Cautionary Tales

Dear Kendall,

There are a lot of things people will try and take from you, of all those things, do not let them take your soul. Do not let anyone ever take your dignity or your purpose. I'm writing you this letter because I want to tell you how they took mine and hopefully if I tell you, you'll use me as a cautionary tale, because God knows I am. That's exactly what they wanted me to be.

Two years ago, I entered a contest for content creators. The grand prize was $20,000 to be spent however you want and an agent to help you get brand sponsorships. I was so excited when I won. I can remember exactly what he said to me when I went to sign my contract. He said, we turn content creators into influencers, influencers into brands and people, into stories. I didn't understand at the time why that last part about turning people into stories chilled me. I understand now.

I originally entered the contest because I wanted to use the money to help bring awareness to how we as humans are polluting the ocean. I had gone out one night with my friends on one of their dad's boats. We were still pretty close to the shore but partied loudly with no regard to anyone. We ended the night by getting high on the beach. I woke up that morning in the sand. What I saw in front of me, changed my life forever. There was a baby dolphin washed up on the beach, dead. The wine bottle I had drank that night was lodged in its blowhole. I was disgusted with myself as a person after that. I stopped partying and drinking and tried to make a difference after that.

Once I signed the contract though, everything changed. I thought I would only hear from them maybe once or a couple times a month, but I was expected to report in every single week and they wanted the analytics from my Instagram. I assumed that it was part of my contract and since I didn't read it I just went along with what they were saying. I started getting brands who wanted to connect with me, but they weren't any environmental brands. They were things like weight loss teas, fitness equipment and teeth whitening kits.

I honestly thought if I just played ball and dealt with the brands that they gave me that eventually I would get to use my platform how I wanted it. Once I started making money they sent me down and showed me how much I had in my business account. They gave me a card and told me to spend as I wished. This was the beginning of the end.

I started spending money on things that I didn't need. It started with food and then went to close. Before I knew it I was spending and partying like the person that I had been before. One night while I was out a girl asked me if I was still an environmentalist because all she had seen on my feed lately was products and sponsorships. It offended me and embarrassed me so I got drunk that night and went to a bar and spent probably half of the wealth that I had amassed at the point. I expected my agent to chew me out the next day, but when he didn't I asked him to show me my account. When he showed me my account I still had the exact same amount as I had the first time he showed me. I realized then that something was suspicious.

I decided to do some research into the agency and realized that they had only been around since the contest began. I realize I didn't know anything about them, did I even have $20,000? Every time they showed me my account the amount never changed.

I asked them how I would go about getting out of my contract and they told me that it was impossible and that I had to stay until my contract ended. When I mentioned to my agent that I might get a lawyer to get me out of my contract he became hostile.

Two days later a video pops up of me online from that night out on the boat that I told you about. Articles were written calling me a hypocrite, saying that I didn't care about the environment. I even trended on Twitter under #CancelKendall.

The agency wrote me a letter saying that they were canceling my contract, keeping the money in my account since it was a business account and my profits were owned by the agency. I didn’t have any money or a copy of my contract so I couldn’t fight them in court.

I don't know who those people really are, but there's something wrong there.

I know we haven't talked in a few years and I haven't been a very good sister to you. But I do follow you on Facebook, enough to see the quote that you posted yesterday, “They’re gonna turn THIS content creator into an Influencer & from an Influencer to a brand! So excited!!!!”

Don't do it Casey.

Because there’s a part you’re forgetting.

They turn people into stories.

Cautionary tales are stories too.

I’m leaving this letter in your notebook, the little black one you write down all of your goals in. Mom doesn’t want me to be here when you get home, so I hope you see this letter in time.

Love,

Kendall