When a Disney-inspired fashion video went viral in 2020, it transformed 19-year-old Haley Robinson from an aspiring actress into a successful social media creator. Within four years, she combined her performance background with her style expertise to build a thriving digital business.

Early Performance Roots

Musical theater represents a significant part of Haley’s early life. Her first-grade teacher called her mother one day and said Haley had to join a theater to act and sing. “The moment I stepped on stage, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” recalls Haley, who was seven at the time.

This early performance experience provided essential skills for her future, though not as initially planned. Haley pursued traditional acting, including moving to California for pilot season auditions. “It is a tough industry. You got to know someone or your dad’s got to be a rich producer,” she reflects. “My dad is not, but I still went to auditions.”

As social distancing measures took effect in 2020, Haley found herself creating TikTok content at home. A suggestion from her mother sparked what would become her signature content style. 

“My mom told me I should make a video of outfits inspired by the modern Disney princesses,” she shares. “We’re huge Disney fans, so I was like, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ My mom, sister and I had so much fun with it. During filming, they helped with props, and it went well. But I wouldn’t have ever thought that this would be my job. Making fashion videos is now my full-time job.”

Strategic Growth Through Family Collaboration

The response to Haley’s content exceeded expectations. “In the first month, I think I gained 70,000 followers,” Haley says, adding that this success stemmed from careful planning and family teamwork. “My mom started researching the times to post hashtags, and we just went with it. We just listened to what my followers wanted to see.”

Family support proves essential to Haley’s content creation. “My sister started helping me get all my outfits together for videos,” she explains. “It’s nice to have people who support you because, at first, I felt a little dumb making Disney-inspired videos, but people loved it, and it did well. And then we later went into doing villains and movie characters and TV shows, and then it just became this whole big thing.”

Developing a Unique Creative Approach

Haley’s content stands out due to its distinctive combination of fashion and narrative. “It goes beyond just fashion,” she explains. “It’s outfits inspired by a movie, not just dressing like the characters. It can incorporate colors, and I still have my style. My favorite videos to make are albums or outfits inspired by them. For instance, doing Taylor Swift’s albums are my favorite videos because I love listening to music and thinking about color. That’s where the outfit goes.”

She maintains a professional schedule for content creation. “I try to make my schedule like a 9-to-5 job because I am working in my room, and it is just so easy to lay on my bed and scroll on my phone,” she shares. “I wake up, make my bed, do my makeup and hair, and then film my videos. That takes up to three to four hours. By that time, I’m drained. So I just edit my videos and work on emails.”

Her content strategy spans multiple platforms. “I try my best to remember—my mom’s always texting me to post a reel. She is my momager,” Haley laughs. “As soon as I post the TikTok, I try to post it as a [Instagram] reel. The only videos I make differently on other platforms would be YouTube because they’re longer. I love that I can share all my other videos on YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikToks because I’m gaining so many new followers from other social media platforms.”

Overcoming Early Career Challenges

Starting her TikTok career at 14 while attending high school brought difficulties. “Not only did I have to go through high school as a teenage girl, but also with having a TikTok following,” Haley reflects. “People would just be nice to my face, but then be like, ‘Oh, her videos are so cringe.’ One time, I was filmed during lunch, and someone made a video saying, ‘Oh my gosh, a famous TikToker goes to our school.’ And I like eating in privacy because I’m a messy eater.”

Nevertheless, she focused on her goals despite criticism: “I just had to overcome not caring and know like I’m never going to see these people again, and that the reward of a video doing well or getting a brand deal is a good feeling. You just can’t listen to them. I’ve been working on this since I was 7 years old. This is something that I’ve always wanted to do.”

Shaping Fashion Culture

As a Gen Z creator, Haley recognizes her generation’s influence on fashion. “One thing that Gen Z has helped change within the fashion community is gender norms,” she notes. “There is no longer any gender in any clothing. It’s not weird to see a guy wear nail polish or for a girl to dress more masculine. I think we have made it a comfortable space for people to dress however they want, dress however they feel comfortable wearing.”

Still, she acknowledges industry challenges: “Unfortunately, those three things [sustainability, inclusivity, and body positivity] are all intertwined,” Haley explains. “If it is sustainable, there’s no inclusivity with plus size. But if there is body positivity clothing and size clothing, they’re not sustainable. So it’s a big problem that fashion companies must work on.”

Coming Full Circle

Haley’s aspirations continue expanding. “I have many dreams,” she shares enthusiastically. “I’d love to have my fashion line, create my clothing, create my jewelry, phone cases, have a podcast. I’d love to be in a movie or TV show and get my favorite brand deal from my favorite store. The sky’s the limit, so I will keep working.”

Content creation enabled Haley to reconnect with her earliest fashion influences. “Now my job is I do put tutus and tiaras on,” she says. “I’ve fallen in love again with dressing up and healed my inner childhood because of this job. I wore a fur coat recently and felt like Carrie Bradshaw from ‘Sex and the City’ walking in New York. I have reconnected with the fashion I loved since I was a little girl. And it is my favorite thing in the world.”