Anybody can go viral on the TikTok algorithm. Before Katie Fang was a content creator with over 7 million followers, she was an overworked and miserable restaurant server. In 2023, she filmed herself crying while getting ready for yet another long shift—a video that unexpectedly went viral. People came for the relatability but stayed for Fang’s makeup tips and unfiltered personality. Now Fang, who is still an undergrad at NYU, raked in an estimated $4 million in earnings last year as a beauty influencer. Her fellow sophomores probably marvel at her doing brand deals with the likes of Dior, becoming the face of skin care company Cetaphil’s campaigns or appearing on billboards for cosmetics brand Kosas. What’s her growth strategy? “My brand is all about being unapologetically yourself and no

See Full Page