We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nolyn Jacobs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nolyn, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned in school and why that lesson is important to you?

I started my personal social media brand while I was in high school and the biggest lesson I learned was to stop caring so much about what other people thought of me. When I first started posting brand deals and photos from different modeling shoots, there was plenty of encouragement from friends, but also plenty of judgement and hate from my peers. According to them I was a ‘try hard” and “not an influencer”. Which they were right, I wasn’t. I had maybe 1000 followers on TikTok at the time and was just on socials for fun, but as the years have gone on, the amount of people who have reached out and asked me how I got started who also bullied me for it in high school would be more than you think. I had to sit down and realize that while my peers were hating, I was creating extra income and making a name for myself around the community. During this time, I was modeling for different local photographers, being an extra in major movies such as “What Happens Later” with Meg Ryan, and slowly building up my resume with social media experience.

This has stuck with me because even 3 years later, I still struggle with peoples opinions. I feel anxious posting because I don’t want anyone to judge me, but I have also realized that building up my personal brand and finding my voice has given me more confidence than ever. I have been able to teach so many other inspired creators how to get started in the creative realm. I have been able to work with companies and creators I would have never thought I would work with. Learning how to push the hate aside and push yourself makes you stand out and shows those around you that the hate won’t stop you.

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

Hi friends! My name is Nolyn Jacobs, or as you may have seen me online as Nolyn Brooke. I am a 20 year old content creator and student from the Atlanta area. I started working on building my personal brand in the creative space when I was 17 after losing my dad to COVID 19. My dad was the hardest worker and always wanted me to chase my dreams. Everything I do is to make him proud and remind people of his legacy. I started my journey collaborating with local and popular businesses and companies to promote products, events, and more! Since then, I have worked with over 35 different companies in the beauty, fashion, health, and travel industry and am a content intern for Amino Lean Energy. I have also been given the opportunity to meet very influential people and to be in exciting projects such as an extra in “What Happens Later” staring Meg Ryan.

My personal brand is all about making me stand out in a room with people who are just like me. I started early to differentiate myself from my peers and to showcase my ambition. Being able to put myself in an uncomfortable position to learn more and push myself is what I am all about. I have always loved creating projects, whether it be with music, art, or online. My personal brand shares all about my love for traveling, health and wellness, the arts, and more. I love to share stories about how I got to where I am and the doors I have opened for myself through the content creation space. Whether it’s on stage, in front of a camera, or in my bedroom, I am always looking for ways to better myself. My TikTok shares years of growth and stories capturing all the highs and lows of my journey. From losing my dad, to my religion, to sharing about my social media career, you can find so many interesting facts about me and my brand.

While I do manage my own social medias and create, I also have a love for creating content for others. I have taught myself all about the analytical side of the creative space and have been able to teach lots of young creators how to slowly build an income through social media. For me, building my personal brand has never felt like work, but feels like a way to put myself out there and find new experiences to grow my resume.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I was 16, my sweet father lost his battle with COVID 19. It was November 17, 2020, 8 days before Thanksgiving and 11 days before my 17th birthday. Life took a complete turn as we lost our home, and our primary provider. My dad passed my junior year where all the big college conversations start to play out. I was lost. I had no idea where I was going, what life was going to look like, how my family and I were going to be able to financially survive.

I started social media brand collaborations to make extra money to support myself so I could start paying for the things I needed. Gas, extra spending money, trips to see my friends. Not only was I hurting over the loss of my dad, but the judgement and the hate coming from those around me sent me into a mental spiral. Classmates would whisper and talk, not knowing how hard it was to get out of bed in the morning. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing, and I knew I wasn’t handling things the way I should’ve. I homeschooled the end of my junior year and that is when I found my love for creating. I loved being able to make fun little videos that my friends could be in and share. I loved sharing my stories online and my testimony so I could encourage other people. I loved posing in outfits I would never wear and creating a different reality for myself.

Social media was my way of escaping and coping so much loss. It was how I stayed strong when times were difficult. It was where I could run to and pretend to be put together when I was slowly falling apart. It is the name I created for myself to show people my resilience. To show off my achievements, and to prove to everyone that I was making my dad proud.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal with everything I do creatively is to show other people that life is too short to not chase your dreams! When I started I had so many aspirations and wanted to slowly achieve them all. Since building my personal brand I have modeled, performed in shows, was an extra in a movie, lead a barn dance with over 200 people, and so much more. The opportunities are endless! Creating a name for yourself opens up doors to things you have never thought possible. It makes my heart so happy when I see other small creators and students lean into their creative spaces and are able to experience events, meet influential people, and create a name for themselves!

My own piece of advice would be to reach out and connect with anyone and everyone! It is all about who you know, and creating a personal brand will make you stand out. When you are in touch and show interest and enthusiasm, people are willing to give you a shot. I can’t explain how many opportunities came when I simply introduced myself, gave owners and directors my resume and hoped for the best.

I hope to inspire and show people that life is all about what you make it and to grab every opportunity you can!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nolynbrooke
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolynjacobs
• Other: Tiktok: @nolynbrooke

Image Credits

Marshall Meadows, MultiliveMedia