17-year-old Ami Charlize’s rise to social media stardom is nothing short of inspiring. After starting her impressive career at just 12 years old on social media, the English media darling has grown her platform to over 5 million, continuously evolving and growing in the digital world. Leading with authenticity and kindness, Ami has become a voice for a new generation.Whether through her viral videos, her top-charting podcast Ami Charlize’s Private Story, or her debut book My World: Challenges, Changes, and Chasing My Dreams, Ami has shown time and again that age is no barrier to success. With an impressive array of brand partnerships, an ultra-engaged online community, and a passion for empowering others, Ami continues to break boundaries and inspire young women to pursue their dreams. In this interview, Ami shares insights into her journey, the challenges she’s faced along the way, and what’s next in her exciting and ever-evolving career.

Ami, your social media journey began at the age of 12 on Musically, and it’s since grown to over 5 million followers across platforms. How did you navigate this evolution, and what do you think made your content resonate so strongly with audiences?

I think starting at such a young age played a big role in my journey. Growing up, I had so many people to look up to in the industry, which helped me understand the space and envision what I wanted to achieve. What really helped was that I wasn’t afraid to experiment and try different platforms and I didn’t limit myself to just one app, I embraced them all. I think my content resonates with my audience because I can relate to them on a personal level–we have a lot in common. As a young person with a young audience demo, we understand each other and I go through many of the same struggles they do. We all experience similar challenges, and that connection helps me show them that age doesn't define what you can achieve!

Your podcast, Ami Charlize’s Private Story, reached Number 6 on the UK charts before even launching. What inspired you to start a podcast, and how has the experience of connecting with your listeners through audio been different from creating content on social media?

Starting a podcast has been such a rewarding experience, more so than I could have ever anticipated. I've gained so much confidence through hosting it and learned more about myself—things I never expected to learn. I feel I’ve been able to connect with my listeners on a deeper level because I invite guests to share their struggles and achievements. It’s not just me talking about my life, it’s a wide range of incredibly interesting guests who all bring such unique experiences and stories. It’s a different kind of connection compared to social media and I love it.

Last summer, you launched your debut book, My World: Challenges, Changes, and Chasing My Dreams. What inspired you to write this book, and what message do you hope your readers take away from it?

The idea for the book came from wanting to create a space where people could learn more about my life and what has made me into the person I am today. My hope for the book is that I can help encourage and uplift people and make them feel less alone. The feedback I’ve gotten from readers has been incredible and it’s turned into such a cool way to engage on a closer level with my community. It definitely shows a different, deeper side of me than what is seen online or through the podcast. I think the main takeaway Iwanted for readers is to see that anything is possible, no matter your age, and there are little tips and tricks throughout the book that I hope can help along the way.

You’ve worked with major brands like BBC, Spotify, Boots, Superdrug, and Space NK. How do you choose which brands to collaborate with, and what’s been the most exciting partnership so far?

I’ve been so blessed to collaborate with brands that truly align with who myself and my audience is. When I first started, I didn’t really understand how collaborations worked—I just thought people got a few items here and there. But now, working closely with brands I actually use and love has been an amazing experience. The most exciting partnership I have isn’t out yet, but I’m really looking forward to it—it’s with a brand I absolutely adore and it’s going to be huge! You’ll have to stay tuned to find out more.

With such a large following on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, what’s the most rewarding part of building and maintaining such a strong, engaged community?

The most rewarding part is the sense of community I’ve built, it truly feels like a close-knit group of friends. Whenever I need something or just want to talk to people, I know I can hop onto my Snapchat or Instagram and connect. I love reading comments and engaging with my followers, they bring me so much joy and I’m humbled every day that I’m in the position I’m in. I’ve always wanted my channels to be a safe space on the internet for people to come to when they need a friend. To build connections with others online is a beautiful part of social media.

You’ve become an inspiration for young girls through all of your empowering projects. What advice would you give to young women looking to build their own brands or pursue their dreams in today’s digital age?

My number one piece of advice is to always, always stay true to yourself. If you live your life trying to meet everyone else’s expectations, you’ll regret it and miss out on so much joy and opportunity. Everything I’ve done has been because it’s what I wanted to do. The feedback and success from that is far better than doing things just to please others. If you have a dream or goal, go for it and don’t worry about what people say. I struggled with this when I was in school, but if I had listened to the negativity, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Trust your instincts and stay focused on your own path.

What were some of the challenges you faced when starting your career as a content creator, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was dealing with people I knew personally, especially from school. They didn’t really understand what I was doing and would make fun of me for putting my life on social media. It was tough, and at times I wondered if I should just stop. But I’m so glad I didn’t let them win. I learned to block out the negativity and focus on what mattered to me. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve come to learn that other people’s opinions don’t matter.

With your debut book and successful podcast, it’s clear you’re passionate about storytelling. What stories do you want to convey in future projects?

One theme or topic that I’ve always been really passionate about covering with my content is beauty. I think there’s a huge gap in the market for content that enhances and celebrates your natural beauty instead of covering it up. I’m really excited about a project I’m working on that I believe will resonate with young girls, especially right now. It feels authentic to me, and I think it’s something we really need.

You’ve openly discussed your journey with dyslexia and how it affects your daily life. What advice would you give to young people who are currently learning how to manage their dyslexia?

Dyslexia can be challenging because it makes you feel so different from other people but that doesn’t mean it should hold you back. My biggest piece of advice is to find the way that works best for you. When I was at school, I didn’t always align with the way teachers wanted us to work, and that discouraged me. What helped me was using videos to learn—I’m much more of a visual learner than a reader. I think it’s important to discover your own learning style and embrace it, even if it’s different from what’s typically expected. I also think it’s really important for young people to ask for help when they need it. There’s no shame in getting support, it will only set you up for success in the long run.

Social media has played a huge role in your success, but with that comes its ups and downs. How do you maintain a balance between your online presence and your personal life?

I’m lucky that my online presence and personal life actually work well together. I like to document my day-to-day life, so there’s no need to carve out a strict balance. When I’m with friends and family, I take time off my phone. I’m able to share genuine moments without feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes I do need a break, and when that happens, I just turn off my phone and focus on self-care, like going to the gym or having some downtime.

Looking to the future, what’s next for Ami Charlize? Any exciting projects you can share?

I have an exciting collaboration coming up with a brand I absolutely love, and I have some really cool things in the works with other brands that align perfectly with who I am. But the biggest thing to look forward to is my own brand, which should be launching in September. It’s going to be an exciting end to the summer, and I can’t wait to share more with you all. This brand is something that aligns perfectly with everything I stand for, and I’m really excited for everyone to see it.