Long before the phrase "social media creator" existed, there was Molly Burke. The 29-year-old digital creator — who started her YouTube channel at just 20 years old — has had the unique experience of growing up on social media. In the same way that platforms like TikTok and Instagram have evolved, so has Burke. She's utilized the tools as outlets for documenting every aspect of her life — from skydiving with the Dolan Twins and perfecting her beauty routine to buying her first home — and highlighting all the ways in which living with blindness impacts her day-to-day.
As a child, Burke was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes loss of vision, one that ultimately led to Burke losing most of her sight at age 14. Over the last decade, she's worked to shed light on the misrepresentations of blindness through personable vlogs, a bestselling memoir, and a handful of talk-show appearances — all while empowering others to own their story. "It's been such an incredible resource to have social media there for minority communities and for oppressed communities to be able to advocate for themselves and not wait for a microphone to be handed to us, but to grab the microphone and make it happen," Burke tells POPSUGAR.
Her sincerity, bubbly personality, and relatability have helped catapult Burke to a rare level of social media fame that's reserved for only a handful of creators. It's also what inspired her latest partnership with Amazon, which aims to highlight the brand's accessible, user-friendly devices and how they've helped to support Burke's daily life.
"Universal design is not just designing for disabled people, it's designing for everybody. And there are many studies that show when you design with everybody in mind, which includes disabled people, you're actually making your products and services more user-friendly for everyone," Burke explains. "I think it just takes one or two powerhouse companies like Amazon to lead the way before others will follow."
We had the chance to chat with Burke about her new Amazon partnership, the realities of growing up on social media, and all the must-have products she can't live without — including a nylon Prada handbag that we collectively deemed as the ultimate "messy-girl essential."
