Remi Bader has experienced a fair share of tough financial struggles as she’s built her career as a successful influencer.
During the Monday, November 3, episode of Jason Tartick’s “Trading Secrets” podcast, Bader, 30, recalled being short on funds earlier in her career while struggling with a binge eating disorder.
“When I started making videos, I did not have a following,” the TikToker, who makes content focused on fashion inclusivity and mental health, explained. “I lost my job. I had zero dollars in my bank account because I spent it all on food because I was binge eating at the time. Like, I was in a really bad place. And I literally just started making videos talking about me being in a bad place. That’s what happened.”
Bader also shared that she was fired from two jobs back to back, which took a toll on her in several ways.
“I remember literally looking at Forbes 30 under 30, crying when I was so unhappy with my job … when I was an assistant,” she said. She remembered thinking she would just “die” to have that accomplishment under her belt, telling Tartick, “I thought maybe one day, imagine I was in there as, like, a head of PR for something.”
She later made the prestige list in 2023 as a social media creator, which she referred to as a “full circle” experience. “I think that was actually one of the biggest moments for me,” she confessed.
Bader previously worked for Bravo, and then moved on to a role at Tidal that she “actually loved.”
“There was things I didn’t like to it, but I finally started enjoying my job and then got let go again,” she explained. “So I thought I was just, even though that was for a reason, I was like, ‘Oh wow, like I am not going to be successful’. Like, I thought something is literally wrong with me.”
What worked for Bader was connecting with others through TikTok by just being herself. Tartick, 37, pointed out that it’s “pretty cool” she built a career in the creator space by capitalizing on what made her different from other people, something that Bader also agreed with.
“And I agree with that because I always did feel, like, even more than my friends and stuff like I always felt a little bit bigger, like curvy or different,” she affirmed. “And I actually always … I wasn’t upset about that. I actually was like, ‘I’m special in a way.’”
Bader also detailed her financial success since finding her social media niche. She shared that she went from making $60,000 a year with Tidal before suddenly bringing in nearly one million dollars in 2021.
“I think throughout that year it started getting bigger and bigger,” she said. “I didn’t have a business manager at the time. I did sign with UTA, so that’s 10 percent I’m giving to them of every deal.” After that, she signed with a lawyer, who took another 5 percent of her income.
“I did not have a manager at the time, I did it kind of backwards,” Bader added. “I feel like a lot of people get managers first. But that’s what I was giving away percentage wise and then you’re giving away a lot [in] taxes. So I don’t know, but I definitely was making a lot of money.”
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Eating Disorders (NEDA) website or call their hotline at (800) 931-2237 to get help.
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