With a career spanning over two decades, Paulina Popielnicka has witnessed and adapted to the various shifts in the digital space, from the early days of Myspace to the current TikTok-dominated era. 

Now based in the UK, this Polish-born influencer is redefining success in the creator economy, emphasizing authenticity and empowerment over fleeting trends. 

As she takes on new partnerships, tackles industry challenges, and plans for future expansion, Paulina’s journey offers valuable insights into building a sustainable social media career. 

In an exclusive interview with Net Influencer, she highlights the opportunities available in the creator economy and sheds light on the personal and professional challenges faced by those at the forefront of digital content creation.

From Childhood Blogger to Social Media Entrepreneur

Born and raised in Poland, 29-year-old Paulina’s journey in the creator economy spans over two decades, beginning with her early forays into blogging and child modeling. 

Her online presence changed with the platforms, transitioning from Myspace to Facebook, Instagram, and beyond.

As an only child, she found solace and entertainment in sharing her thoughts online. “I started as a child model. I was nine years old and landed my first gig, which made me think I want to do this,” she explains.

Her early content focused on celebrity news, daily updates, and her modeling career. As she matured, her content expanded to include dance and fashion.

The pivot to full-time content creation came unexpectedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paulina shares, “It pushed me to work harder and try to make it into my full-time job because that was all I could do then.”

A viral TikTok video about micro dermal piercings catapulted her into the spotlight. “I woke up to over 26 million views, [and an] increase in over 100 plus thousand followers,” she recounts how the overnight success prompted her to double down on her content creation efforts.

During this period, Paulina lived in the United States [Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Miami]. She describes this experience as a massive part of her social media journey. 

Despite her success, Paulina faces challenges typical of the creator economy. She notes, “The haters… that’s normal. And sometimes the deadlines. I tend to take so many collaborations simultaneously.”

Staying True Gives Paulina Her Edge in the Industry

Paulina stands out in a competitive industry through her commitment to authenticity. “I simply go with the flow. I am who I am. I say what I want to say. I have absolutely no filter,” she explains. 

Her content strategy is driven by a desire to empower her audience, particularly young women. 

Paulina states, “I wanted to prove to females in social media that they don’t have to sell their bodies, and they don’t have to sell or change themselves for social media to make money.” She believes creators can maintain a PG-13 approach while still finding success in the industry.

Content Creation Process and Challenges

Despite her casual online persona, Paulina’s content creation process is highly structured. “I always plan my content and have many planned pictures. I use specific apps to plan my content to see how it will look on the page,” she reveals. 

Her content days are intense. They often last 8 to 10 hours of shooting, followed by a day dedicated to editing.

However, despite careful planning, Paulina acknowledges the challenges of maintaining consistent motivation. “I don’t think I’m motivated 24/7. I’d keep looking for motivation… on my walk on the internet and other people’s profiles,” she admits. 

When faced with creative blocks, she takes time to recharge before returning to content creation.

Handling Negativity 101

As with many public figures, Paulina faces her share of online criticism. Her advice to other creators dealing with negative feedback is straightforward. 

“Don’t worry about it too much,” she says. “People who come on the internet just to badmouth talk to you are the people who live an unfortunate life, and they’re generally envious, anxious, and envious of you.”

She emphasizes the importance of not engaging with detractors, stating, “Don’t engage and interact with such people because that gives them the power over you. Simply ignore. Move forward. Stay true to you.”

How Joining Sintillate Talent Impacted Paulina’s Career

Paulina’s move to the United Kingdom in September 2023 marked a pivotal moment in her career. In October, she joined Sintillate Talent, a decision she describes as “the best I’ve made since I moved to the UK.” 

The partnership has provided her consistent campaign opportunities and a supportive community of fellow creators.

“I don’t think [Sintillate Talent founder] Sin realized what he’s done, but he genuinely connected all of us together,” Paulina told us. 

This network has been particularly valuable as she adjusts to a new country. “It gives me the feeling that I am somebody, that I have the people, I have my friends,” she explains.

Approach to Brand Collaborations

Paulina’s approach to brand partnerships is selective. She notes, “I’m fortunate enough that I never had to approach brands on my own. Brands have approached me.” 

According to her, this position allows her to choose collaborations that align with her brand and interests.

Her ongoing collaboration with Shein, facilitated through Sintillate, is a particularly successful partnership. “I’ve joined almost every single Sintillate campaign with Shein ever since [February]. And I am happy with that,” she shares.

Paulina listed more notable campaigns like New York Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week.

Balancing Act: Content Creation and Personal Life

Despite her success, Paulina admits to the challenges of balancing content creation, management, and social life. “There’s no balance in there,” she states. “Sometimes I go crazy. I simply say that 24 hours a day is not enough.”

This honest acknowledgment of the demands of a content creator’s life offers a glimpse into the industry’s realities. 

Paulina’s experience highlights the ongoing challenge many creators face in managing their professional commitments while maintaining a personal life.

The Changing Face of Influencer Marketing

Paulina reflects on the significant changes in influencer marketing since her career began. 

“The number of social media platforms you can join is a major shift,” she tells us, adding that back when she started, it was easier to connect with “your people” as there were only a few platforms. 

 “Right now, we have so many platforms, agencies, and influencers becoming influencers overnight,” she adds.

This proliferation of platforms and creators has led to a more crowded and complex digital arena. Paulina observes, “At this point, I don’t even know where to go or where I want to be. It’s too much of that.”

Beauty Standards and Social Media

Paulina identifies unrealistic beauty standards as a significant challenge in today’s social media environment. 

“The beauty standards set by social media are one of the biggest challenges that come to females, specifically on social media,” she states. 

The content creator expresses concern about normalizing digital alterations and surgical enhancements.

Authenticity in the Age of Digital Alterations

With her eyes set on the horizon, Paulina aims to inspire more women to succeed in social media without compromising their values. She’s also excited to explore opportunities in Europe and expand into travel content on YouTube.

Her advice to new creators is straightforward: “Stay true to yourself. Don’t do anything against your will, thoughts, or standards. Don’t change for social media.”

Paulina’s final words encapsulate her philosophy: Don’t hold back because if you have an idea, just grab it, do it, and live your happy life.”