NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL WORLD W/ JAEDEN GOMEZ
Written by Jake Rothschild
Photography by Max Miyake, Makeup by Mia Dondero, Assistance by Shei Marcelline & Lucy Brandstrader
Jaeden Gomez, an online content creator, dances into the industry, building genuine connections and finding equilibrium between her digital persona and reality, while sharing the highs, hurdles, and exhilarating moments of her influential journey.
I “sat down” (digitally) with online content creator Jaeden Gomez and picked her brain about what it’s like to be her, working in her industry. The goal was to figure out the outside/in the dynamic of content creation: what and how much of Jaeden’s online life does she use in real life–and vice versa?
What first got Jaeden into the business of online content creation was dancing on TikTok. At the time she was in cosmetology school, and a management company called Diversifi reached out to her. It was then that she realized that she could use dance as a way to create more and use social media as a platform to make a living creating content she enjoys. As far as rules and guidelines go for whom Jaeden will work with, her rule of thumb is that both parties have to keep it real. For her, it’s most important that working partnerships aren’t just transactional. As Jaeden herself puts it, “I really strive to work with companies and people who genuinely enjoy me and my content, not just the numbers I put out and the following I've gained.” She prefers working with people who make it feel like a family. A truly talented dancer, Jaeden clearly has found her passion and runs with it. She cited a few childhood inspirations: Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, to name a couple. But further, she cited well-known professional dancers like Jojo Gomez and Ian Eastwood. She’s often invested in how these dancers are both so confident and so unique. She’s also grateful to have been able to work with amazing artists such as Lizzo, and reflects that without TikTok that may not have been possible.
After creating the viral TikTok dance for Lizzo's "About Damn Time," Jaeden experienced a surge in recognition and opportunities, solidifying her online presence.
The type of content Jaeden likes creating the most are her vlog-lifestyle videos. She loves the feeling of connection to her viewers, feeling more like she’s on a FaceTime call with a friend… but without having to actually interact with anyone.
But the expectations that come with being a content creator in this era are high. Jaeden sometimes finds it hard to keep up with the expectations of her online persona. It can feel difficult to balance her work life with her personal life, because it feels like they are one in the same. She understands that there has to be a certain level of separation, but it’s not always easy to attain. Ultimately though, she admits she “wouldn't have it any other way.” Plus, there are definitely times that she gets to relax when she needs to. Jaeden unplugs by being strict with her No-Phone Policy. When she takes a break, Jaeden turns her phone off and often plays with her dog. Park breaks with her dog are her favorite kind of breaks to take. Her dog also gets mad at her when she’s on her phone for too long, which is helpful.
“I truly think you have to know your personality and boundaries enough, and know that it can be really rough on your mental health, especially if you really care what others think / say.”
In contrast to what might have been a stereotype of the past, Jaeden says that her interpersonal relationships with family and friends have been improved and greatly augmented by her content creation. It can be hard with friends, she says, but it helps to know you’re not doing it alone. It’s also nice to have friends in the same business of content creation because so many avenues exist in terms of the type of content they can create. Friends have helped Jaeden push her creative and social side while also teaching her lessons about friendship along the way. There have been a bunch of times that Jaeden has been recognized in public for content that she’s posted, but one time stood out most for her. She was in Canada with her roommate and co-creator Kara for a job and some girls stopped them and said that they were fans. The fact that these fans weren’t even from the same country as Jaeden made her really stop and think about how cool it is that her content has reached and affected people from all around the world. To know that her content affected these particular people was also a really deep moment for Jaeden.
The most consistently exciting part of being an online creator for Jaeden is that she gets to meet so many amazing people, and try things she never thought she would get to try. She tells me that “it’s exciting knowing that everyday a new trend can start and end, and that the possibilities are endless.” However, she wouldn't recommend this job for just anybody. Jaeden definitely recommends knowing yourself and your boundaries first and foremost in this business. Not just any personality type can get up and become a content creator. It can be tough for those who really care what others say or think about them. This is a hard job at times for Jaeden as she does consider herself somewhat of a people pleaser. She likes to create content that makes others happy, but there are always going to be those who have something negative to say. Ultimately though, she doesn’t care what people think, which is why she’s come so far with her content creation.
For Jaeden, it’s difficult to think of the most profound or heartfelt experience she’s had so far in this journey. But her trip to Canada (which she can’t yet reveal much about!) with Kara involved doing a job they’ve only ever dreamed of in the past. She’s thrilled to have experienced that, telling me that “it made me feel like I could accomplish anything, and that I was on the right path!” Now, her dream is becoming a reality thanks to her hard work, and the content she’s put so much of herself into.