But Chelsie Angeles “prioritises” magic circle dreams over vlogging stardom
A City of Westminster College second year has shown that taking up A-Level law doesn’t just mean consigning yourself to two years of Red Bull, late nights, and crying because you don’t know what consideration is.
Social media star Chelsie Angeles is living proof you can actually do some pretty amazing stuff alongside what is a notoriously demanding subject.
In the last few years, the amateur lifestyle blogger and aspiring lawyer has rubbed shoulders with the stars, has collabed with famous YouTuber Justin Escalona, has gained over 68,000 Twitter followers, and, to top it off, she’s paid for her videos and blog posts.
Thank you all! Love always! Xx pic.twitter.com/peFg8cFtif
— Chelsie Angeles (@ChelsieAngeles) May 28, 2016
It’s an enviable lifestyle, one that Angeles (not her real surname) has been living since she began making YouTube videos in April 2013. In that time, the second year — who describes herself as a “singer/songwriter, blogger and environmentalist” — has racked up 3,300 subscribers on her channel, and a hefty 26,000 views and counting on her most popular video.
These view counts really do matter, and not just for vanity. The vlogger is paid for every video she posts, and more views means more money. Last month Angeles gained around 40,000 views, which roughly translates to £400. It’s hardly magic circle salary, but, as she says, “definitely nice pocket money”.
These online money making ventures are big business, and with her social media following growing day by day, you’d think Angeles would be tempted to sack in the law and pursue vlogging fulltime.
But that’s not the lifestyle to which she aspires. Although Angeles says she’d love her channel to “be more successful and to continue to grow”, her sights are set on City domination. She told us:
My career aspiration regarding law is to become a barrister at a magic circle firm.
A fiercely competitive industry, so does Angeles thinking vlogging will help or hinder her career goals? She thinks it’s positive all round:
I do think that blogging and vlogging can help you with any career, especially law. It gives you more confidence, better communication skills, it allows you to have full creative freedom and when studying a rather heavy subject like law an outlet like YouTube is amazing and so beneficial.
And perhaps the most beneficial aspect of it all is the amazing experiences Angeles — who’s also a brand ambassador for eco friendly clothing company ‘Planet First Clothing’ — has had on the back of her social media stardom.
The student, who tells her followers to “Dream. Believe. Achieve.” has been interviewed for the BBC and for Sky, and at the latter she managed to bump into a very famous footballer. She told a very jealous Legal Cheek:
I was invited to look round the Sky studios on the outskirts of London, it was during my time there that I met David Beckham. He was starring in a video for Sky and I was asked if I wanted to be in it too. Which I said yes to obviously.
She’s also rubbed shoulders with the cast members of Made in Chelsea and former London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith.
It’s an enviable lifestyle to lead — especially given the remuneration — but as fun as filming yourself waiting for food in Nandos or singing Christmas songs sounds, Angeles is clear: the law studies come first. She continued:
I’m very big on prioritisation. My studies are the most important thing to me. I will always put it first so YouTube hasn’t negatively impacted my studies. However my next priority is YouTube so I have sacrificed going out with friends or going to the gym to get videos done.
Given the success of the ‘Chelsie Angeles brand’, we were pretty surprised when the aspiring lawyer told Legal Cheek that maintaining her social media sites “doesn’t take up much of [her] time”, about 10 hours a week.
Only 10 hours a week to generate the incredible benefits she gains from the venture (*cough* David Beckham), that’s great prioritisation.