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Content creator and entrepreneur, Kenzie Elizabeth Kenzie Elizabeth With a podcast on Dear Media called House Guest, more than 44 million YouTube views, and a devoted online community of over 600000 followers on platforms including Instagram and TikTok, Kenzie Elizabeth is a true force to be reckoned with. At just 28, she’s already been creating content for more than a decade. But at the height of her career, Elizabeth is taking a new direction. While she continues to share content with her loyal audience, she’s also building something more lasting—a brand that extends beyond her own name. In 2023, she launched Friend Of Mine with her first product, a Recipe Journal. Since then, the line has grown rapidly, even debuting on her dream retailer’s site, Anthropologie. Friend Of Mine Recipe Journal Friend Of Mine I recently sat down with Elizabeth to talk about what it takes to build a brand separate from her personal one—and what it means to create a business beyond social media. From YouTuber to Design Influencer Unlike many influencers who seemingly appear overnight, Elizabeth’s journey began long before the word “creator” was even part of the cultural lexicon. “In middle school, I started watching YouTube. It’s funny because I actually hated YouTube growing up — my older cousins would always watch it instead of paying attention to me! But once I discovered creators like DulceCandy87, I fell in love with the community. I had a pretty tumultuous childhood, so YouTube became an escape,” she tells me. MORE FOR YOU By high school, she was producing her own content—vlogs, hauls, and glimpses into everyday life. “Some of my first videos were like my 16th birthday vlog. I was just a kid sharing my life, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.” Her slow and steady rise has been a defining part of her appeal. “I love sharing my life and the community I’ve built. I’ve always grown slowly and steadily — never viral, never the biggest — but that’s given me a really stable career.” Unlike many creators who chase headlines, Elizabeth has built her success on relatability and consistency. She’s not the influencer spotted on Page Six for who she’s dating; she’s the one viewers feel they’ve grown up with. Launching Friend Of Mine The idea for Friend of Mine was born from Kenzie’s upbringing, growing up in a family of homemakers and interior design enthusiasts. “I always knew exactly what Friend of Mine would be. That was in the spring of 2023. The first product was the Recipe Journal, and from there we added Dinner Cards, Nightcap Cards, Recipe Binders, and more.” While many influencers and podcasters dabble in “merch”, Elizabeth wanted to build something more meaningful, a true lifestyle brand rooted in her passions. “My mom’s an interior decorator, my grandma’s a seamstress, and my aunt’s also in interiors — so I grew up surrounded by it. My mom and grandma had a bedding and drapery business, so I was always around home design. I started diving into homemaking more after college — hosting dinner parties, gardening, needlepoint — it all happened naturally. During COVID, I joked that I became a breadwinning housewife.” After moving back to Dallas from Los Angeles, Elizabeth bought her first home and began focusing her content more on homemaking and entertaining. “I love building something beyond myself. As I’ve gotten older, my work has become less about my personal life and more about my interests — creating products that help people find peace and community the way I have.” Today, the brand offers a curated mix of entertaining essentials — from journals and conversation cards to needlepoint kits, overalls (great for garden_, and digital downloads. It’s a cohesive extension of Elizabeth’s world: approachable, fun, and steeped in a Nancy Meyers-inspired charm. Her hard work paid off when Anthropologie came calling or, rather, commented. “I post a lot of Anthropologie content, and one day, a buyer commented on a TikTok saying she loved Friend of Mine. I replied that it was my dream to be sold there, and it turned out she was an actual buyer! Within two weeks, we had an order. When I got the email, I literally cried.” Never one to sit still, Elizabeth has since channeled her creativity into her next passion project, Mahjong. A self-proclaimed “serial hobbyist,” she recently launched Friend of Mine’s first Mahjong Mats, designed to make game night feel like an aesthetic experience. There are two mats available: a classic toile and Dolly, inspired by her sweet hen. Mahjong mat Friend Of Mine Blending her love for design, connection, and a good challenge, the launch marks another extension of how Elizabeth turns her favorite pastimes into thoughtfully designed pieces created to connect and inspire. What’s Next The creator has absolutely no plans to slow down. “I’ve always wanted to build something beyond being an influencer.” She envisions Friend Of Mine as a full-fledged lifestyle brand. “Everything you touch in your home, from what you wear to what you host with. We’re expanding our community, planning more events, and launching with more major retailers.” From her teenage YouTube days to creating products that bring people together, Kenzie Elizabeth has proven she’s more than just an influencer; she’s a brand builder, tastemaker, and friend to many. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
