“I’ve vlogged every day for three years straight,” says Alyssa McKay, her voice a mix of pride and mild disbelief. 

In a time where content creators come and go like fleeting trends, her consistency is just the tip of the iceberg in her journey from foster care to digital stardom. 

But what makes her stand out is her unapologetic authenticity in an industry often criticized for deception. 

As Alyssa peels back the layers of her story in an exclusive Net Influencer interview, the influencer holds a seminar on sailing the turbulent waters of social media fame, one unfiltered Snap at a time.

Mastering the Art of Content

Alyssa was born in Portland, Oregon, but now lives in New Jersey. She began her journey into content creation at a young age.

“I mastered this editing software called Sony Vegas Pro by the time I was eleven years old,” she recalls. “I made little music videos and put them up on YouTube.” 

Alyssa’s passion for creativity extended to various pursuits, including piano, singing, and dance.

Growing up in the foster care system from age nine to 21, she discovered her love for acting during her first year of high school. 

This passion led her to create content on Musical.ly, where she would lip-sync to movie and TV scenes.

Her breakthrough was creating a “rich girl” character inspired by iconic film personas. 

“She was loosely based off of Cher from Clueless and Legally Blonde and all these characters that I looked up to growing up,” Alyssa tells us. 

This character propelled her social media presence to new heights.

Initially skeptical about the financial prospects of content creation, Alyssa set a modest goal for herself: “If I can make $2,000 a month for three months straight, I’ll quit my job,” she shares. 

Upon achieving this milestone, she transitioned to full-time content creation.

Alyssa has transformed her passion for creativity into a thriving career that spans multiple social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Today, the 24-year-old’s content goes beyond her initial character-based work. She focuses primarily on lifestyle content on Snapchat, offering an unfiltered look into her daily life.

Diversifying Platforms

Emphasizing the importance of platform diversification, Alyssa maintains a presence across multiple social media channels. 

“TikTok can go away in a day, and if you only are making money in one place, […] you can’t put all your eggs in one basket in this industry,” she explains.

Her team’s recommendation initially prompted Alyssa’s foray into Snapchat. 

Despite initial uncertainty about the platform’s content format, she began by sharing unfiltered glimpses of her daily life. 

“I just started talking all day. Everything that was going on in my head,” Alyssa recalls. This authentic approach resonated with audiences and helped shape Snapchat’s creator ecosystem.

The move to Snapchat proved transformative for Alyssa’s career. 

As one of the first creators in Snapchat’s monetization program, she leveraged this opportunity to achieve significant personal milestones. 

“I saved every dollar that I made from Snapchat. And I’m the first person in my family to graduate high school and college, and now I’m a homeowner,” she shares.

Alyssa’s multi-platform strategy involves tailoring content to each platform’s unique characteristics. 

She notes that content performance can vary significantly across platforms, requiring constant adaptation. 

“I do adjust my content to what I see is working on each platform on pretty much a daily basis,” Alyssa states.

The Unfiltered Approach

Alyssa attributes her success as a content creator to her unwavering commitment to authenticity. 

“I am so unabashedly like myself,” she states, stressing the importance of maintaining a genuine online presence despite potential criticism. 

This approach, instilled by her manager since she was 19, has become a cornerstone of her content strategy.

Alyssa’s candid style resonates deeply with her audience. 

“People come up to me and cry because they just feel like we have such a close connection,” she reveals. 

Alyssa believes this emotional bond stems from her approach to content creation, particularly on Snapchat, where she shares unfiltered glimpses of her daily life. 

“I Snapchat like we’re on FaceTime and interact with people. I message people back all day,” Alyssa says of her dedication to keeping her audience engaged.

She constantly monitors audience questions and feedback, using these inputs to shape her content. 

“I try to answer the audience’s questions and talk directly to them every day,” she says, adding that such a strategy helps her balance repetition and novelty and ensure her long-time followers remain engaged while attracting new viewers.

However, Alyssa’s openness comes with challenges. She has faced issues ranging from online harassment to doxing attempts. 

“Now I have to be more aware of what I’m posting,” she admits, detailing precautions like avoiding revealing exterior shots of her new house or inadvertently disclosing her location.

Despite these hurdles, Alyssa remains committed to her approach, believing that the positive aspects of her career outweigh the negatives.

Embracing Authenticity

Alyssa’s primary advice centers on authenticity and passion. 

“Post what makes you happy. Post what you’re passionate about. Be true to yourself,” she emphasizes. 

The digital maven encourages creators to embrace their uniqueness, even if it means being “outside the box” or “the black sheep.”

Alyssa acknowledges the challenges of starting, particularly potential criticism from one’s immediate circle. 

However, she urges creators to persevere: “If it’s something you love to do, just do it because you never know what could happen.”

Addressing common misconceptions about content creators, Alyssa pushes back against stereotypes of entitlement and superficiality. 

“There are content creators that started creating content for the love of it, and we’re not all bad,” she asserts, highlighting the genuine passion that drives many in the industry.

Looking towards the future of the creator economy, Alyssa advocates for more collaborative relationships between brands and creators. 

She appreciates when companies approach partnerships with an open mind, allowing creators to shape content that resonates with their audience. 

“It’s cool to see more companies coming into deals with open minds and allowing creators to be collaborative,” Alyssa notes, hinting at the mutual benefits of such partnerships.

More Than Followers

Alyssa recently shot a TV pilot, marking a potential expansion into traditional media. 

While acknowledging the uncertainty of its future, she expresses excitement about this new venture.

Simultaneously, Alyssa nurtures her entrepreneurial side as co-owner of Beyond Lost, a streetwear fashion brand. 

“We drop cool pieces pretty much every other week,” she tells us, hinting at upcoming releases for her audience to anticipate.

Despite these new horizons, Alyssa’s core motivation remains her dedicated audience, particularly on Snapchat. 

She describes a profound connection that transcends typical creator-follower dynamics. 

“If I don’t snap for a few hours, everyone hits my manager, asking, ‘Where’s Alyssa? Is she okay?'” The level of concern and engagement from her audience deeply moves the influencer.

She highlights the uniqueness of this relationship, rejecting the term “parasocial” due to the genuine reciprocity she feels. 

“I truly feel like the relationship I have with my audience on Snapchat is unlike any other,” Alyssa reflects. 

This connection, which she likens to family, remains the most rewarding aspect of her content creation journey.