Abby Rao built a following most creators only dream of, growing from modeling photos on Instagram into a major presence across TikTok and Instagram with content spanning fashion, dance, and daily life. But the platform that built her career has also come with a cost, and that tension is what she explored with Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour.
Rather than a highlight reel of influencer success, the conversation goes into the parts of that career rarely discussed publicly — the pressure of constant visibility, the toll it can take on mental health, and what it actually looks like to protect your well-being while building a life online.
About Abby Rao
Abby Rao began posting on social media in 2017 and quickly built a large following through fashion and lifestyle content, including work as a brand ambassador and collaborations across the beauty and clothing space. Her rise on TikTok in particular placed her among a wave of creators who turned short-form video into a full career.
Alongside that career, Abby Rao has been open about the importance of mental health, body positivity, and self-care, using her platform to talk about the realities of online fame rather than only its highlights. That honesty about the harder parts of the job is central to why her perspective carries weight.
What Abby Rao and Sean Kelly Talked About
- Abby Rao's account of the less visible costs that come with public-facing social media fame
- How she has navigated mental health challenges while building a career online
- Why she treats stepping away from social media as necessary rather than optional
- Her perspective on the pressure to maintain a curated image for a large following
- How the dangers of social media show up differently once you're the one being watched
- Her approach to body positivity and self-care as part of her public platform
- What she wants younger creators to understand before chasing a following of their own
- Her take on separating a public persona from a private sense of self-worth
Why This Conversation Matters
Abby Rao's conversation with Sean Kelly offers a rare, honest look at what fame on social media actually costs, delivered by someone who has lived both sides of it. For anyone building a public life online, or simply scrolling through one, her perspective is a grounded reminder that what's visible is rarely the whole story.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
Related Digital Social Hour Episodes
About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
About The Author
