@eatwithadrian on TikTok and Instagram

How would you describe your career?
One word: unique. Being able to share my love for food with an audience as a career is far, far away from a 9-to-5 job. But the freedom to work whenever and however I please while having fun is unparalleled.

How did your CPP experience shape your social media presence/career?
My content creator journey began because of a college course. We were tasked with creating a blog, and my blog centered on my love for Filipino food. After the course ended, I decided to continue and use my newfound knowledge to expand my focus to Southern California food trends, as well as to migrate to other platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

How did you gain your large following?
When the pandemic began, I noticed that TikTok was up and coming. I began a series asking whether people would eat certain foods I’ve had. The trend began to pick up, and because of TikTok’s unpredictable algorithm, users decided to stick around for the ride.

What is the key to success in your business?
It is so important to be genuine and honest with your audience. Being your most authentic self allows your viewers to develop an understanding of your presence on social media and decide why they should consider you a staple in whatever field you’re in.

Any advice for building a social media following?
Be consistent and be the truest version of yourself. It is so easy to get lost in the numbers game, and constantly checking on likes and followers can really take a toll on your mental health! Being a content creator is exhilarating, gratifying and so much fun; don’t ever lose sight of what you're doing and why you're doing this.