Ep. 65 “I was an emotional wreck”: Saffron Barker on the secrets and sacrifices of growing up online
Dec 4, 2023
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In this episode, Saffron Barker, Influencer, YouTuber and podcast host, discusses the secrets and sacrifices of growing up online. She delves into her journey to fame, the challenges of transitioning into mainstream media, and the impact on her mental health. She also shares her experiences in reality TV shows, being in a public relationship, and dealing with hate on social media.
Saffron Barker opens up about the emotional toll of sharing her life online and the importance of having a strong support system.
Safran Barker discusses her journey from being a part of a girl band to becoming a successful full-time YouTuber.
Deep dives
Safran Barker's Journey to Fame and Success
Safran Barker, an influencer, YouTuber, and social media star with millions of followers, recounts her journey to fame and success. From starting her YouTube channel at a young age, to being in a girl band, to eventually becoming a full-time YouTuber, Safran shares the ups and downs of her career. She discusses the pressure and challenges of growing up online and the transition into mainstream media. Safran also opens up about the impact of hate comments and trolls, as well as her experience on the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Despite facing negativity and false stories in the press, Safran remains focused on her goals and continues to manifest her dreams, including a future in acting and a balanced life between the US and the UK.
The Early Years: Discovering a Passion for Performing
Safran Barker talks about her early years and how her passion for performing emerged. She recalls her love for singing and her experience being in a girl band with her friends. Despite facing criticism and negativity from classmates, Safran remained focused on her dreams and saw performing as her ultimate career path. She discusses the challenges of juggling school and YouTube, as well as her decision to leave school and pursue YouTube full-time.
Navigating the Challenges of Being an Influencer
Safran Barker shares the challenges and pressures she faced as an influencer, including the constant need to please her audience and the emotional toll of sharing her life online. She opens up about the impact on her mental health and the realization that she was evolving her life around what others thought of her. Safran discusses the importance of having a strong support system and the role her family played in keeping her grounded. She also reflects on the negative attention and rumors she faced, along with the intense scrutiny from the press.
The Life-Changing Experience of Strictly Come Dancing
Safran Barker discusses her experience on the TV show Strictly Come Dancing and how it transformed her career. She recounts the excitement of getting selected for the show, as well as the apprehension and fear of facing backlash and hate from the public. Safran talks about the challenges of balancing intense training with the pressure of the public eye. Despite the difficulties, she reflects on how the opportunity allowed her to showcase her true personality and to prove her doubters wrong. Safran concludes by expressing her ongoing goals, including pursuing acting and finding a balance between her UK and US life.
Influencer, YouTuber and podcast host, Saffron Barker has taken the internet by storm. With a YouTube following of almost 3.5 million subscribers across her two channels as well as 1.8 million Instagram followers, Saffron is well-loved for her engaging content.
Stepping into the TV spotlight when she joined the 17th series of Strictly Come Dancing with dancing partner AJ Pritchard, she’s made the leap into the mainstream after a string of TV appearances, taking part in Celebrity Hunted and The Celebrity Circle.
At the young age of 23, Saffron has completed what some people might dream of achieving, ticking off life goals, buying and renovating her own house, travelling the world and even bringing out home and clothing lines. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of her journey to fame, chatting about what it’s like to be catapulted into such young success, what she feels she could have done differently and how she coped with transitioning from online platforms to mainstream media.
