Posting about my low-paid job on TikTok helped me earn big. Now I can do what I love without worrying about money.

Fri, 05/31/2024 - 06:50

Photo collage featuring pastry chef Allison, with a variety of pastries in the background (croissants, pies, and bread) — Chen was able to make $23,600 after posting five ads on TikTok.
Brian Young; Alyssa Powell/BI

Allison Chen studied to be a pastry chef and worked in a kitchen while attending Duke University.
She was passionate about baking but worried about pursuing a low-paid career after college.
After posting about her job on TikTok, Chen was able to multiply her income using brand deals.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Allison Chen, 21, from New York, about using TikTok as a source of income. The following has been edited for length and clarity.