Influencer Katie aiming to use her platform for good
A young Wednesfield woman is set to use her huge social media following to raise awareness of autism.
Katie Upcott reviews clothing on her YouTube channel, The Katie, which has more than 230,000 subscribers and she has attracted 106,000 followers to her Instagram page.
Now the 19-year-old wants use the platform she has created as an influencer to help inform people about autism and see the autistic treated like everyone else.
Katie’s twin bother John has a severe form of the condition and she says people look at him differently because they don’t understand.
“I have been around autism all my life but I feel other people are not aware,” said Katie.
“I want to broaden their knowledge about the autistic spectrum.
“Some people look at John and they can see he is on the spectrum but some people don’t understand and think he is acting.”
Katie said, for example, that her brother does not like loud noises and holds his ears down so he can’t hear them.
“John’s appearance is normal but his behaviour is a bit out of the ordinary,” she said.
“People look at him like he doing it on purpose.
“I would say others need to be more sensitive and accepting and try to engage as it helps autistic people improve.
“My brother had trouble talking but he has really come along - we have conversations now.
“He is my brother and I love him.”
Katie is keen to spread her message and spoke about autism recently on BBC Radio Wolverhampton.
She is also set to promote it on her YouTube channel which she started five years ago.
Katie reviews clothes, accessories and handbags through bright, informative videos.
“I am a tomboy but I like to dress nicely,” she said.
“Before the pandemic I had an interview for an apprenticeship in engineering.
“But it got cancelled and the factory has let staff go.
“I did get a part-time night job in a chocolate factory over Christmas - now I am focussing on YouTube.”
The Katie channel is available on YouTube and her Instagram handle is _katieu.x
