MEET SHELBY,
YOUR TRAVEL TIPS EXPERT
CURRENTLY IN:
London, England
MEET SHELBY,
YOUR TRAVEL TIPS EXPERT
CURRENTLY IN:
London, England
ABOUT ME
I grew up in rural Iowa on a small farm, milking cows, caring for pigs and horses, and helping with corn and bean crops. I have four brothers and one sister, and we all shared one bathroom.
Even though we never went on lavish family vacations—or really any vacations at all—I loved growing up surrounded by animals, wide-open spaces, and adventure. I spent my childhood four-wheeling, climbing trees, and living full-on tomboy, which gave me a love for experiences over things—why I’d choose an adventure over a Gucci bag any day.
After high school, college brought uncertainty, multiple majors, and a lot of hustle—working jobs like DoorDash driver, Instacart shopper, and selling used books on Amazon to pay for tuition and rent.
Eventually, I followed my love for sports to a marketing job in Chicago, traveling across the U.S., attending major sporting events, and meeting legends like Shaquille O’Neal. But the $37,000 salary wasn’t enough to sustain the life I wanted.
Travel lit me up. Experiencing new cities, cultures, and people inspired me to create and share stories. That passion led me to TikTok, where I built an audience, landed brand partnerships, and ultimately quit my 9–5. Now, I travel full-time, create content I love, and inspire others to chase their dreams—all by betting on myself.
HOME BASE:
Chicago or a plane
ABOUT ME
I grew up in rural Iowa on a small farm, milking cows, caring for pigs and horses, and helping with corn and bean crops. I have four brothers and one sister, and we all shared one bathroom.
Even though we never went on lavish family vacations—or really any vacations at all—I loved growing up surrounded by animals, wide-open spaces, and adventure. I spent my childhood four-wheeling, climbing trees, and living full-on tomboy, which gave me a love for experiences over things—why I’d choose an adventure over a Gucci bag any day.
After high school, college brought uncertainty, multiple majors, and a lot of hustle—working jobs like DoorDash driver, Instacart shopper, and selling used books on Amazon to pay for tuition and rent.
Eventually, I followed my love for sports to a marketing job in Chicago, traveling across the U.S., attending major sporting events, and meeting legends like Shaquille O’Neal. But the $37,000 salary wasn’t enough to sustain the life I wanted.
Travel lit me up. Experiencing new cities, cultures, and people inspired me to create and share stories. That passion led me to TikTok, where I built an audience, landed brand partnerships, and ultimately quit my 9–5. Now, I travel full-time, create content I love, and inspire others to chase their dreams—all by betting on myself.
HOME BASE:
Chicago or a plane
SNAPSHOTS
of my travels
I QUIT MY
9–5 JOB
When I graduated high school, I had no clear path—no dream job, no chosen major, and no real sense of what I wanted my future to look like. Growing up on a farm in a town of just 400 people, my world felt small. I thought my only real options were to become a teacher or a nurse—two incredible careers, but ones that never truly lit a fire in me. So, I chose what felt familiar and safe: I enrolled at the nearest state school, the University of Northern Iowa.
Even in college, I felt uncertain. I changed my major five times, constantly hoping something would finally stick. I paid for everything myself, working multiple jobs along the way — DoorDash driver, Instacart shopper, and even selling used books on Amazon — hustling to cover tuition, rent, and living expenses.
BORN AND RAISED IN:
Lawler, iowa (pop. 400 people)
Eventually, I decided to pursue my love for sports and landed a job at a sports marketing agency in downtown Chicago.
I moved there completely on my own — no friends, no family — just a leap of faith. The job was fast-paced, and at times, surreal. I traveled across the U.S., worked major sporting events, met people like Shaquille O’Neal, and even stood feet away from LeBron James.
I QUIT MY
9–5 JOB
When I graduated high school, I had no clear path—no dream job, no chosen major, and no real sense of what I wanted my future to look like. Growing up on a farm in a town of just 400 people, my world felt small. I thought my only real options were to become a teacher or a nurse—two incredible careers, but ones that never truly lit a fire in me. So, I chose what felt familiar and safe: I enrolled at the nearest state school, the University of Northern Iowa.
Even in college, I felt uncertain. I changed my major five times, constantly hoping something would finally stick. I paid for everything myself, working multiple jobs along the way — DoorDash driver, Instacart shopper, and even selling used books on Amazon — hustling to cover tuition, rent, and living expenses.
Eventually, I decided to pursue my love for sports and landed a job at a sports marketing agency in downtown Chicago.
I moved there completely on my own — no friends, no family — just a leap of faith. The job was fast-paced, and at times, surreal. I traveled across the U.S., worked major sporting events, met people like Shaquille O’Neal, and even stood feet away from LeBron James.
BORN AND RAISED IN:
Lawler, Iowa
(pop. 400 people)
Now, I travel full-time, create content I love, connect with amazing people, and inspire others to chase their dreams — all because I bet on myself.
From the start, it was the traveling that lit me up the most — experiencing new cities, meeting people from different backgrounds, discovering new food, cultures, and energy. Along the way, I discovered I loved creating — capturing moments and stories — and connecting with other travelers. Sharing inspiration and showing others what’s possible became a passion in itself.
But despite the excitement, my starting salary was $37,000 — barely enough to live on in Chicago. I knew I needed more.
That’s when I turned to TikTok — not just for fun, but to build a new path offering both freedom and income. After long days, I stayed up late filming, editing, and posting — grinding to create something real.
I wasn’t reckless. I had a plan: land brand deals, save money, and lock in long-term partnerships to give me the stability I needed. And eventually… I did.
I quit my 9–5.
From the start, it was the traveling that lit me up the most — experiencing new cities, meeting people from different backgrounds, discovering new food, cultures, and energy. Along the way, I discovered I loved creating — capturing moments and stories — and connecting with other travelers. Sharing inspiration and showing others what’s possible became a passion in itself.
But despite the excitement, my starting salary was $37,000 — barely enough to live on in Chicago. I knew I needed more.
That’s when I turned to TikTok — not just for fun, but to build a new path offering both freedom and income. After long days, I stayed up late filming, editing, and posting — grinding to create something real.
I wasn’t reckless. I had a plan: land brand deals, save money, and lock in long-term partnerships to give me the stability I needed. And eventually… I did.
I quit my 9–5.
Now, I travel full-time, create content I love, connect with amazing people, and inspire others to chase their dreams — all because I bet on myself.