person, much like no one hands you a guide book
when you become disabled!” Jessica’s channel acts as
a bridge between two worlds—the one where you’re
without a community, and one filled with it.
SHE KNOWS WHAT WORKS FOR HER
YouTube can be difficult for anyone to navigate and
thrive on, but Jessica has managed to build a dedi-
cated and enthusiastic community.
Outstanding consistency may have contributed to
her success, with regular uploads fuelling her growth
- she has shared videos two a week for over three years
and has earned over 58 million views. A regular sched-
ule can be difficult to adhere to, but Jessica has learned
to work with her body instead of against it (“ie, writing
when my brain feels clear, filming when I have energy,
editing or planning when I have to lie in bed”).
She’s also found the perfect balance between “easy/
elaborate productions”. Some videos will take her a
day to create, and others can take
a month. Finding the sweet spot
that works for you—and your
body, and your schedule—is key
to maintaining consistency. This
also applies to brand deals and col-
laborations. Jessica has lost some
amazing opportunities because
one day of travel or a more de-
manding shoot could have her in
bed for a week.
People who work with her also
need to understand that longer
lead times may be necessary, and
a sudden day or week of illness
could put a temporary halt to
production. This can, and should,
be a wake-up call to brands work-
ing with creators. A truly inclusive
campaign should not only include
disabled creators but also willingly
provide appropriate accommoda-
tions to ensure it runs as smoothly
as possible without putting dis-
abled people in uncomfortable or
painful situations.HER VINTAGE CHARM
When it comes to her unique
vintage style, Jessica insists that
it wasn’t planned—“I’ve always
just worn clothes that make me
happy!”—but the result remains
a strong visual impact that makes
her videos instantly recogniz-
able to fans. Designing a unique
look and feel is something many
successful creators strive for.
Considering that it will be a part
of your content and online per-
sona, it’s important to form your
aesthetic from within rather than
searching for inspiration exter-
Instagram jessicaoutofthecloset nally. Jessica’s advice is to createJESSICA KELLGREN-FOZARDÒ
YOUTUBE’S GAY DISABLED SWEETHEART