We recently connected with Chey Heath and have shared our conversation below.

Chey , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I am a neurodivergent and a person who has allowed the world to perceive her. I am honestly built for a life of being misunderstood because of how ableist the world is especially to those who have a disability they cannot see. We’ve progressed in many ways but still have so much more work to do in terms of validating peoples’ disabilities, especially adults with disabilities. It’s hard to “convince” people that you aren’t late simply because you don’t care about them but maybe because you ended up in executive dysfunction or you can’t complete tasks because they’re multi-step tasks that are very easy for those without a disability but not someone who has a disability. You take being disabled and then amplify that by 10x when you choose to put yourself and whole life out on the internet. I am lucky that within the internet, I have experienced small amounts of hate but I have struggled with people pointing a finger at you and forgetting there’s 4 pointing back at them. I struggle with a disability that people cannot see every day and I am exhausted of trying to fit into a mold that people want me to fit into based on their preconceived ideas, especially because adults with disabilities have to look a certain way for people to validate them. I understand it’s quirky on the internet right now to poke fun at having ADHD/autism/any mental health diagnosis and we like to make fun of our own traumas but it’s hard to see those things when you struggle so much with your disability that people don’t see. I think the biggest lesson I have learned from having a disability is that the world is ableist and I can’t spend my whole life trying to fit into boxes people have put me in. I will never be in a box.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a true mid-western girl at the heart. I was raised by my grandparents starting at the age of 4 until I went to college at 18. I went away for college and never came back to my small town. I did this for many reasons but overall, it was to escape the abusive situation I was in for years. In college, my love of social justice, psychology, and vulnerability grew. My content creation started in my dorm with just a backdrop from Jo Ann’s fabric and a Sony camera I purchased off of Facebook Marketplace. I started a small YouTube channel doing makeup tutorials and eventually expanded to do a few weddings, proms, school dances, and more professionally. I was truly girl-bossing at its finest. I then started a small Etsy business selling scrunchies + dog bandanas, once again, out of my dorm room. I went viral a few times on Twitter and started to expand my business into small art Twitter spaces. After a few years of focusing on my education career, I landed on Tiktok when it first came out + slowly started making a few videos. I never took it seriously until 2021, a few months after my dad passed away. I started making vlogs to hold myself accountable and eventually content creation stuck. I landed a promotional video with Chamberlain Coffee on a gifted collaboration after reaching out through emails to the brand I admired so much. From there, I have grown and expanded on TikTok and while my community of just shy over 5K followers may not be huge to some content creators, it is to me. I grew a community of like-minded individuals who like me want to share realistic + authentic content. That’s my branding, embracing the mundane of life. I pride myself on my vulnerability with my childhood growing up in an abusive household and with a mother in active addiction or the vulnerability I share being a plus-sized woman in today’s society or the vulnerability I share regarding my ongoing mental health and neurodivergence. I have grown a community/platform off of being honest and authentically myself. It’s about showing your audience that you are just a normal person with a normal job. I don’t niche down but my content is centered around lifestyle, fashion, and coffee content. I am also enrolled in an MBA program to get my Master in Business in hopes of one day owning “Chey’s Coffee Shop” and being a real storefront. My goal with my future coffee shop is to have a place where everyone is welcome because as we all know, a true connection starts with two people having a drink together. I am a big dreamer but every dream I have ever worked towards has come true.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I think people set this expectation on social media to be their primary source of income without thinking of how they’re going to be a big star to make that kind of money. I understand there was once a time on TikTok where all it took was a silly little dance video to bring you to fame but I feel more than ever, that we are looking for relatability from the people we follow. We don’t want to question how they can afford their lifestyle, we want to say “That looks like my lifestyle” and then connect with that person. People want to feel like they know you. I built my platform off of being a normal person and being myself. I genuinely feel I am a different kind of personality that takes time to get to know but I have a way of keeping my audience informed about my life but also being private about certain aspects. I know people want to know every nitty gritty detail of a creator’s life but it’s impossible and we shouldn’t expect to know all the nuances of someone’s life. If you are just starting out, I encourage you to show your personality in a way that is natural. I want you to talk to the camera like the person who is watching you has known you for years. It should feel like you are talking to your best friend because, in all actuality, your audience should be your best friends. You SHOULD engage with your audience as much as you can. I am always in my comment section replying back to each and every comment so that people know I care and I see them. They aren’t just a “fan” of mine, they’re my community. Lastly, make it feel like it’s an online community. Your viewers want to feel a part of something and a part of your life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love having a community. I cannot say this enough, but my audience, viewers, followers, etc. are my community. They are the people who are here to support me and they’re the first to hype up every project I have ever done. I say this though because I give that same energy back to people. I will shamelessly be in people’s comment section no matter what video telling them how amazing and wonderful they are, complimenting their outfits, or simply encouraging them. I am truly the community bestie. I love the engagement I receive from my community but I am always giving that right back. I would be nothing without my community supporting me and pushing me to be a better creator.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/cheyheathLLC
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitherechey/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheyheath
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitherechey