A 26-year-old social media sensation has opened up about the secrets to her online success, revealing how she remains confident, even in the face of cruel scrunchy from others on the internet.
With over 30 million combined followers on Instagram and YouTube, Florida native Amanda Cerny first rose to fame online as a comedian, courtesy of her quick-fire Vine videos depicting hilarious real life scenarios in six seconds or less.
However, when Vine closed down in 2016, Amanda quickly adapted her comedic skills to other social media platforms, and added fitness blogger to her varied resume, creating workout videos on her YouTube channel and launching a dedicated fitness Instagram account in 2017.
Body confident: YouTube star Amanda Cerny, 26, has revealed her secret to body confidence and social media success as she stars in Guess fitness campaign
Instafamous: With over 30 million combined followers on Instagram and YouTube, the Florida native rose to Internet fame courtesy of her quick-fire Vine videos
In control: The LA-based beauty has a passion for fitness and believes people have been so receptive to her videos because her content is ‘so organic’
The LA-based star has just been announced as the face of the new Guess activewear campaign, and speaking to FEMAIL, Amanda shared that she believes the key to her success lies in her authenticity.
‘Doing what I love has all turned into a successful career. Although trust me when I say that it hasn’t been easy reaching my goals, I had to work very hard for my fan base and as an actress, beating a lot of stereotypes in the process before people became interested in my lifestyle,’ she said.
‘I am passionate about fitness and people can feel that. It’s all so organic,’ she added.
And she also believes social media has given her the power to control her career, as she hasn’t been pigeonholed into one area and still hopes to break into the acting world in the future.
‘I started off with modeling but it is always been a dream of mine to be an actress not just limited to comedy but to all genres. That continues to be my goal but doesn’t stop me from doing the things I love such as fitness, modeling and social media content.’
Name checking Kristen Wiig – ‘she is so talented, hilarious, versatile and hard-working’ – and Lucille Ball as inspirations, Amanda feels social media has made breaking into the industry a much more empowering experience.
‘I remember when I would try to get management and an agency when I first moved out to LA several years ago and everyone turned me down saying how I didn’t have a complete reel. I began working on my own to create a reel by being involved in YouTube content and making my own content.’
Ironically, the social media following Amanda dutifully crafted is now what sets her apart from her competitors, and is a driving factor in her success: ‘Nowadays directors and producers are way more interested in talent with a social media following.’
Freedom: She also believes social media has given her the power to control her career, as she hasn’t been pigeonholed into one area
Intense: Amanda loves hiking and running to keep fit but also credits HIIT workouts when she’s short on time
Confident: A fan of morning workouts, Amanda believes that when you stop comparing yourself to others, you start to feel confident and ‘proud of who you are’
When it comes to workouts, the busy brunette admits that she has to get them in first thing in the morning, otherwise they won’t get done.
‘I have to work out in the morning before I start my day! I even workout before breakfast! I also realized I eat much healthier throughout the day after a great workout.’
And although she loves hiking and running, when she’s short on time, Amanda likes to mix things up with fast paced HIIT workouts.
A committed vegan, she added: ‘I work hard with diet and fitness to show love to my body. I like seeing skin, it’s real, it’s natural, it’s feminine and it’s sexy!’
However, she’s not immune to insecurities and admitted that she sometimes struggles with body confidence.
‘I made it a point to remind myself that I cannot compare my body to another person. We are so very different and beautiful in our own unique way. If we compare ourselves to others we are setting unrealistic goals for ourselves,’ she shared.
And although she’s an inspiration to others, Amanda suggests being ‘proud of who you are’ is the only way to be truly happy in the skin you’re in.
‘The more I value and take care of my health, the more confidence and self-love I have,’ she noted.