Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Emerson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m originally from Connecticut, and my love of storytelling started early—I launched a blog when I was just 13 years old! That really planted the seed for everything I do today. I went on to study English in college, and looking back, writing has been the thread connecting my interests in content creation, fashion, and sharing my life online.
My career has grown into a combination of modeling, content creation, and community building. Each part has opened doors to the next, and today I get to work on both sides of the camera while also creating opportunities for other creators!
I’m a model signed with STATE Management, and a big part of my work is fit modeling. It’s a side of the industry people don’t always know about: I work with brands behind the scenes as they develop clothing and refine how it fits on real bodies. My modeling experience includes brands like Victoria’s Secret, Alexander Wang, Walmart, and Wacoal, along with opportunities like appearing in a swimwear segment on the Today Show! As a midsize model, representation and body confidence are also a meaningful part of what I share.
Alongside modeling, I’ve built my platform, @karienyc, around fashion, beauty, NYC life, and the everyday experiences that connect us. That has grown into a business encompassing influencer partnerships, user-generated content, creative strategy, event coverage, and social media management. Sometimes I’m creating content for my own audience, and other times I’m developing concepts and producing content for a brand’s channels or advertising. My work as a Creator in Residence for Teremana has been another exciting part of that, combining ongoing creative development with hands-on production. I love being involved from the initial idea all the way through to the finished content!
In February 2025, I officially launched NYC Content Creator Girlies because I wanted to build more connection and opportunity within the creator space. So much of this work happens independently, and I wanted a community where people could meet, share resources, create together, and support each other’s careers!
Since then, NYC CCG has grown into a membership community with creator meetups, brand collaborations, events, and resources. I organize everything from intimate dinners and workshops to our Content Power Hour meetups, connecting local businesses with creators who can help tell their stories. Despite the name, the community welcomes all genders, ages, and niches!
Today, I’m building both my personal business and NYC CCG. I love that my work lets me be creative, help brands connect with people, and bring people together. Watching a connection turn into a friendship, a collaboration, or someone’s next paid opportunity has become one of the most rewarding parts of what I do! It’s exciting to see how something that started with a blog at 13 has grown into a career with so many different possibilities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! A lot of what I do involves putting myself out there, and that comes with rejection, comparison, and learning how to believe in my work even when an opportunity doesn’t work out.
I started blogging at 13, back when content creation and being an “influencer” weren’t really considered serious career paths. I just loved writing and sharing, and I had no idea where it would eventually take me! Turning that passion into a business meant figuring things out as I went and learning to take my own ambitions seriously, even when other people didn’t.
As a midsize model, body confidence has been a big part of that journey. Working in an industry where your body is part of your job can make it difficult to separate professional feedback from your own sense of worth. I want to encourage other women to feel confident and represented, but that doesn’t mean I feel completely confident every day myself! It’s something I’m still working on, and I think being honest about that matters.
Content creation has its own challenges, especially when you’re starting out and trying to get brands to take you seriously. You’re learning how to pitch yourself, price your work, negotiate, and handle rejection while also doing all the creative work. There’s so much happening behind the scenes! Now that the industry is so saturated, standing out and building lasting partnerships takes a lot of persistence. It’s easy to feel pressure to constantly post or compare your progress to someone else’s, even though you’re only seeing a small piece of their story.
Balancing everything has also been a learning curve! Between modeling, creating content, managing brand projects, and running NYC Content Creator Girlies, there’s always something that needs my attention. I’m still learning how to set boundaries, value my time, and leave room for my personal life without feeling guilty about stepping away from work. I love what I do, but I also want to enjoy the life I’m working so hard to build!
Building NYC CCG has been such a meaningful part of navigating those challenges! Having people around you who understand the industry, celebrate your wins, and openly talk about the hard parts makes a huge difference. I don’t have everything figured out, but I’ve become more comfortable learning as I go—and helping other creators feel less alone in that process. The road hasn’t been smooth, but there’s been a lot to love along the way!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
NYC Content Creator Girlies is a growing creator community that connects brands with creators through events, experiences, and content collaborations! Our larger network has a combined following of over 4.5 million on Instagram alone, giving our partners the opportunity to connect with a wide range of audiences. Despite the name, we welcome all genders, ages, niches, and experience levels. Our in-person events are primarily in NYC and the surrounding area, but you don’t have to live here to be part of the community.
For brands, we offer opportunities ranging from sponsoring our weekly Content Power Hour meetups to hosting creator dinners, workshops, product launches, and custom experiences. We also coordinate influencer partnerships and user-generated content for brands’ own social channels and advertising. A partnership can help introduce a business to new audiences, bring creators into a physical location, and produce a variety of content from different perspectives!
As both the founder and a working content creator, I handle the planning, creator coordination, and communication around deliverables. I understand what brands need from a partnership and what helps creators do their best work, so I’m thoughtful about matching the right people with each opportunity.
What sets us apart is the community behind those collaborations. Our members are building relationships, sharing advice, and supporting each other beyond individual events. Membership includes private chats, brand briefs, priority collaboration access, free or discounted events, and my spreadsheet of more than 450 brand contacts!
I’m most proud of building something that creates opportunities for both our members and our partners. Whether a brand wants to host an intimate gathering, sponsor a larger event, or explore an ongoing content partnership, I’d love to discuss how we can work together. You can connect with us at @nyccontentcreatorgirlies!
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are of spending time with my family and sharing whatever I was excited about at the time! Whether it was photography, art, writing, or my dreams of one day working for a fashion magazine, they always encouraged me to explore my interests and supported my ideas. I loved having people I could share that excitement with, and looking back, their support gave me the confidence to keep creating and imagine what those passions could become!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karienyc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karienyc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karienyc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@karienyc
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/nyccontentcreatorgirlies
