In the age of social media, many teenagers within Gen Z have been able to use Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok as ways to make money. Gaining millions of followers, many of these well-known teenagers have managed to build brands for themselves well before the age of twenty-five. Here are the top teen entrepreneurs in California that have been leaving their mark on the generation of social media.
Amelie Zilber (18)
With more than 3.1 million followers on her TikTok account, and 1.6 million followers on Instagram, Amelie has managed to make a name for herself within the social media community. Not only that, she is also a young ambassador for UNICEF and the founder of Two Minute Times, a weekly political newsletter. Amelie is truly an influencer, actively posting about social injustices happening throughout the world, and making sure that she is constantly being educated about many things happening so that she can further influence her followers.
Emma Chamberlain (19)
If you were to go up to anyone within Gen Z and ask if they have ever heard of Emma Chamberlain, nine times out of ten, the answer would be yes. A nineteen year-old girl who got her start on YouTube back in 2016, she’s quickly risen to fame, known for her quirky humor and relatable content. But, other than having a successful YouTube channel, with almost 10 million subscribers, Emma also owns her own coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee, as well as her own podcast, Anything Goes. With many business endeavors, Emma Chamberlain is quickly becoming a household name.
Kaia Gerber (19)
Many people immediately know Kaia Gerber from the fact that her mother is Cindy Crawford, renowned supermodel. But, even though Kaia herself is also a model, she has amassed her own following on social media with 6 million Instagram followers. Not only is Kaia a model, but she is also an activist, constantly educating her millions of followers about issues going on in the world, including the BLM protests over the summer, as well as pushing everyone to go out and vote in the 2020 election. She’s also the founder of her own book club, which she does every two weeks, and at the end meets with everyone on Instagram live to discuss the books. She often brings on other famous celebrities, or the author of the books she’s assigned to read, as guests within her book club.
Billie Eilish (18)
There is absolutely no surprise here that Billie has made it onto this list. She is a trailblazer for most teenagers in Gen Z, with a rather successful career that she’s built within the last 4-5 years. Grammy winner, Billboard charter, Billie Eilish has taken the entertainment industry by storm. She’s unique, and her sound is easily distinctive. But, not only is Billie Eilish known for her singing/songwriting, she is also a regular activist on her social media platforms. Constantly talking about issues such as animal rights, climate change, and the importance of voting blue (which I hope everyone reading this has). Her brand is constantly evolving and growing, making her one of the most influential teens.
Charli D’Amelio (16)
Another TikTok star who rose to prominence in 2019. Charli D’Amelio has amassed 96.8 million followers on the app, as well as 32.3 million followers on Instagram. The sixteen year-old though has made many business ventures outside of TikTok; she’s partnered with Morphe Cosmetics to launch Morphe 2, she became an ambassador for braces brand, Invisalign. She launched a nail polish with her older sister, Dixie D’Amelio, called Coastal Craze with Orosa Beauty in August 2020. She also received an honorary drink at Dunkin’ Donuts called, “The Charli.” Fortune included D’Amelio on their annual 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes young leaders they consider to be the most influential, making her the youngest person on the list at 16 years old.
It is clear that Generation Z has many notorious teen entrepreneurs in their ranks and it’s not only teenagers who care about gaining followers and becoming famous. They are teenagers who actively care about issues going on not only in this country, but also issues happening around the world. They consistently use their platform to educate and prove to adults everywhere that being a teenager doesn’t mean they are any less capable of making a difference, of building their own brands, and becoming young entrepreneurs.
Who are some other teen entrepreneurs we should look out for in California? Let us know down in the comments.
This article originally published on GREY Journal.
