Carmen Rouse is a 32-year-old single mother from the UK who has become a successful content creator and influencer. 

However, her life looked markedly different three years ago. She was working as a full-time optician and used to go home and watch TV. 

Then, a tragic turn of events—the loss of her long-term partner in a motorcycle accident—led to a period of intense grief and depression. This encounter with tragedy propelled her from a self-described “boring life” into content creation as a form of personal reinvention. 

“I woke up one day and thought, ‘This isn’t my journey. I’m going to pick myself up,’” Carmen says. 

Her breakthrough came when she was accepted by Sintillate Talent Agency, which introduced her to the world of influencer marketing and gave her a “new life.”

“I met the most amazing people,” Carmen tells us. “I became strong again. And I’ve learned to love myself again without needing someone to love me, to feel accepted.”

Leveraging her newfound confidence, Carmen expanded into modeling. She became a finalist in Miss Swimsuit UK and was named one of the top three glamour models at the UK Glamour Awards. 

Now, she works as a housing first project manager by day, performs tattoo removals, applies semi-permanent makeup, and offers sports therapy massages in her spare time.

Through her experiences, Carmen opens up about the challenges and rewards of building a personal brand online. For instance, her foray into reality TV, appearing on a boohoo Man dating show, brought visibility and challenges. 

“I got extremely trolled [with] over 3000 comments of insults,” Carmen admits.

Nevertheless, she has remained resilient, sharing insights into brand partnerships, personal anxiety, and having an authentic personality in a world often criticized for its superficiality.

From Bikinis to Business

Carmen’s journey in the creator economy began with product promotions for Sintillate Talent. 

“I started creating content when I joined Sintillate Talent because we started getting products from those different companies, businesses that we had to start advertising for on our pages,” Carmen explains. 

What started as a requirement quickly became a passion and a “hobby.”

Carmen initially focused on gym wear and even launched her clothing brand. However, external factors forced a pivot. 

“Covid happened, Brexit happened, and… the shipping fees just [were] excruciating,” she recalls. Adapting to market demands, Carmen transitioned to swimwear content, leveraging her Miss Swimsuit UK experience.

As her following grew, Carmen faced the challenge of balancing her public image with her personal life. 

“Being a single mom, I’ve recently started dating again and looking at my social media because I’ve always got my body in a bikini,” she says. This realization led to a strategic shift in her content: “I love doing more glamorous dresses, clothing where you’re a bit more covered up now.”

Tackling negativity was another hurdle. “There’s always someone out there with something negative to say about you,” Carmen admits. 

Her response? “I never look at it as a negative… I always see it as a positive. So I think I will push myself harder.”

The influencer attributes her success to two key factors: consistency and networking. 

“If it’s your dream and passion to become a content creator, you’re going to become successful because it becomes a full-time job,” she advises. “It’s really important to stay consistent and network as much as possible. The more you network, the more opportunities will come.”

Overcoming Stage Fright

Once crippled by anxiety, Carmen recalls it had gotten to a point where she couldn’t leave her house. 

“I had to go shopping with my mum because I felt like I was [having] panic attacks when I was in public,” she shares.

Her breakthrough came unexpectedly through her work as an influencer, particularly during the Miss Swimsuit UK competition. 

“I think my swimsuit [experience] definitely helped my anxiety because, for the first time, I stood on stage and walked in front of so many people just staring at you,” Carmen says.

Despite initial fears, Carmen pushed through. “I felt like I was going to have stage fright, and I did feel like I was going to collapse. My legs were like jelly. But I thought, ‘Get out there!’”

The result was a transformative experience. Carmen went from a “quiet, shy girl” to “outgoing and bubbly.” 

“Now I feel like I’ve found myself, and I don’t suffer from anxiety at all anymore,” Carmen states.

Balancing Act

While many of her collaborations come through Sintillate Talent, Carmen also fields direct requests from clothing and skincare brands.

Unlike many influencers, Carmen often forgoes payment for promotions, particularly for small businesses. 

“I’m more than happy to publish anything on my page free of charge because I know, being a small business owner myself, it just takes that bit of kindness from someone else to share your small business,” she says.

Carmen is selective about the brands she works with, aligning partnerships with her image and values. 

“I have started turning down anything to do with lingerie because I don’t want that on my page anymore,” she notes. However, the aspiring entrepreneur remains open to bikini and clothing brands that reflect her lifestyle. “I love a spa, sauna, and beach. That is my personality,” Carmen explains.

The heartache of losing her partner caused Carmen to lose a lot of weight, but through willpower and resilience, she managed to regain her strength.

Carmen aims to pivot towards fitness-related content. “Fitness and gym are huge things to me,” she says, adding, “To have gym wear on my page would feel more… me.”

Initially, she felt pressured to constantly engage online. Now, she’s more discerning: “If it doesn’t benefit me, I just don’t even open it anymore,” she says of incoming messages.

Carmen stresses the importance of maintaining a life beyond social media. “It’s okay not to have your head in your phone 24/7 to please other people,” she advises. “You need to remember that spending time with yourself and your family is important.”

Building Connections

For Carmen, the most rewarding aspect of her career in the creator economy goes beyond financial success or brand partnerships. 

“The most rewarding would be meeting people like family to you,” she says. “I’d say they live miles and miles away but feel close [at] the same time.”

Reflecting on her journey, Carmen advises industry newcomers to trust the process, adding that success takes time. “Be yourself, be authentic,” says Carmen. “The world is very false on social media.”

Looking forward, Carmen’s career continues to thrive. “I have a catwalk coming up, which I haven’t done for quite some time,” she reveals. 

While open to television opportunities, Carmen is selective, shunning overexposure. 

“I would like to go on a TV show in the future with something a bit more authentic. Nothing staged, even though most of them are,” she explains.

Carmen’s commitment to genuine content extends to her interactions with followers. Her message to those seeking advice? “Just reach out. I’m happy to talk to anyone about it.”