How Elsa Majimbo Went From Anonymous Nairobi Teenager To Social Media Comedian With 2.5 Million Instagram Followers

In just two several years, Elsa Majimbo has received 2.5 million Instagram followers by feeding on potato chips in mattress, encouraging her followers to occasion to the place of reporting fraudulent action to their banking institutions and laughing maniacally. And, many thanks to these antics, the 20-yr-previous has turn out to be a superstar—landing a Teenager Vogue include, a Maison Valentino campaign, a documentary and a new residence in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.

“Growing up, I generally realized I would be legendary,” Majimbo said at the 2022 Forbes 30 Less than 30 Summit Africa in Gaborone, Botswana. “I didn’t know how I would do it, but I knew it would be accomplished.”

Majimbo’s story is 1 of true rags to WME-illustration riches. She grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, and became the to start with member of her family to show up at higher education, studying journalism at the city’s Strathmore College. But when Covid-19 strike, Majimbo was pressured to isolate and have interaction in distant learning. She coped by submitting a online video about how she absolutely did not skip human get hold of, and rapidly commenced gaining social media fame.

“When I went viral, the 1st issue I did was mail an electronic mail and stop,” Majimbo claims about dropping out of faculty. “It was definitely delusional, but I believed I could succeed. I was like, ‘You know what? I’m likely to be a celebrity.’”

It plainly resonated, as others–including stars like Lupita Nyong’o, Steve Harvey and Rihanna–started obsessing above her videos about finding a boyfriend from her pillow, observing Television for 12 several hours a working day and comedic narcissism. With this newfound fame, Majimbo relocated to Los Angeles in 2021 to pursue a career of comedic greatness, finish with endorsement bargains like the ones she has with Fenty and Logitech. This is probable why Majimbo called herself a millionaire through her discussion at the Below 30 Summit Monday with CNBC Africa anchor Tania Habimana. (A agent for the entertainer clarified that she is “worth millions,” but labeled herself a millionaire only for comedic applications.)

Her assistance to younger business owners? “Enjoy your life. It’s hardly ever that deep–people test to discourage you, but you can do whatsoever you want.”