Courtney Stalsitz is an SRU student from Erie, Pa. with almost 140,000 followers and a total of 12.5 million likes on her TikTok account.
With a passion for fashion, she started making TikTok videos as a lifestyle blogger around 2022, where she quickly reached a viral status. Stalsitz was still attending high school during this time.
Behind the fashion videos and social media recognition, Stalsitz is currently a junior communications major navigating the same college experience as the students around her.
“Coming here with a larger following is such an interesting thing, because I’m just like everyone else where I’m just trying to meet people and make friends,” she said.
Although her online presence has created opportunities, it has also exposed her to criticism. Stalsitz has received hateful direct messages and comments about her body.
“It does come with negatives. I’ve gotten a lot of DMs and hate comments, but it’s going to happen to anyone,” Stalsitz said.
Still, she is proud when people recognize her for the person she wants to be seen as. Stalsitz has inspired many, citing messages from young girls who see her as an advocate for body positivity.
Putting herself out there online has also helped her become more comfortable connecting with others in person.
“I generally am a confident person. I know who I am, I know what I bring and if people don’t see that, then that’s on them,” she said.
Her experience creating content also influenced her professional interests. Stalsitz, who concentrates in public relations and minors in marketing, began working as a social media manager within the past year.
What started as a creative outlet helped her discover a potential career path, and she hopes to continue working in social media for a brand.
Despite her large following, Stalsitz has never attempted to make money directly from her TikTok account. She said monetizing content can be difficult, particularly on TikTok.
Through her experience, Stalsitz has learned the importance of remaining authentic both online and offline. She encourages others who want to share their lives on social media not to let the criticism discourage them.
“If you want to put yourself out there online, don’t let people stop you, because you deserve to be happy,” she said.
