Everyone who thinks they have something unique to share with the world hopes to become an “influencer”.

It’s the easy way out, getting paid top dollar to post a pretty picture on Instagram complete with all the right hashtags.

But to get there is another story.

Since 2010, social media phenomenon Huda Kattan of Huda Beauty has been building her empire.

The makeup artist and blogger reached global fame through the popularity of her namesake false eyelashes, (racking up fans, like Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic).

Kattan’s company has gone from strength to strength, and her Instagram following has helped her get there. She holds the spot as the highest paid, non-celeb influencer in the world – remember THIS list?

Sitting pretty with 20,8 million followers on Instagram, Kattan, 37, charges up to $18 000 (R235 000) per sponsored post (and most of her content isn’t even her own, it’s from someone who is using her beauty products):

And she isn’t the only one making money this way.

Cameron Dallas became famous by posting vines of himself playing jokes and pranks on his friends and family. He now has 20,1 million followers on Instagram and, at 22, can earn up to a casual $17 000 (R220 000) per sponsored post:

Another Internet sensation to make her money through Instagram is Jen Setler, who became well-known on Instagram for sharing photos of her “large buttocks”.

Seriously.

The 23-year-old earns around $15 000 (R200 000) per sponsored post.

Yes, this is the world in which we currently live.

If you aim to be like one of them, good luck out there. Dealing with the Internet on such a personal level is a pretty brave line of work to get into, because you never know when the trolls could unleash an attack.

[source:telegraph]