For a number of years now, the modern-day career of social media influencer has been named as a top choice for pre-teens and teens. It’s even considered to be a viable option for anyone who wishes for more freedom in their lives, like mothers who wish to stay at home with their children. But is it a wise goal to aim for?
We spoke to a husband-and-wife duo who are making an impressive go at it. Kaylee and Taylor Dudley started posting daily on TikTok in 2022 when one of their posts went viral. Their lives have never been the same since. Now, with almost 11 million followers on TikTok, just under 6 million followers on Instagram, and just shy of two billion views on their YouTube channel, they’re living the influencer life and sharing what that’s like. This couple is making the most of their online influence.
Kay and Tay have amassed a substantial online following by posting relatable content about marriage, parenting, and everyday life. Courtesy of Kay and Tay Dudley
The Epoch Times: You began posting daily on TikTok in 2022 and it didn’t take long for a video to go viral and your social media rise to begin. Was it always your goal to become influencers, or did that come as a surprise to you?
Tay: It was never our goal to become influencers. Honestly, we still don’t really consider ourselves as influencers.
Kay: We think of ourselves more as entertainers. Our main focus has always been to bring a bit of fun and laughter to people’s lives, while sharing ours in an authentic way. Even at the start of our journey in 2022, we just wanted to make funny videos to see if we could get a laugh out of our friends and family.
Tay: We love the idea of making people smile or giving them a mini escape from their day. When one of our videos went viral about a month after posting daily, it was such a surprise, and we were thrilled to see so many people enjoying one of our videos! We’re so thankful for all the support we’ve received along this journey, and we’re just focused on keeping it real and entertaining our followers through the adventures that we take them on each day!
The Epoch Times: Your influence has only skyrocketed from there. What has it been like to share so much of your personal life publicly?
Kay: Sharing our day-to-day lives publicly has definitely been a unique experience, that’s for sure! It’s amazing to connect with so many people who resonate with our journey, especially being able to do that with Tay.
Tay: There is always this balance of wanting to be open and share authentic moments while also maintaining some privacy. Through the years, we’ve learned to embrace the positives of it, like the incredible connection we’ve built with our community. I like to think that we have gotten pretty good at living a private life while also opening up just enough to let others experience it with us!
Kay: At the end of the day, it feels really rewarding to know that by sharing this journey we have been on, both in raising Ellie and now this new pregnancy, that we might be brightening someone else’s day or making them feel less alone in their own experiences. We’re grateful for the love and kindness we’ve received, and we’ve done our best to stay grounded as we continue to share our story.
The Epoch Times: Many young people today, and many moms who wish to stay at home with their children, see becoming a social media influencer as an enticing career prospect. Do you recommend this as a career pursuit?
Tay: Being on social media can definitely be a rewarding career, but it’s not as simple as it might seem when viewed from the outside. While it can give you the freedom to stay at home with your kids, it also comes with a lot of work behind the scenes! It is a lifestyle, and you have to forever be committed to it, every day. Aside from Kay’s grandmother’s funeral, we haven’t missed a day of posting since January 2022.
Kay: For us, it’s been an amazing opportunity, but it took time and consistency to get here. When we first started, we both were working full-time on top of maintaining our social media presence, and it was an incredibly stressful time in our lives. If you’re considering it as a career, I’d say go for it—especially if you’re passionate about sharing your life or creative ideas. Just be prepared for the hustle and the hard times. It’s not always glamorous, but it can be so fulfilling if you’re ready to put in the effort.
Tay: And if you go for it, remember, authenticity is key. People connect with real, genuine content, so just stay true to yourself!
The Epoch Times: How do you balance your family and personal life with running the business of your growing online brand?
Kay: Balancing family life and the business side is definitely challenging, but it’s something we’re always working on.
Tay: We’ve learned to be intentional with our time. We set work boundaries, like designating certain hours for filming/editing/posting and other times for just being with our family. Kay is an amazing mother, and so I take on more of the managerial tasks for the brand, and she gets to have more time with Ellie in the day. That being said, since “work” is really just hanging out with the family, we both get so much time to be parents and experience the amazing moments of parenthood together.
Kay: It’s also been helpful to delegate tasks when we can—whether that’s working with our team or using different tools to stay organized. At the end of the day, our family comes first, and we try to remind ourselves that it’s OK to step back when we need to. The key is communication and finding a rhythm that works for all of us, and we’re always adjusting as things grow!
Kay and Tay's videos often include pranks, challenges, and candid moments that resonate with many viewers. Courtesy of Kay and Tay Dudley
Tay: Luckily, we have the after-hours of each day! So if we slack off a bit with work for more family time, we can always pick it back up after everyone goes to bed!
The Epoch Times: What have you found to be the best parts of growing a social media brand?
Tay: I know that it is going to sound cliché, but the best part of growing our brand has definitely been the amazing connections we’ve made along the way. Not just with our followers, but with other creators as well. It’s been so fun meeting new people and collaborating with others who share the same passions as Kay and me.
Kay: It’s also been incredible to see how our content has impacted people, whether it’s made them laugh or helped them feel seen and heard. Building this community around our brand has been so fulfilling, and the support from our followers has been overwhelming in the best way.
Tay: The relationships and friendships we’ve formed along the journey have been one of the most rewarding parts of it all.
The Epoch Times: What has been most challenging?
Tay: It has to be managing the constant pressure to keep up with the fast pace of social media. It all changes quickly, and it can feel overwhelming trying to stay relevant and consistently create fresh content every day. There’s also the balancing act of maintaining our privacy while sharing enough of our lives to connect with our audience. It’s a fine line between being open and staying true to ourselves, and we’ve had to learn when to say ‘no’ and take a step back to recharge.
Kay: Momentum is probably the most important part of keeping relevance on social media, and so knowing that I can never take a sick day is challenging for me, especially with being recently diagnosed with SLE Lupus.
The Epoch Times: What are your future plans for your brand?
Kay: We are focused on growing our family, continuing to share our journey!
Tay: We want to keep expanding into different types of content, whether that’s more lifestyle, family, or even some entrepreneurial ventures. The sky’s the limit! Like I said before, Kay and I see ourselves as more of entertainers, so maybe finding our way into traditional entertainment roles might be a fun chapter in our adventure!
The Epoch Times: What advice would you give someone who would like to grow their own online brand?
Tay: Our biggest piece of advice would be to stay authentic and true to yourself and don’t give up when it gets hard. Also, be patient and persistent. It takes time to grow an online brand, and success doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency is key, but so is finding a balance between doing what you love and not burning out. Lastly, don’t be afraid to connect with others! Building relationships with other creators and your audience is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. And remember, it’s OK to pivot and evolve as you go—your brand can grow with you. Ours has certainly changed several times in the last few years!
