Influencing With Jenna, Food Content Creator, On-Camera Personality

For Jenna, who wanted to be a TV host, content creation combined being on camera with her love of cooking.

“I’ve always wanted to be on TV,” Jenna said. “But technology just reached consumer-friendly levels and everyone started to put themselves online, and I decided I can do that, too. I don’t have to wait for someone to put me on camera. And I loved cooking, and I wanted to help people cook more at home and break down that visual barrier for new cooks who don’t understand recipe directions. And that’s the intention behind the YouTube channel.”

Besides working on her channel, Jenna regularly creates UGC for clients and seeks on-camera hosting opportunities.

“I not only do cooking videos of just the hands and pans thing, but I also put my face on camera,” she said. “I also do spokesperson-type projects and general UGC. I have an adorable dog for pet videos as well, and I do green screen, too, so that really opens up the possibilities for clients.”

She works with many small and medium-sized businesses to create professional content.

“It’s a really exciting time for people with my kind of background who are used to being on camera professionally because we can offer this skillset directly to clients and not have to wait for large-scale productions or wait for agencies to put us on camera,” she said. “We can help small and medium businesses reach their production goals by doing things in our own homes.”

Often, the brands find Jenna on platforms like IZEA’s Marketplace.

“I rely on platforms for clients to come find me. Every now and then when there is a particular product that I think I really want to represent, I will try to pursue them. That takes a lot of work and an extra skillset. And right now I’m just really enjoying being on platforms like IZEA and letting clients find me.”

Jenna’s on-camera speaking skills were honed during years of participating in pageants.

“My educational training is in communication studies and English literature, but that was more of the research behind communication,” she said. “At the time, there wasn’t any formal training to be on camera. I competed in pageants as a kid, and that’s where a lot of this presence came from, and meeting people over the years and along the way being encouraged that I have good presence and strong presence, not just for stage, but also for camera. And that’s how I eventually transitioned into that.”

Her cooking skills came from a desire to better her relationship with food and become more confident in the kitchen. She now uses what she has learned to help others learn to cook.

“I started with baking because you just follow the exact directions and it turns out well. And then that built my confidence to start trying cooking, and I started taking recreational classes at some of the cooking schools here in New York, and that exposed me to professional chefs who would teach you little things along the way,” she said. “And again, that built more confidence. Then I went through a health coach training program and started working with clients directly to help them reach their health goals and realizing how many people are intimidated at the idea of cooking and exactly where are the challenges and the intimidations for them.”

Jenna’s advice for aspiring creators is to try new things and to adapt to changes.

“I would encourage any new content creator to literally try everything. And also as you go through life, things are going to change. So as soon as you get comfortable with some sort of format or schedule for yourself, just be OK with the idea that it’s going to change and look different in different seasons of your life,” she said. “Be curious, explore your intentions behind things, whatever that means. Meditation, journaling, therapy, friends, mentorship groups, all of that is extremely supportive and healthy and good for long-term business.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.