How I Got Here: Abbie Chatfield on imposter syndrome and making it in the entertainment industry
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAUDIA LOWE
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Take every opportunity that you can, work as hard as you can and ask questions.”
Have you ever stalked someone on LinkedIn and wondered how on earth they managed to land that wildly impressive job? While it might look like smooth sailing, there’s no doubt been a heck of a lot of hard work involved in getting there.
So what lessons have been learnt and what skills have proved invaluable in getting them from daydreaming about success to actually being at the top of their industry?
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Welcome to How I Got Here, where we talk to people who are killing it in their respective fields about how they landed their awe-inspiring jobs, exploring the peaks and pits, the failures and the wins, and most importantly the knowledge, advice and practical tips they’ve gleaned along the way.
This week we’re delving into the career of Abbie Chatfield, a multi-hyphenate entertainment personality, podcaster and entrepreneur. Beginning with her signing up for The Bachelor “as a joke”, Abbie’s journey hasn’t been straightforward. It’s involved quitting her job in real estate and taking a leap of career faith, where – after overcoming “intense imposter syndrome” and taking on “five million things at once” – she’s landed firmly on her feet.
Armed with her quick-witted, effervescent and refreshingly brash character, Abbie has quickly become the country’s contemporary media favourite. Much like the conversations that take place on her podcast, It’s A Lot, Abbie’s career journey has been shaped by openness, authenticity and an ever-present willingness to learn. Here’s what she’s learnt along the way.
Run me through the last year of your life. What’s been happening for you?
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In the last year, I’ve obviously started the radio show, I had The Masked Singer for the first year, I started Verbose, the clothing brand, [and] I started Spill, the beer label. I’ve had my first podcast tour… I feel like I’ve done five million things!
I bought my first property… it’s been an absolute whirlwind. I mean personally, I’ve moved into an apartment I actually own, had a relationship and a breakup. I feel like it’s just been the craziest year but next year is already looking to be even more intense.
I also hosted Fridayz Live, I just forget the things that I do. It’s just so much. It’s been crazy, time has gone so fast [and] I can’t believe it. Every year I look back at the year before and think about how much I’ve done, and how different life is from only a year before. I can’t imagine what next year’s going to look like.
Take me back to your early twenties, or when you first started leaning into this industry. Did you have any sense of what you wanted to do, and if so, what steps did you first take?
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No, this is the thing! When I applied for The Bachelor, I just thought it was funny, I thought it would be a funny joke. I did The Bachelor and then I came back and worked in property for six more months. I have a degree in property economics.
The only reason I ended up quitting my job is because I went on Bachelor in Paradise… it was the only way I would leave my job because I didn’t want to ever not have my income. And when I finished that, it was Christmas… I thought ‘I’ll have holidays, and I’ll do a couple of Instagram posts’.
I thought if ‘I can survive and earn the same money I was earning at my nine-to-five, then I’ll do this as long as I can get and maybe get a different degree’… I was really lucky to get the chance to have a year essentially off, doing Instagram… and re-evaluating what I want to do.
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But the opportunities kept coming… I started my podcast and the podcast started paying the bills, I got new management (who are amazing) and it just kept going. Then I got [I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here] and won, I got the radio show… then I got Love Island After Party and was hosting that… it feels like everything is coming together.
It’s not really foreplanned… looking back, doing five million things at once has led me to be able to have the skills [I have now]. For example, Instagram story rants prepared me to do podcasts. The podcast prepared me to talk quite easily on radio, and the radio helped me… to do The Masked Singer.
All these things work together in a way you can’t really plan. Particularly in this industry, you can never plan what you’re going to be doing in six months… you never know what is going to come up, or what’s going to be taken away from you.
… If there’s anything I can do to get experience and knowledge, [I’ll do it]. Oh! And my pilot came out this year, Jesus. I was filming the pilot in the middle of Love Island After Party, while doing two podcast episodes a week – plus a bonus one – and watching all of Love Island and all of The Bachelor. It sounds silly, but it’s an extra 15 hours of TV you have to watch so you know [what’s happening].
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… I guess that’s the only planning that I do. If something’s [offered] to me, even if it’s not the most ideal timing, I’ll still take it over something that’s quick and easy money. I want to be better at what I’m doing.
What challenges/hurdles have you faced getting to where you are now? Can you tell us about one in particular?
The intense imposter syndrome. But really, that’s kind of been the reason I’ve been so successful – because I try to learn everything I can and really immerse myself in the jobs that I do. I think the biggest challenge has probably been my mental health and physical health as well.
I’m very lucky to have this job, I’m very, very appreciative of it, I love it and I wouldn’t change it – but one of the downsides is having no social life, never being able to cook at home and always moving around… and when you don’t have a social life, it’s kind of hard to get content.
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… The Masked Singer is three weeks of intense filming, and we all have radio shows – Chrissie, Hughesy and I – and we were saying it’s so hard to do radio when you don’t have a life. It’s hard to create relatable content when all you’re doing is getting up, going to the studio, going home and going to sleep. It’s been hard to juggle being good at my job while also setting [aside] time for myself so I can be good at my job. Does that make sense?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a role like yours one day?
I think take every opportunity that you can, work as hard as you can and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve had people like Osher, Chrissie, Hughesy, producers for The Masked Singer and people in radio be very generous with their advice. But you can’t get that advice unless you ask.
… For example, if you want to be a TV host and you’re starting off being a runner on set, there’s no harm in asking someone questions about what their role is. Maybe don’t ask Osher before a rose ceremony, but don’t be afraid to ask for five minutes of someone’s time for advice.
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I’ve been so lucky to have mentors who are so good at what they do and have given me such beautiful advice… I think it’s a huge reason why I’m able to do this and stay sane. Also, be nice to everyone because a) don’t be an asshole and b) word gets around if you’re an asshole. So be nice, be appreciative and try and have gratitude.
What do you wish people knew about what you do and why you do it?
The biggest misconception is that I’m sitting in a lair plotting. People misunderstand media as a whole… people think everything is planned out and they assume the worst ulterior motive. The reality is that most people – or I’d say, the vast majority – of people in media and media companies are doing things with the best intentions.
… People do things because they’re humans. People aren’t robots trying to find the best algorithm or outcome for the most exposure, it’s usually just who they are as people. People think I do things for attention but I just have ADHD and I have to rant.
Read the rest of the How I Got Here series here.
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