Asian-Australian social media star Tara Whiteman has been named the 17th highest-paid person in the world on Instagram, according to new figures released in the Instagram Rich List.
The travel blogger – who posts sumptuous lifestyle and travel snaps under the handle ‘Tara Milk Tea’ – was named among household names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kendall Jenner and David Beckham in the list.
Tara, 25, from Sydney, has a staggering Instagram following of 1.3 million people, which has helped to earn her a reported $1.1 million this year alone.
Tara posted 73 sponsored pictures this year with various brands and reportedly earns an average of $15,000 per post.
Asian-Australian social media star Tara Whiteman (pictured in Sydney in 2019) has been named the 17th highest-paid person in the world on Instagram, according to new figures released in the Instagram Rich List
The travel blogger (pictured in New York and Korea) – who posts sumptuous lifestyle and travel snaps under the handle ‘Tara Milk Tea’ – was named among household names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kendall Jenner and David Beckham
Tara, 25, from Sydney, has a staggering Instagram following of 1.3 million people, which has helped to earn her a reported $1.1 million this year alone (pictured in Miami in June 2018)
So how did the globetrotter gain her place?
Speaking previously to Daily Mail Australia, Tara said she has always loved travel and everything that comes with it.
‘I fell in love with travel as a teenager when exploring my mother’s heritage in Asia. When I was younger, we’d travel every few years to visit my family overseas,’ Tara told FEMAIL.
‘I started travelling with my friends after high school from the savings I’d earned from several jobs I’d worked since my mid-teens.’
Tara said she never imagined her life would turn out this way, but when she got her hands on her first camera at just 12 years old, something sparked and she knew she wanted to do this full-time.
‘Travel is really fulfilling. I love seeing different cultures and ways of life. Sometimes I do miss my family, but we talk almost every day so it’s never too bad,’ she said.
Tara (pictured in France and Spain) has travelled all over the world, taking glamorous pictures everywhere she goes. This year, she posted 73 sponsored pictures this year with various brands and reportedly earns an average of $15,000 per post
Tara (pictured in the Maldives earlier this month) told FEMAIL she ‘fell in love with travel as a teenager when exploring my mother’s heritage in Asia’
By the time Tara became a student, she said she was travelling as much as possible, taking photos along the way and building up a following of loyal people who wanted to see her picture-perfect snaps.
‘I started making money through the several jobs I worked, along with photographic work on the side for companies a few years ago,’ Tara said in 2017.
‘I started working in retail from the age of 15, while I was in high school. Since graduating high school, I’ve worked in admin, marketing and PR roles related to my degree.
‘I worked full time while studying to operate several companies marketing, PR and social media. Since then, I work with companies on photographic projects, from tourism to fashion to food clients.’
‘I started travelling with my friends after high school from the savings I’d earned from several jobs I’d worked since my mid-teens,’ Tara (pictured in Japan in 2018) said
Tara (pictured in India and Abu Dhabi) used to travel as a hobby, but things have skyrocketed since 2017 and she now travels full-time and collaborates with brands – visiting any number of countries in just months
Things have skyrocketed since 2017 for Tara, who now travels full-time and collaborates with brands – visiting the likes of Abu Dhabi, the Maldives, New Zealand and Vancouver in a matter of months – and earning all the way.
‘I love the experience. I feel like travelling teaches you so much, and makes me so appreciative of life,’ Tara told FEMAIL.
‘I’ve always loved the creative side, and being able to turn photography from a hobby into my job has always been a dream. I also enjoy the ability to share these experiences online so others might be inspired to visit as well.
‘The world is incredible and I’m always excited to see new places. It’s endless and I’m still not over it. I don’t think I’ll ever stop travelling, even if it becomes once a year, or once every few years.
‘I do have a rough plan for my future, but I’m always open to change.’
Tara (pictured in Manhatton earlier this year) said that to get the perfect travel shot, you have to be up and about early when there aren’t so many people around
Tara has also shared how she captures such enchanting lifestyle and travel shots, especially in areas which are often over-populated and crowded:
‘I love exploring cities in the early morning, when there are less tourists about,’ she said.
‘This is usually before 8am. I find places can be much more charming with less people around or, you’ll tend to find locals out and about, which can tell you so much more about a place.
‘However, sometimes I like to take photos in busy places because it captures the essence of a city.’
‘I find places can be much more charming with less people around or, you’ll tend to find locals out and about, which can tell you so much more about a place,’ Tara said (pictured in Canada in September this year)
Tara insisted she doesn’t have any ‘secrets’ behind taking the perfect photo – but she does ensure all her images match on Instagram by posting images that are bursting with bright colours.
‘I love vibrant imagery, so I don’t have a particular style or theme. When I’ve been in New Zealand you’ll see my images become more green and blue, and I like how that flows at a particular time,’ she said.
‘I travel with my partner and we’ve both always enjoyed photography. I take photos of him, and he takes them of me. Strangers offer to take photos of us together, which is really nice.
‘If I’m going to be in the photo, I might frame it first, and he’ll then take it. But he has a really good eye so I just let him work his magic with the camera.’
In order to get over the feeling that she is constantly ‘on’ and working, Tara said that sometimes she likes to leave her phone and camera behind for a day when she is away – so she can just fully immerse herself in a place and the nature of it.
‘I travel with my partner and we’ve both always enjoyed photography. I take photos of him, and he takes them of me. Strangers offer to take photos of us together, which is really nice,’ Tara said (pictured in Paris)
Who made Instagram’s top 20 earners and how much did they earn this year?
Tara (pictured) was the only Australian to be included in the list of top 20 earners
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $71 million
2. Lionel Messi – $35 million
3. Kendall Jenner – $23 million
4. David Beckham – $16 million
5. Selena Gomez – $12 million
6. Neymar Jr – $10.8 million
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – $6 million
8. Kylie Jenner – $5 million
9. Ronaldinho – $3.75 million
10. Khloe Kardashian – $1.79 million
11. Virat Kohli – $1.76 million
12. Emily Ratajkowski – $1.69 million
13. Gareth Bale – $1.63 million
14. Priyanka Chopra – $1.62 million
15. Camila Coelho – $1.42 million
16. Bella Hadid – $1.42 million
17. Tara Whiteman – $1.12 million
18. Simeon Panda – $824,865
19. Ulisses Jr – $712,384
20. Aimee Song – $665,516
Tara (pictured) said she does have a ‘rough plan’ for her future and travel, but she is always open to change
Tara was the only Australian to make it into the esteemed top 20 of the Instagram Rich List for 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the biggest earner this year, raking in a staggering $71 million this year.
The Portuguese footballer reportedly earns an eye-watering $1.4 million per post.
Model Kendall Jenner was the highest-paid woman on the list, in third place, with a total earning of $23 million from the site.
She even beat her 22-year-old sister, Kylie, who earned $5 million this year by promoting her beauty range and sharing adorable pictures of her daughter.