How Actress & Creator Audrey Bradford Balances Hollywood Ambitions With A Rising On-line Model

Audrey Bradford left her hometown of Albuquerque at 18 with nothing however willpower and a dangerous housing association with a stranger in Los Angeles. Immediately, the actress and content material creator, recognized professionally as “Drey,” has constructed a following of over 740,000 throughout Instagram, Fb, TikTok, and YouTube, and secured partnerships with main manufacturers, together with REVOLVE, PrettyLittleThing, and SHEIN.

“I didn’t need to work the 9-to-5. I went for the 24/7,” Audrey says of her profession as a content material creator and actress. This dedication to fixed creation has outlined her decade-long journey working throughout each conventional leisure and digital media.

Audrey’s path, nevertheless, started with a split-second determination that modified the trajectory of her life. “I all the time had large desires of turning into a celeb,” she remembers. “As soon as I turned 18, I made a spur-of-the-moment determination to come back to LA. There was this man who mentioned, ‘You may reside with me.’ I had no concept who he was, however I wished to be in LA so badly that I moved in with him.”

This dangerous transfer, which Audrey acknowledges might have “turned dangerous actually fast,” gave her a foothold within the metropolis the place she would construct her profession. Initially targeted on modeling, she linked with IMD, an company based mostly in Oregon. Her profession trajectory shifted when her brokers acknowledged her vocal skills.

“My brokers had been like, ‘You’ve gotten an important voice. Let’s attempt commercials and performing,’” she remembers. This led Audrey to IMTA, the Worldwide Modeling and Expertise Affiliation, a serious trade conference the place she showcased her skills to brokers from throughout the nation.

At IMTA, Audrey rapidly discovered that conventional modeling wasn’t her path ahead. “I spotted quick that I used to be brief for modeling,” she says. As an alternative, she was signed by Maverick Company for performing, a pivotal redirection that opened new alternatives, though success didn’t come in a single day. “I bought loads of ‘on-the-cusp’ alternatives,” she says. “I used to be all the time the stand-in.”

The Social Media Breakthrough

Whereas pursuing performing from 2014 to 2016, Audrey started creating content material on social media, significantly Snapchat, which later migrated to Instagram. Her breakthrough got here by means of Arsenic, a women-led content material collective that proved instrumental to her early success.

“I all the time credit score Arsenic for my early social media success,” Audrey says. “They had been those I began doing social media work for, and that’s the place I gained recognition.”

The Arsenic neighborhood operated on ideas of mutual help and collaboration. “We’d get a bunch of ladies collectively for social gatherings, events, occasions,” she remembers. “We’d actually write our passwords on paper and swap accounts for an hour or so.” This collaborative strategy allowed creators to cross-promote and rapidly develop their audiences.

What differentiated Arsenic, and thus Audrey’s early content material, was its philosophy of feminine empowerment. “It was about embracing your femininity and sexuality as a girl, however in an aesthetic manner,” she says. “It wasn’t porn. It was girls taking management of their lives and their love for his or her our bodies.”

Arsenic inspired Audrey to leverage her persona alongside her look. “He informed me, ‘You’ve bought an important persona. Use it. You’re fairly, however you’ve bought extra going for you,’” Audrey remembers. That recommendation helped her develop a content material model that went past seems to showcase her actual self.

Working Throughout Two Industries

Immediately, Audrey has constructed parallel careers in each social media and conventional leisure. Her display credit embrace Ray Donovan (“Chinese language Algebra”), Netflix’s BlackAF, and New Woman, together with business work for manufacturers comparable to Cinépolis, Uber, and True Automobile. Her coaching consists of UCB [Upright Citizens Brigade] improv by means of Stage 4 and courses at iO West, following within the footsteps of comedy stars like Amy Poehler, Donald Glover, and Tina Fey.

Initially, Audrey frightened that her sensual content material would possibly restrict her performing alternatives. “I used to assume being an attractive, Playboy-type creator would harm my performing profession,” she says. “However Arsenic informed me, ‘No, truly, the trade’s opening as much as creators such as you.’”

This gave Audrey confidence to embrace her identification. “It pushed me to place myself on the market,” she says. “To personal it as an alternative of hiding it.”

Presently, Audrey dedicates about 80% of her time to social media whereas utilizing the remaining 20% strategically for performing. “I’ve stepped again from performing as a result of I need to focus extra on coaching,” she says. Her improv coaching, she provides, boosted her confidence and suppleness. “You don’t all the time have to know your strains so long as you realize the essence of the marketing campaign.”

Audrey is at present managed by Realé The Company, a expertise administration firm based by Michelle Xuxu (“Zoo-Zoo”).

Platform Methods and Content material Creation

Her strategy to content material creation varies by platform. “I’m pickier about what goes on Instagram; high quality over amount,” she says. “However on TikTok, I’m newer, so it’s extra amount over high quality.”

She sees distinct benefits to every. “I like Instagram for style inspiration,” Audrey says. “I favor images once I’m on the lookout for Pinterest-type concepts as a result of you may zoom in and see particulars.” In distinction, she appreciates TikTok’s unfiltered vibe: “TikTok is extra uncooked. I take advantage of it like my story.”

For YouTube, she notes the problem of preserving viewers engaged. “Individuals have brief consideration spans,” she says. “On YouTube, you need to hold altering topics otherwise you’ll lose them.”

Behind the scenes, Audrey operates as what she calls a “one-man band,” dealing with most of her enterprise herself. “I do most of my very own modifying for YouTube and Instagram,” she says, including that she works with a videographer, however manages many of the planning and post-production independently.

To streamline her course of, Audrey has began utilizing AI instruments like ChatGPT for content material planning. “It helps me with scripts for social media reels and promos,” she says. “I give it an concept and a route to go in.” The aim, she provides, is to make promotional content material really feel real, not salesy.

Model Partnerships

Audrey’s portfolio consists of collaborations with main style and sweetness manufacturers, however her strategy has all the time been proactive. “I’d simply e mail manufacturers and ask, ‘Do you need to collaborate?’” she says. “I’ve all the time had a excessive engagement charge, which actually helped.”

That persistence meant dealing with rejection. “I took a variety of no’s,” Audrey admits. “It’s essential to not let that get you down. Simply hold going.” Over time, her rising monitor report made manufacturers take discover. “The extra I labored with, the simpler it was to land new ones,” she says.

When choosing partnerships, Audrey prioritizes alignment along with her personal pursuits. “After I say no, it’s as a result of it doesn’t match me or my followers,” she says. Moderately than limiting herself to 1 area of interest, she’s expanded her content material scope.

“I’ve been breaking extra into tech. Earlier than, it was principally style and sweetness,” she says. Latest e-bike critiques have opened new doorways. “By no means area of interest down,” Audrey advises. “If you are able to do all of it, you’ll by no means be bored.”

Sustaining Relevance By Honesty

With practically a decade within the trade, Audrey has sustained her profession by means of platform adjustments and traits by specializing in honesty and consistency.

“Posting at the least as soon as per week is essential. Out of sight, out of thoughts,” she says. “In case you’re not posting, individuals neglect quick.”

Past consistency, she attributes her longevity to transparency. “I’ve all the time been truthful. I don’t cover my age or pursuits,” she says. “Individuals see that, and it retains them round.”

Audrey’s various pursuits, together with volunteering at her native animal shelter, assist her join with audiences. “Some followers inform me that’s why they comply with me,” she says. “Present your pursuits. You by no means know what resonates.”

Embracing Change and Future Instructions

At 29, Audrey approaches her 30s with confidence. “I’m displaying how I keep assured at this age,” she says. “Truthfully, I really feel prettier now than I did in my early 20s.”

Her content material plans are maturing in tandem along with her life. “I need to do extra residence and way of life content material, redoing my toilet, my kitchen,” she says. It’s a pure shift as her viewers matures along with her.

She plans to adapt her content material as she ages. “In my 40s and 50s, I need to present style and confidence at that age,” she says. “I truly sit up for these years.”

One shock for followers may be her long-term dream: “I need to go off grid sometime,” she says. “After dwelling within the metropolis so lengthy, I need to go photo voltaic, no metropolis water, fully self-sustained.” The will, she notes, connects to her roots. “I grew up on a farm. I escaped it for town, however now I form of need it again.”

Nonetheless, Audrey’s path from small-town dreamer to established multi-platform expertise has given her clear recommendation for others. “Faux it until you make it,” she says. “Act such as you’re the sh*t, even in the event you’re not but. Be your personal advocate and keep optimistic. Individuals discover that.”

She stresses resilience. “Don’t concern no’s since you’ll get them. Everybody does. It’s a part of the journey.”

For these in search of sustainability over virality, she recommends experimentation. “Keep it up,” she concludes. “Don’t get discouraged by low views. Strive various things and see what clicks. It’ll come naturally.”