We recently connected with Jade Farhat and have shared our conversation below.

Jade, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Growing up, I was captivated by YouTube. I loved the idea of creating makeup, clothing, and lifestyle videos to share with the world. But like almost everyone else, fear of judgement or failure held me back. It’s funny because everyone claims that content creation is easy but it actually takes a very disciplined approach in the sense that you need to post consistently and you need to set your self apart from the crowd while genuinely being yourself. Not to mention, the time spent filming, editing and writing all your content is substantial.

My start of becoming a content creator came from an unexpected source. During my final year of high school, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. It was a very hard time in my life, I was in and out of the hospital, I ended up having to have surgery and I felt very alone. This was when I found solace in creativity. About a year or so after procedure when I was finally feeling healthy, I launched itsjadefarhat.com, a platform to share my experience with
Crohn’s and life experiences. It became my creative outlet. Not only could I share my story with those going through a similar experience (something I longed for during my time in hospital), but it also gave me a purpose to start sharing other aspects of my life.

From life lessons to homemade body scrub recipes, I poured my heart into every post. Then, I launched my instagram – @itsjadefarhat – where I could share my life through photos. I started out posting inconsistently, but really committed myself after graduating university. I began posting consistently and taking my content creation seriously. Over the past six years, this passion project has not only opened doors to incredible opportunities but more importantly has brought me self-fulfillment and a purpose.

I often think back to the time when I decided to invest in myself. Sharing my life and opening up about vulnerable stories was not easy, but I’m so grateful that I did it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Jade Farhat, a lifestyle content creator with a full-time job in brand marketing. Balancing a 9 to 5 with content creation is a bit uncommon nowadays, but it’s a lifestyle I thoroughly enjoy and plan to stick with for the foreseeable future.

My content spans from my health journey (focusing on my Crohn’s story), to documenting what I am wearing, eating, trying, and buying. I love the world of fashion and I strive to incorporate it into my daily posts. I am a sucker for a classic day-in-the-life video and try to share the most authentic version of what my life looks like through my content. I try to be as honest as I can with my followers. While my community isn’t massive, the integrity of my content is super important to me.

A key aspect to my brand is that my posts are made in real time. if you’re watching or seeing something, it was captured in the last 24ish hours. I thrive on sharing the everyday things I love and do, wherever life takes me and that is what my audience finds most engaging.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

While posting about my experience with Crohn’s constitutes only about 5% of my content, it holds a ton of importance for me. In these posts, I always sign off with an invitation for people to reach out if they need someone to talk to. The responses I’ve received to these videos have often moved me to tears. Not sad tears, but tears from knowing that I’ve made a positive impact. To know that my content was something that helped someone else’s fears or feelings is an incredibly rewarding experience.

On a lighter note, like pretty much every other lifestyle content creator, I often share products that I use. I really like hearing from others who have tried and loved something I’ve recommended. It’s always fun to share and get people onto great products and brands.

Ultimately, whether it’s through heartfelt messages about vulnerability with health or speaking with someone about the next great skincare product, interaction with my audience is what drives my passion.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I want to emphasize that my audience isn’t what you might call ‘big,’ but that hasn’t stopped me from getting amazing opportunities. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and networking with people I look up to, been invited to incredible events, and have had the opportunity to work with some of my favourite brands.

My advice for those thinking of starting their own content creation journey – and I know this is super cliche – just start posting. Taking the first step is the only way to find out if it is right for you. You might see immediate results and you might not, but if you enjoy doing it, you will find it easier to post and growth will come after that.If your dream is to work with ‘x’ brand, start posting about them organically and share what you think about them. This will help build a connection.

I also find that most people will tell you to niche down to attract a specific audience, but I don’t think this is always necessary. Be true to YOU. Post what genuinely interests you, and see where that takes you. Again, my community is on the smaller side, but I still get so much fulfillment from them because I’ve done things my way.

Contact Info:

• Website: itsjadefarhat.com
• Instagram: @itsjadefarhat
• Linkedin: Jade Farhat
• Youtube: @itsjadefarhat

Image Credits
Photographer: KAELA LEONE PHOTOGRAPHY Creative Director: Candice Cristovao @ccurate_