Insta-Famous: 5 Students Who Made It on Instagram

According to Pew research, 59% of young American adults use Instagram. That’s a hefty figure, considering only 50% voted in the 2016 US election. These days, a social media following is power.

Here are five students who conquered Instagram before they even left college.

Charlie Barker

Charlie Barker was a 19-year-old student at the University of East London when she first threw herself into Instagram in 2014. Half a million followers and a modelling contract later, she’s one of London’s most sought-after stylistas. She even met her girlfriend, model Rebecca Fox, on the platform.

Charlie’s Instagram feed is about fashion with a healthy dose of attitude. Her color-coordinated snaps combine rainbow hues with plenty of skin and sequins. Sex + fashion + ‘tude = career liftoff.

Lego Grad Student

The anonymous grad student behind this Instagram account didn’t start things up with the aim of being Insta-famous. Lego was, to him, a form of escapism from the daily grind of higher education. But when he started posting his darkly comic scenes on the net, the fans came running.

No, it’s not the most uplifting read. Sample captions include: “Recognizing a renowned scholar at a reception, the grad student is sucked into a black hole of panic and worthlessness.” Still, Lego Grad Student himself is hopeful.

"I've always felt better during the more stressful moments of graduate school when I knew that I was not alone in feeling a certain way or having a particular experience,” he tells Inside Higher Ed. “I hope that these posts, in their own absurd way, provide that sort of reassurance to others.”

Sam James

Like many girls, Sam James used to idolize the emaciated ‘model’ physique. She eschewed weights for cardio in the gym, hoping to shed fat rather than build muscle. But it wasn’t until she embraced strength training that her social media posts started taking off.

Now, with over 100k followers, James has other ideas. “I think my body and physique is relatable,” she told Observer. “I’ve gone through periods of extreme restriction and disordered eating, periods of binging and weight fluctuation and I’m trying to find peace with my body.” Her campaign to encourage women to embrace the muscle continues.

Caroline Calloway

American student Caroline Calloway wasn’t content with just living the Cambridge dream; she used her Instagram feed to cash in on it via social media. With half a million followers, her Insta-famous success quickly transformed into a book deal.

Calloway’s winning formula combines whimsical shots of the popular student city with equally romanticized captions:

“You blinked,” I said when I saw the photo. “Well,” Oscar said grinning sheepishly, “Perhaps you make me somewhat nervous, Miss Calloway.”’

Retch-worthy? Perhaps. Pure American dream fulfilment? You betcha.

Mina Gerges

Canadian student Mina Gerges’ posts have been immortalized on Buzzfeed and other sites across the internet. Seemingly incapable of restraining himself, Gerges consistently Photoshops himself into glamorous celebrity photos, or parodies them directly. 

Though tongue-in-cheek, Gerges’ >100k followers hold an additional meaning for the Insta-famous star. Speaking to Pale Jacket, he says: “It is difficult for gay men to find acceptance, but the fact that there are more people celebrating my images than those who are calling me ‘a faggot’, is in itself, huge.”

Whether you’re fighting homophobia via celebrity parodies, working through your stress through the medium of Lego, or shoehorning a rose-tinted romantic narrative into your Oxbridge career, Instagram can be a fantastic platform for getting your art out there. How will you become Insta-famous?

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