watch their favorite days. As someone who is a sucker for nostalgia, I decided that vlogs would be a perfect way for me to tap into my creative side while making content that would be meaningful to me for years to come.

 

Going off of when you started, did you ever imagine being where you are now?

​

My initial reason for making a Youtube channel was for creating a new hobby. I have a few hundred subscribers which is more than I anticipated, but I mostly use it to post vlogs about the exciting things around me. I never thought I would be so intrigued by Youtube, but I also am not expecting to become as big as the people I am used to watching. Where I am now on Youtube is how I wanted to be, but now I have viewers which is something I didn't really know was going to happen.

 

What was your intent on starting a Youtube channel?

​

Like I said, I just wanted to start recording and remembering my days in a creative way aside from a journal or photos. I thought the Youtube community was really sweet and something that would be fun to be a part of. I wouldn't say my goal was to create a large channel or anything, but just to step into the community in a small way and if it caught on, that would be cool.

 

Who was your audience when you starting uploading videos?

​

My intended audience is definitely people like me, so I guess college-aged girls. 

 

Has starting a Youtube channel benefitted your social life? If so what ways?

​

I think that making videos has given me a lot of confidence and skills I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I haven't had too much experience with outside support on Youtube or anything, but pulling a camera out in public has made me very confident in myself and what I want. Also, editing videos and taking good shots/clips was something that I didn't expect to necessarily gain, but I've definitely grown in those areas which is fun.

 

What videos have inspired you to grow your channel?

​

I can't really think of any specific videos, but there are a few channels that have really inspired me. Like I said, Zoella and Alfie Deyes are two cliches nowadays, but still very inspiring as far as just having fun memories to look back on. I love Kristin Johns and her sweet, honest personality is something I hope to capture half as well as she can. Some more recent bloggers I've come to admire in terms of creative video editing and filming are Elena Taber or Margot Lee, two other college gals who are just really good at finding creative moments in everyday life. It's definitely been fun to find inspiration in others to grow my videos and channel.

​

Have you been reached out to by fashion companies, if so who?

​

Not by any legitimate companies.

 

Has Youtube altered your way to viewing the fashion world?

​

Many channels I watch are mostly vlogs or humor. When watching Kristin Johns, I do try to adopt her style because she is all around someone I strive to be. She makes dressing up feel creative. I definitely have switched up my wardrobe some to fit what she posts on her Youtube.

 

How far along do you see yourself continuing a career in Youtube?

​

I don't think I'll ever fully pursue a career, but it's been a fun hobby I plan on continuing as long as I can. Youtube recently made changes to their channel partners, so with less than 1000 subscribers I am no longer making any profit from my channel. However, I do hope to reach that milestone again just to earn some extra money through advertisements if for nothing less to save up of more equipment since channels are so professional nowadays. Anyways, like I said, a career isn't really my intent with Youtube, but a hobby or an extra fun job in my spare time will continue to be around for a while I think.

​

Have you made an impact on your audience, if so how?

​

I haven't really witnessed any impact I would say, aside from a few sweet comments and messages about my study abroad videos. I vlogged my entire study abroad experience, from packing to my days there, and those videos were my most successful videos and I had a few conversations with people online about studying abroad which were really cool to share and help others with an experience that meant so much to me.

​

Analysis

​

Kayla started her Youtube channel to express her adventures to the public through "vlogs" from her daily life and special trips. She is passionate about editing and creating videos that are dedicated to her hobbies outside of Youtube. She talks about  how she originally started Youtube to be able to show her life through a lense and it slowly turned into a channel that people enjoyed and followed up on. She spoke about Kristin Johns, who is a Youtuber in my blog, and how she influenced the way she spoke to the public. Kristin is also the reason she became interested in fashion and beauty. Kayla watches many comical and vlog-based channels, which is very prevalent in her videos.

​

Her posts include Dorm Room Tutorials, Daily Life vlogs, Outfit-Of-The-Day, and her trip to London for study abroad. The way she connects to her audience and how she presents herself reflects Kristin in the way that she creates invisible friendships with her subscribers. She is very open about her adventures and that makes her watchers interested in all her content. Kayla is young and posts many videos that pertain to young adventures, which is exciting and inspires those watching to branch out as well. She can agree that Youtube has also inspired her in ways in the beauty world, mostly stemming from Kristin Johns. 

​

Kayla also talked about how Youtube wasn't made to become a career or a serious hobby that was made to create a crowd. She made her channel to grow herself and branch out of her comfort zone. She was a strong introvert before beginning her Youtube channel, but now she is more outgoing and willing to meet new people since she has created a community of her own on this site. Kayla is a Youtuber that not only focuses on herself, but also the world around her.