Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Osorno.
Brenda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Starting as a confused college student not knowing what my path was I started working odd-ball jobs off Craigslist and Facebook. Anything Film/movie related I was there. Pay, low pay, even no pay. All I knew was that I liked being part of a film set, creating and entertaining people. I took BG roles, film student roles anything that kept me busy as I finished college.
Wanting a more stable career, I landed in the world of Advertising. Starting as an intern Producer shadowing, running errands, being a bitch girl, organizing my boss’ closet, managing people’s travel schedules – to Associate Producer finally getting on real sets. I was shooting food commercials, sometimes Live Action, and even landed a small producing role on a Super Bowl spot in 2022. Work became my life, my identity, and my personality and I only have myself to blame. I never tried to have balance, I never said no to weekend work or late nights.
After the Associate Producer role in Miami, I moved on to a formal “Big Girl” Producer role, remotely for an Advertising Agency out of San Francisco. Everyone told me now I had to move to LA. If I wanted some kind of career in entertainment I had to be in California but something about paying $4,000 plus on rent and being cross country from my family didn’t feel right. (I’m an only child to a first-generation – immigrant family).
Stayed remote in Miami while working this job. Covid in 2020 brought on a lot of self-reflection. 2021 especially I felt like I hit rock bottom – empty as a person outside of work, out of shape, and overall unhappy.
Told myself it’d be fun to have some hobbies and I turned to TikTok. There was something fun and fulfilling in making videos where I was fully in charge, with no Ad Agency to direct me. I was the Director, talent, creative, and editor.
I merged the work of making TikTok with my desire to better myself. Challenging myself to work out for 30 days STRAIGHT before my 30th birthday, something I had never done. The idea of accountability to show up every day and post my workout video taught me consistency. I also learned that I enjoyed Pilates and Lagree.
Once I gave it another go, posting more challenges a community grew on my page. I was so happy most of 2022. I had TikTok to escape to when work felt like too much.
Then came the new year and 2023. I remember the day so clearly, it was January 13th (Friday the 13th) and I had woken up early for a solo basketball lesson and workout (before my West Coast job began.) I started the morning so energized and even texted groups of friends – “This is the best I’ve ever felt” & “I feel like I have a life now outside of work.”
Cut to the start of my actual work day, I received a message from my Agency’s executive (someone I rarely spoke to). He asks to jump on a Zoom and we then discuss how this will be my last day… on Friday the 13th… in a matter of minutes (20 minutes to be exact) I would be cut off from all my work communication. The following Monday a box would arrive to ship my work computer back to SF.
I was shocked but truthfully at the same time dare I say, relieved. I was becoming more disconnected from my job, I started treating it for what it was, a means to make a paycheck but not my whole life.
I closed my laptop and called my mother. Immediately filed for unemployment and then decided to just take the weekend to think. Not telling anyone what happened, just enjoying the long Martin Luther King Holiday to enjoy life.
After the weekend, I decided to not look for a traditional 9-to-5 job again. I would struggle it out, live off savings, and figure out how to monetize the TikTok community I had built. Through honesty and transparency in telling the TikTok world what happened, opportunities come flooding in.
None were the end-all-be-all but I was so appreciative for each one and gave it my all. Started freelancing, being a personal assistant, making juices for TikTok followers who lived in the area and offered me work. I started bartending on boats and taking on dog-sitting roles as well.
I shared a lot online – some (my mom) would even say too much. But through honesty and transparency, I’ve always found the best opportunities arise.
A Freelancer app contacted me, asking to create TikToks for their page as a part-time job. A Pilates studio that saw all my workout videos asked me to train and become an instructor, friends offered me part-time Producer roles at their Production company jobs.
From January 13th to today August 16th – I can say I survived. I survived a layoff, took the lemons I was given to make lemonade, and created a new life for myself. I am still a Producer, I still create content – just now it’s all on my terms.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, unemployment was rough but the hardest struggle was the mental one.
I mentally struggled with feeling like I wasn’t a productive member of the world by not having a formal job or wanting to go back and accept a 9-to-5.
Also, telling people I make TikTok’s was a bit rough. Some joked and some wanted to tell me I was too small of a creator – that they knew a friend of a friend of a friend who had millions.
Sticking to my visions and pushing out videos even when I didn’t want to was what helped me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in fitness videos, I try new studios and new activities with no hesitations. I’m proud of my realness, I work hard to keep a realistic look to all content, no filters no adjustments no heavy editing.
What sets me apart is my kind approach to followers both online and in real life. I feel like cuties who follow me are my friends and I like to treat them as such.
What matters most to you?
My happiness and my health. Knowing what it’s like to not prioritize in the past makes me want to make it the focus of my life. How can I stay happy and reasonably fit while doing activities and having hobbies that make me happy?
How do I encourage others to do so too – especially if you’re an adult and feel like maybe trying new things just isn’t a possibility for you? It is and you should!
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