Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Fernando.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been someone who balanced multiple passions at once. Professionally, I work with the New York City Department of Correction, where I started my career in 2017 as a Correction Officer. Over time, I became more involved in leadership, recruitment, and community outreach, which eventually led me to the Recruitment Unit. A big part of my role now involves connecting with people across New York City, attending career fairs and community events, and helping others see opportunities they may not have considered before.
At the same time, I built a presence on social media completely organically. What started as casually sharing beauty, lifestyle, fragrance, and day-to-day content slowly turned into a platform with a large and engaged audience across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. As a South Asian Sri Lankan creator, I’ve always wanted my content to feel relatable and authentic while also showing that you don’t have to fit into one box. I can go from covering a beauty event or reviewing fragrances to speaking at a recruitment event or working on leadership projects for my career.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with brands, attend major creator and beauty events, and grow a community that genuinely trusts my opinions and personality. At the same time, I’ve continued pursuing education and leadership development, including studying correctional leadership at John Jay College.
My journey has really been about proving to myself that it’s okay to have different identities and ambitions. I’m passionate about public service, but I’m also passionate about creativity, storytelling, and building community online. Instead of choosing one path, I decided to build both, and that balance is what has shaped who I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road, but I try to look at every challenge as part of the growth process. My career with the New York City Department of Correction has actually taught me a lot about discipline, communication, resilience, and leadership, and those lessons helped me in every other area of my life as well.
One of the biggest challenges was balancing everything at once. Between working full-time, pursuing school, growing on social media, attending events, and building connections, there were times when it felt overwhelming trying to manage so many responsibilities at the same time.
Another thing I experienced was realizing that not everyone around you will understand your vision in the beginning. There were moments where even friends or people close to me were not always supportive of the content creation side of my journey or didn’t fully understand why I was putting so much effort into it. When you’re trying to build something outside of the traditional path, it can sometimes feel isolating.
At the same time, growing on social media comes with its own learning curve. I had to teach myself content creation, editing, networking, and how to stay consistent even when growth felt slow. There were definitely moments of self-doubt, but I kept pushing because I genuinely enjoyed creating and connecting with people.
Looking back now, I’m grateful for all of it. The challenges helped me become more confident in myself and reminded me that you can succeed while being multifaceted. Today, I’m proud that I’ve been able to build a career in public service while also creating a platform that allows me to express my creativity and connect with such a diverse audience.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently work with the New York City Department of Correction, where I’m part of the Recruitment Unit. A large part of my work focuses on community outreach, recruitment initiatives, event coordination, and helping connect people to career opportunities within the department. I’ve had the opportunity to represent the department at career fairs, public events, and large-scale community activations throughout New York City, which has helped me grow both professionally and personally.
Outside of my professional career, I’m also a content creator and influencer with a strong focus on beauty, fragrance, lifestyle, and creator-focused content. Over the years, I’ve built a community across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube by creating authentic and relatable content that reflects both my personality and my interests. I’m especially known for my beauty reviews, fragrance content, event coverage, and honest recommendations, as well as my ability to connect with people in a genuine way.
What I’m most proud of is being able to successfully balance two very different worlds while staying true to myself. I think a lot of people feel pressured to fit into one category, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to be multifaceted. I can work in public service, pursue leadership and education, and still embrace creativity and social media at the same time.
I also take pride in representing diversity within both spaces. As a South Asian Sri Lankan woman, I know there are not always many people who look like me in law enforcement or in certain areas of the influencer industry, so being able to create visibility and inspire others means a lot to me.
What sets me apart is probably my ability to connect with different audiences authentically. Whether I’m speaking to students at a recruitment event, creating content for a beauty brand, or sharing parts of my everyday life online, I try to approach everything with honesty, professionalism, and personality. I think people connect most with authenticity, and that’s something I’ve always tried to maintain throughout my journey.
What are your plans for the future?
One of my biggest goals moving forward is to continue growing as a creator and building long-term relationships with brands that genuinely align with me and my audience. I’m really looking forward to expanding my presence within the beauty, fragrance, fashion, and lifestyle space and continuing to put myself out there creatively.
I’ve built my platform organically over time, and I’m proud of the community and trust I’ve created with my audience. Moving forward, I would love to work more closely with brands, attend more industry events, and continue creating content that helps me get seen by the right people and companies. For me, it’s not just about one-time collaborations. I’m especially interested in building lasting partnerships and becoming a creator that brands can consistently rely on and grow with.
At the same time, I plan to continue growing professionally and personally through leadership, education, and community involvement. I’m excited for what’s ahead and open to wherever this journey takes me because I truly feel like I’m only getting started.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qu33njenn/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@queenjennnnnn
