Social media sensation Josh Richards is close to hitting 25 million followers on TikTok. The Canadian influencer, whose journey on social media began at the age of 13, has since made his presence felt with over seven million followers on Instagram and close to 2 million followers on Twitter.

In an exclusive interview with Opoyi, the 19-year-old spoke about his journey on social media and also gave advice to budding influencers. 

How did your journey on social media start and at what age did you begin posting videos?

My journey on social media started when I was 13. Later on, I found the app, Musical.ly through my younger sister. We made a video together that ended up going viral which inspired me to create my own account and build a following. I made a goal to reach 10K followers which I quickly reached and then exceeded. As my platform grew I started taking on brand deals and song promos which evolved into larger deals with major brands. By 17, I made social media my full-time focus while still in high school. 

Now that you have a huge number of followers, how has life changed and what keeps you grounded?

Life can get very crazy and busy, but my family is definitely what keeps me grounded.

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Is being an influencer emotionally taxing and how does one maintain work-life balance?

With social media being my 24/7 job, along with being involved in dozens of companies, things can get a little hectic, but time spent with friends and family definitely helps. I love what I do so it doesn’t really feel like work. 

How does an influencer earn money?

Influencers typically make money through one-off brand deals and partnerships, however I’m looking to shake up this standard by seeking long-term equity in the brands I support and the companies I build.

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Your advice or tips to those who want to be an influencer

My advice would be to never give up. I never thought I would be where I am today but with creativity and a lot of ambition, I’ve been able to cross a lot of items off my bucket list. Anyone can do it!