IF you are over the age of 25, chances are you may not have heard of Olivia Neill.
But if you're 25 and under, there's every chance you follow Olivia on TikTok, Youtube or Instagram. Perhaps even all three.
The 19-year-old from Belfast is what is described as an influencer and she has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Described by Heat magazine as "Northern Irish TikTok royalty", she creates and posts her own content - usually quirky videos or sultry photos.
Olivia is a beautiful girl but her fans would say that is not the only reason they follow her on social media. Her sense of style is standout and her Youtube vlogs are offbeat and often amusing.
“I’m definitely a bit more hyper in my videos than I am in public,” Olivia tells The Irish News over an exchange of messages. “But my videos are usually filmed in my bedroom on my own so I can be as hyper as I want.
“Mind you,” she adds, “sometimes I forget how many people will watch me in my weird half hour, and my mum frequently tells me off for over sharing personal things in my videos like when I talk in too much detail about my bowel problems…haha.”
With 1.1 million TikTok followers and 43 million likes, 733,000 subscribers on YouTube and 682,000 followers on Instagram, it's little wonder she has been described as "TikTok royalty".
In other words, Olivia - who says she rarely left her leafy south Belfast suburb growing up - has hit the big time in the lucrative world of influencers.
She admits: “I ask myself every day, ‘why anyone would be interested in my life? I’m so grateful for anyone who supports me and follows me, but it’s still the most mind-blowing concept and I definitely struggle to come to terms with the size of my following.
“I initially set out to be a pilot, so never actually planned for this to be my job,” she adds. “I actually started creating content for fun on YouTube and this progressed to other social media platforms and over time became my career.”
Olivia studied Maths, Physics and Drama for A-level at Methody in Belfast, the first two subjects because of her childhood desire to become an airline pilot.
While Olivia admits that during sixth year at school, her studies began to play second fiddle to her Youtube career, she still plans to get her private pilot’s licence this year.
Olivia’s main source of income is from brand partnerships, which she organises through her London-based management company.
She works with brands such as Quay and she recently created a successful collection of clothing for Motel Rocks, a clothing brand.
While a lot of her school friends have headed off to university, Olivia took herself off to London to live with her now best friend Flossie, a Youtuber from England.
However, she says she is planning a permanent return to Belfast soon and has bought a house in her family’s neighbourhood.
Like many during the pandemic, she has learnt that she can do her job from almost anywhere as long as it has a decent internet connection.
“I think when I was 18 and had just left school I was in the mindset that for my job I had to live here [in London] or else I couldn’t be a youtuber. But looking back at my videos since I’ve moved here they’re mostly all filmed in my bedroom which could be in any city or country.
“Also meetings with brands and management are all done over zoom, everything can be done online and remote now.
“It’s been a journey figuring everything out, but I’ve had the best time doing it. I moved during the pandemic so never really experienced London as its normal self, but there have been a few breaks in between lockdowns where I’ve been able to go out and have fun."
Family support has been critical for Olivia. She is the youngest of three and her parents and siblings have been known to appear in her videos from time to time.
“I don’t regret spending the year here but I did come to the realisation that it’s not necessary for me to live here for good,” Olivia explains.
As "renting in London is basically just throwing ridiculous money down the toilet", she decided her best option was to move home and plough some of her earnings into property.
“I found (a house) being built five minutes down the road from my parents and it was perfect.
"As it was still being built I was able to design the inside which was such a fun process and it’s going to be finished at the end of May.
"I’m so excited for this new chapter of my life and beyond grateful for my subscribers who made it possible.”
It hasn’t all been plain sailing. The ‘dark side’ of social media – the fake news, bullying and trolling – can take their toll on even the strongest of characters.
“I think in this modern society sometimes people with followings can be dehumanised,” Olivia says.
“Everyone is growing and learning so I think people need to take it easier on each other and be kinder.
“I try to ignore hate comments but obviously sometimes it does get to you, luckily I have the most amazing family who are also my support system and help me remember that the hate comments are a bigger reflection of the person writing it than me.
“However, not everyone has a support system and I think social media platforms need to do more to put a stop to this new era of trolling as it’s seriously damaging on people’s mental health.”
Who knows where Olivia’s career as an influencer will take her but one suspects it is onwards and upwards - from her new bedroom in south Belfast.
