Emily Cocea, an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon University, seemed like any other college student balancing studies and work. She attended classes, joined study groups, and picked up part-time jobs to help manage the steep $90,000-per-year cost of her degree.
But there was one major difference. Emily’s side hustle wasn’t a typical student job. The 22-year-old Los Angeles native found herself earning seven figures annually through her online platforms, taking home an incredible $1.3 million in just one year.
As TikTok began to explode in popularity, she noticed a growing demand for creators who could connect directly with their audience. Even while still in high school, she created four separate accounts to test out what worked best for her audience — mostly men aged 18 to 24, especially those working in tech fields. It didn’t take long for her to find her niche and build a loyal following.
Throughout college, her days became a constant balancing act. She attended lectures during the day, streamed live on Twitch in the evenings, and spent long hours replying to messages from subscribers who paid to interact with her directly. Despite the demanding schedule, she stayed committed to both her studies and her online business.
“I realized I will never be the prettiest girl in the world,” she said. “But what I can be is the girl who sells exclusive content and is in school.”
“There’s nothing I’m uncomfortable answering,” she said. “But I’ve never posted nude content.”
Now pursuing her law degree at the University of Michigan, Emily says her unconventional career path hasn’t stopped her from excelling academically or professionally. She remains confident that her work online does not define her abilities or future success.
“This is not a barrier to scholastic or professional success,” she added.
“I know a lot of girls who have said, ‘oh, well I did this for money, but now I feel like I couldn’t go back to school or anything’. And I think you always can.”
