"If you aren't authentic on YouTube, people can smell you from a mile," says a flight attendant-YouTuber

Jessica is the host of the Fly Eats Show on YouTube. She is a flight attendant and loves food. She loves talking to celebrities and entrepreneurs during her food journeys. But, when Covid-19 struck in 2020, she quickly pivoted to hosting them on her Instagram channel, Jess.Soar.

She prefers authenticity over fame and enjoys being just herself on her show. That's what led her to start her YouTube channel that is becoming quite popular.

We caught up with her for a quick chat on her YouTube journey so far, and to know what lies ahead. Watch this video to know her biggest mantra for growing a YouTube channel.

Jessica: Hi, thank you! No, I'm really excited to be here so umm my name is Jessica, and umm I started YouTube, YouTubing um about two years ago. I started the ‘Fly Eats Show.’

So, I'm a flight attendant, and umm, while I was like you know, having layovers, and all my different work trips, I decided, you know, what, like what are the things that I'm most excited about. Especially when I'm traveling, and food is a huge part of that umm.

And, so I decided you know, what led me to start to showcase some of the restaurants that I go to. Ummm, you know, all the little fun eateries that I tend to visit. And then, I also was like, you know, what let me also add another aspect where I interview different people at these places.

And, so it was like a combination of doing you know, just like enjoying this great food, but also kind of getting these gems from different dope, like entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, whoever I felt like you know, could value the platform umm so, that was going well.

All of a sudden Covid happened, and so I had to kind of pivot, because I wasn't able to you know, actually go to restaurants anymore, be around everyone unfortunately, at the capacity that I would have loved to have.

So, I then started to do the same aspect, but, then umm kind of on Instagram, but, then cooking my own food because I was still kind of wary about purchasing food out due to Covid.

Umm, and then people started to kind of really take to the meals that I was making, and I was like okay so this might be a good idea let me go ahead and create another segment of my YouTube channel where I call Fly Eats Kitchen, which is kinda just like an addendum to flight.

So, but it's just me having my own little cooking show, and showcasing my recipes, and just having fun in the kitchen. Umm, and so, that's where I am now you know.

I'm kind of really pushing that part of the channel, umm I'm still doing the interview portion on Instagram Live, but as far as my YouTube is concerned, it's primarily right now just like my fun cooking segment.

"People started to kind of really take to the meals that I was making."

Jessica: Oh man! You know, the journey is, it's a long one. Umm, someone gave me really great advice, umm, she I call her my YouTube guru. Umm, TJ Lee she has a great channel, a huge platform on YouTube CupofTJ.

And, she let me know pretty quickly like, “Listen if you want to do YouTube you have to be ready for this long haul journey, it's not just overnight. Even things can go viral, but if you want it to be successful, and for it to have integrity, you kind of have to make sure that you're ready to have patience.”

And, that was like a huge part in the beginning, you know. Because, you think you can post a video and it's like oh that's it, I'm famous, I'm YouTube famous. And, it's like no no no no, that's a lot more a whole lot more to that.

So, my journey at first, was just you know, I had to overcome the fear of just putting myself out there. Of creating a product that I felt like you know, sometimes can be a little umm not uneasy, but kind of confusing for people.

Because it's not a tangible service, I'm really trying to entertain you, and I feel like I'm giving you gems, and all these great things. Umm, and so I just was focused on what my goal was.

So, why did I want to start YouTube? What's the reason? Was it because I want to become famous or is it because I really feel like the things that I'm showing is going to be of value to people?

And so, I kind of made sure that that is what stayed in my brain, you know. Like, what is important and it shouldn't be chasing you know, the exposure, because exposure is, so, you know, flimsy it's not something that you sometimes can last, you know.

So, I want a career essentially right, and so I just felt like “All right, let me focus on what my goal is, let me figure out what brand I'm trying to build, what.” Umm, you know, what I'm trying to say what's my voice on YouTube that's going to set me apart.

And, just kind of trust in that and rely on that and not you know, my biggest fear in the beginning was I didn't want to sound like the everyday YouTuber, I kept telling my friends like if I say “Hey guys,” like just take me off right now.

I'm like, I don't speak like that, you know, that's not me. I want to make sure I sound like Jessica, and I think slowly that's not to really resonate with people.

To be honest, especially, in the past few months, the consistency putting out content, on the consistent level, that helps people realize that you're committed, and so now I'm going to commit to you, because I see that you're committed to, umm, actually providing content on a regular basis if that makes sense.

"If you're committed to making videos, your audience will be committed to listening to you."

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Jessica: I think, there's two things I think like I said being consistent is a huge thing, umm, you have to be consistent, you can't be thinking that your uh content is just so fascinating, that people aren't going to be waiting around until the next thing um you know.

You have to keep up with the fact that everyone's attention span is like this (snaps her finger). So, you need to be able to continue to produce right, um and also, just authenticity, authenticity.

Umm, I like, I said I feel like the more that I leaned into myself, the more that I felt comfortable. The more that my personality could come out, the more that people are like, “She's kind of cool, she's a little funny, she's a little weird.”

But that's okay because you're really seeing me you know, there's no way you can compare me to another person, because you're really getting the real me. And, so, I think that helps people relate to me and make them feel like I'm their friend in their head or whatever.

So that they can keep on with these recipes you know, if I, if I mess up on a recipe, I'm like “Oh man! Guys, I think this is good, you know!” But, that's realistic, that's reality, everyone's not gonna be the top chef in the kitchen as much as we would like to be, you know. So, I think those are the main things you have to remain authentic, and you have to do well.

"She's kind of cool, she's a little funny, she's a little weird.”

Jessica: I'll be lying if I didn't say I want to be monetized, I would be lying if I didn't say, I want, you know, thousands of subscribers. And, I feel like I'm, I'm slowly getting there you know, I like I said, the confidence level in what I'm bringing has really made me feel like, “Okay things are moving forward in a real way.”

And, so I think in a year, I'll definitely be monetizing from my content. Umm, I believe that I'll definitely have a lot more subscribers, of course, which is always you know, a beautiful exchange.

And umm, you know, sponsored, sponsorship and partnerships and just like being able to bring items to people that they probably didn't think of. Or, maybe they're like “Well, I wouldn't buy it until I'd seen someone use it.”

Or, you know, just like just because that's how I am, I'm like, well what's going on like. So, umm yeah, I think those are the main things. I just want growth, you know, and I want it to be authentic, and I want it to be organic, and I'm okay if it takes a little bit longer so I feel like in a year I'm gonna see exactly what I need.

"I think in a year, I'll definitely be monetizing my content."

Jessica: Just do it! Umm, it took me a year before I even posted my first video. My mind was thinking about it I was you know, creating a YouTube journey in my brain. And, how amazing was it, but I didn't have one video uploaded you know, and it's scary.

There's so much out there, and you feel like you have to come, feel like you're comparing yourself. And I understand all those fears, but you have to allow your fears to be your motivator sometimes. And, and just be like you know, I'm scared about this, but in spite of my fear, I'm gonna make this happen because it makes me happy.

And, even if you connect with just one person on that first upload, trust and believe in yourself that it is going to move forward. And it's going to grow. I still can't believe how far I've come, because I remember, at one point, how stagnant I was, and I was just like, “Well, like what am I doing this for, you know.

And, it's easy, you're all human, I understand that. But, you have to just put yourself out there, and it was brought in your mind for a reason. So, just go with your gut, go with your intuition, and know that no one else is you so you can go ahead, and like you know, start that journey.

"It took me a year before I even posted my first video. So, just do it."

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And, if you're looking to cook some awesome eggplant lasagna, here's how Jessica recommends it!

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And, if you'd like to know about other inspirational YouTubers who've grown their subscriber base from zero, here's a list of all the fabulous stories in our "Grow Your YouTube" series:

1. This photographer-YouTuber explains why human facial expressions are important for a YouTube thumbnail
2. This VET doctor explains how she wants to grow her pet food YouTube channel into a TV show one day
3. Live For Another – The story of 20-somethings who make it a habit to help ailing patients live their craziest dreams
4. Trekers - The YouTuber couple who shot to celebrity status with a video of a secret World War II U-boat
5. The story of how a celebrity interviewer-YouTuber discovered his "Aha!" moment three years ago - Chris Van Vliet
6. How a French guitarist got 2 million views on his YouTube videos - Tanguy Kerleroux
7. The awe-inspiring tale of a 55-year-old realtor-YouTuber who's aiming for 100k subs from zero!

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