Cassidy Montalvo Teases Her Next Chapter And It’s Bigger Than Social Media

Cassidy Montalvo didn’t set out to become one of the internet’s most trusted lifestyle voices. In fact, she didn’t even plan to become a creator at all. Her path, from working in traffic control to becoming a full-time influencer and entrepreneur, is far from traditional, but it’s exactly that unpredictability that defines her story. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Cassidy, like many, was furloughed from her job. With nowhere to go and a need for connection, she started making content “to feel community and have something to do.” But what began as a distraction quickly shifted into something bigger.

When she returned to work, she suddenly found herself trying to balance a growing online audience with a full-time job, and the scale started tipping.

“It came to this point where I had to pick one,” she explained. That’s when she realized content creation wasn’t just a hobby, but it could be her career. The moment things clicked? “When I started getting emails from brands I loved… I was blown away. I was like, wait, I can make money off that? I was literally doing this for free.”

Cassidy took the leap, and it paid off.

While influencing is often dismissed as an easy job, Cassidy is honest about the grind behind the pretty feed. “It’s not the level of being a doctor or a lawyer,” she admitted. “But it’s still a lot of work.”

She points to the mental toll as the most underestimated part of the industry. “You have to be consistent. You have to be vulnerable. You have to have a lot of resilience,” she said. “People don’t realize the mental health toll… you’re going to get hundreds of opinions on everything you post. You have to get a thick skin pretty quickly.”

Still, she emphasizes that she loves her job deeply, even when the pressure is intense. “It’s such a privileged job, and I’m so thankful… but the sacrifice side of it is definitely a lot of your peace.”

Cassidy believes creators have become the new cultural guides because Gen Z can spot inauthenticity instantly. “They’re the number one detectives on the block,” she laughed. “They can sniff out inauthenticity from a mile away.”

She also thinks older generations underestimate younger ones. “Older generations have been so rough on Gen Z… instead of teaching them, they just roll their eyes.”

So young people turn to creators, people who speak their language and share their real lives. That openness is exactly why her audience listens to her.

With millions watching her every move, Cassidy is already mapping out her next chapter, and it’s bigger than social media. First up, writing. “I would love to get into writing,” she said, imagining a “grandma guide to life,” filled with the kinds of lessons her own grandparents passed down.

She also wants to bring her styling skills directly to her followers. “I get comments all the time from people who wish I could come style them,” she said. “I would love to do a YouTube series… actually going face-to-face with my followers.”

And when it comes to brand partnerships, one dream stands out. None other than Free People. “I wear a lot of their clothes,” she shared. “I would love to do an accessible collection… pieces that can be used for multiple outfits and seasons.”

Cassidy’s viral rise came from trial, error, and letting go of perfection, which is advice she now passes on. “Don’t look at analytics,” she warned. “It’s the first thing that gets in your head.”

And when creating content? Get ready to feel awkward. “You’re going to feel stupid when you first start,” she said. “I felt so silly talking to my phone… but the more I did it, the more comfortable I got.”

Her golden rule is simple and actionable. “Share one thing a day that’s useful to someone else," she told The Blast.  A quick recipe, a hair trick, a sale find, anything that can help even one person. “Everyone has something unique to contribute,” she said. “People will come and find you.”