Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade C. Harman.
Hi Jade C. , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I never imagined I would become a content creator, but looking back, I had already been in the creative space for most of my life. Before stepping into content creation, I worked as a model, an artist, and a freelance social media specialist for several agencies. I was constantly brainstorming ideas, creating concepts, and envisioning something bigger for myself.
Over time, it became clear that content creation was a natural next step. I was already helping brands create content for their social media while building my own modeling portfolio. For years, I collaborated with photographers to help grow their portfolios while they helped me build mine, so I was already documenting and sharing my creative journey just in a different way.
I officially began taking content creation more seriously in 2023. I saw how much potential there was in the industry and knew it would also give me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of social media, emerging trends, audience behavior, and how different platforms and algorithms work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been plenty of bumps along the way, and one thing I’ve learned is: “Success comes in waves—don’t forget yourself along the way.”
I’ve experienced a lot of highs and lows as a content creator. In the beginning, you can have so much momentum that you don’t realize how difficult it is to balance your personal life with your creator life. When you’re first starting out, you don’t always know how to create boundaries or structure. You’re constantly filming, editing, taking photos, brainstorming, or thinking about the next product or piece of content instead of having a dedicated schedule.
Burnout can happen, too. There have been times when I felt like my content wasn’t good enough, especially when I started comparing my work to what everyone else was creating. Sometimes that meant I wouldn’t post something I had worked on, or I would step away completely and take a social media detox. I’ve been through all of it, and I know so many other creators can relate.
For a long time, I also wasn’t getting paid for my content. In fact, it took years before I started consistently seeing paid opportunities. This year, that began to change, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see that hard work start paying off. Now, I’m learning even more about knowing my worth, recognizing which opportunities are worth accepting, and choosing brands that genuinely align with me and what I represent.
Even as I begin working with bigger, well-known brands and receiving paid opportunities, I remind myself that there are creators who are currently trying to reach the point I’m at now just like I once looked at creators who were ahead of me. Because of that, I try to be an open book. If someone asks me how I found an opportunity, what worked for me, or what I learned along the way, I’m happy to be honest and share what I know. I believe there is room for all of us to succeed.
There are also so many creator communities and resources available if you’re willing to look for them. I was constantly researching, learning, and finding communities that could help me strengthen both my skillset and my mindset. When I learned something valuable, I tried to implement it into what I was doing instead of simply consuming the information.
At the end of the day, you have to keep pushing yourself and believing in what you’re building. Behind the scenes, no one will be a bigger supporter or cheerleader for your dreams than you. Your mindset matters tremendously. That persistence, willingness to keep learning, and belief in myself are a huge part of how I’ve been able to define success in my own way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started my content creator journey back in 2023. I’ve always been a creative person and someone who loves learning new things. I realized that continuing to create content would not only strengthen my creativity, but also help me become more confident in front of the camera, communicating, and even selling products.
Right now, my niche is heavily focused on beauty and skincare, but before narrowing it down, I was a very diverse content creator. I created content for food and beverage brands, skincare, hair care, AI apps, local community events, startup businesses, fashion, supplements, and more. You name it, I probably tried it. Being so diverse taught me a lot and ultimately benefited me in the long run because I learned how to adapt my creativity to different industries and audiences.
One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been knowing that brands trusted me with their vision and gave me the freedom to bring my own creativity to their products. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with more than 200 brands, and I’ve developed a unique editing and storytelling style along the way.
There are also a few brands that have supported me throughout some of the biggest milestones in my creator journey, and I’ll always remember them: JetSet Cosmetics, Mochi Donut in Phoenix, Arizona, and one of my original supporters, Hannah Cho Beauty. Those relationships mean a lot to me because they believed in my work as I was still growing and figuring out who I wanted to become as a creator.
My content creator journey and brand is called “Abundance With UGC “. People might wonder why I chose that name. For me, abundance starts with mindset. You have to believe there are opportunities available to you and that someone else’s success doesn’t take away from your own. This industry can be very competitive, and some may even consider it saturated, but I believe that pushes you to become more intentional, consistent, and accountable for the results you want to create.
I’m very proud of how far I’ve come, the skills I’ve developed, the brands I’ve had the opportunity to work with, and most importantly, the community I’ve built along the way.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
“Success comes in waves, but don’t forget yourself along the way” is a quote I’ve carried with me throughout my life.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that success can come in many different forms and during different seasons of your life. It isn’t always something that can be measured by what you have physically or what you’ve accomplished on paper. Sometimes, success is also spiritual and internal. It can be how you feel about yourself, the growth you’ve experienced, and that inner knowing that you’re moving in the direction of a happier and more fulfilling life.
Sometimes success is as simple as waking up with gratitude for another day. Other times, it comes in the form of a major milestone. For me, motherhood and becoming a mom to my daughter, Luna, has been one of the greatest forms of success in my life. Another has been reaching a point in my content creation and UGC journey where I’m being paid better for my work. There is something incredibly rewarding about realizing that the time, effort, creativity, and persistence I’ve put into this journey are beginning to pay off.
Ultimately, I believe everyone has their own definition of success. Mine has continued to evolve as I’ve grown. I’ve always taken time to reflect on what success means to me because redefining it throughout different stages of my life has allowed me to grow as a person and appreciate how far I’ve come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abundancewithugc.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundance.with.ugc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jadecharman/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/_mhmm.jadee/
