Meet Bibi-Jane Angelica | Content creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bibi-Jane Angelica and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bibi-Jane, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always been a creative kid, I was always crafting up gifts for holidays or birthdays of loved ones. Initially because I didn’t have money to buy a gift, but unconsciously i think i enjoyed the process of making something. It felt more meaningful to me.

My earliest memory of making videos was when i was 12 years old. I had just started high school and was fascinated by the different characters in my class. I thought we deserved our own tv show, which sounds silly now, but that’s the thought that lead to me taking matters into my own hands and creating little videos about our class and our experience. I remember using my BlackBerry (phone at the time).

I never thought my creative passions could be a career. It just wasn’t something that seemed realistic to me at the time. So after high school, I decided to study forensic science (which I have a bachelors in now). My teachers pointed out that I seemed happiest whenever I got to hold a camera (we learned how to correctly photograph crime scene evidence). I knew i would probably never do something with the degree once i graduated, but the risk of just dropping out felt too scary for me.

After graduating, I looked into doing another study in something more creative, but since i already had a bachelor, another bachelor would cost me 3x as much (Dutch regulations..) so I thought “f* it, I’ll find my own way”. I had a creative itch I couldn’t ignore, I just didn’t know how and what to do with it.

I started working full time in retail, and in the meanwhile I was still making videos. After 10 years of creating videos on and off, my videos started to reach people outside of my circle (which happened on TikTok). I saved up while working my retail job, and eventually quit, to pursue creating full time. Now my main focus is on IG and Youtube.

I think the reason I pursued a creative career is because of that itch I couldn’t ignore. I felt like I had something to say, I just felt like words weren’t always enough. Being a creative is how I make sense of the world, it’s how I make sense of my thoughts, feelings and things I experience. Even tho I’ve always been (and still are) scared of losing the passion to create if i turned it into a career / serious business, it feels illogical and unnatural not to wake up everyday and create.

I also think another reason is because, I’ve tried not to pursue a creative career. I tried and I felt unhappy. Studying science might have felt safe, but eventually safety didn’t lead to happiness.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Answered a lot of this in the first question!

But what I hope that my work brings, is that it makes others feel seen, understood or honestly… that it makes them feel something. Wether that’s inspiration, or reflection, motivation.

A lot of what I make is inspired by complex feelings / thoughts I have / struggles i have faced / are facing. Growing up I often thought that I felt too deeply, and by sharing these things in my work, I now realize I am not alone. It’s easy to feel like we are alone in the struggles we are facing, at least I felt that way for a long while. Art changed that for me. I hope my work brings to others what it brings me to create it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If the weather was good, we would for sure rent a boat and cruise along the canal!! If they are somewhat experienced bikers, I would want to take them biking, I think that’s the best way to see the city. Amsterdam is such a pretty city and the diversity of people and stories is something i’ll never take for granted!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to the internet.

I have a love hate relationship with the internet, social media to be specific, it can make me compare myself, feel behind in life or make me feel like im not good enough. But at the end of the day, its also the place I get to share my art, and meet likeminded people. Most of the friends I have now I’ve met through the internet.

Instagram: @bibijaneangelica

Youtube: @bibijaneangelica