Is Being an Influencer Still Worth It in 2026? Here’s the Brutal Truth
- Feb 5
- 1 min read
Is being an influencer still worth it in 2026 — or has the golden era officially ended?
This week on GlowJob, we break down the creator economy from day one to now: from early beauty bloggers and YouTube legends like Michelle Phan, to Instagram’s glam era, to TikTok virality, and today’s rise of UGC creators and AI-powered commerce.
The industry is now worth hundreds of billions globally, with brands spending $40B+ a year in the U.S. alone — but follower count no longer equals money. Virality doesn’t guarantee income. And the old “get paid to post” model is basically dead.
We unpack:
• Why Gen Z sees influencing as a full-time career
• How FTC rules changed trust forever (ad culture)
• The biggest influencer scandals (James Charles, Tati Westbrook, Jeffree Star, Chiara Ferragni)
• Why UGC creators with zero followers are out-earning traditional influencers
• How TikTok democratized fame
• Why brands now care about conversion, not clout
Plus, we sit down with Nicole Clay, co-founder of Hue, to talk about how AI, data, and UGC are reshaping how brands sell — and why everyday creators are becoming more valuable than celebrities
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a creator — or you’re a brand trying to understand influencer marketing — this is your no-BS breakdown of what actually works now.
GlowJob is the beauty podcast that makes you hotter and smarter.
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