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Will The Real Rich Caroline Please Stand Up?
Writer: Olivia luppino Editor: Iman Hariri-Kia creative direction: Jenna Freitas Designers: Megan Charles, Cailey Tervo, Addie Abujade, Neula Ha © Her Campus Media 2021
Her Campus winter 2021 Cover: The Manifest Issue
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Letter from the editor
In 2021, after a year of remote learning and Zoom internships, Gen Z began transitioning back into in-person interactions and relationships. But following a period of isolation, during which so many of us delved deeper into our online worlds, getting back in touch with our IRL selves was easier said than done. Many students felt detached from themselves, uneasy in their old social circles and yearned to return to their comfort zones: their cyber alter egos. The internet offers us a reprieve from the anxiety of everyday life, but what happens when our online personas begin to bleed into our true selves?
[SUBJECT] Happy holidays, Besties! Welcome to the Manifest Issue and meet our Winter cover star, Caroline ricke.
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P.S. Once you flip through this issue and read our cover story, and check out our curated gift guide and new year horoscopes!
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Of course, human beings are multidimensional and contain contradictions. Our opinions, feelings, and relationships can change as often as our hair color. Sure, personalities are multifaceted, and allow us to house many different versions of ourselves all in one body. But what happens when a cyber bully throws a stone at our online selves? Does it leave a physical mark? Can the validation we receive on social media embed itself in our egos? If our URL selves and IRL personalities are that interconnected, we leave ourselves vulnerable. When so many of our daily interactions take place in an intangible sphere, rendering our growth immeasurable, how can we protect ourselves? Caroline Ricke, TikTok Satirist and comedian, offers one viable solution: create a character so far removed from your true self that you’re able to have your vegan cake and eat it, too.
As Rich Caroline, Ricke is able to move through the online world under a shield. By forging a persona that’s so intentionally unlikeable, it’s practically endearing, she has managed to create a space for artistic exploration, self-deprecation and examination, and cultural critique. Deeming her own life too “normal” to be entertaining, Ricke leaned into Gen Z’s obsession with nostalgia and camp, writing the uncomfortable joke, landing the punchline, and editing it together in a way that’s both digestible and provocative. In other words, she invented a second self — someone bullet and bully-proof. If Caroline Ricke can manifest the character of Rich Caroline into existence, what can’t Gen Z manifest? With 2022 swiftly approaching and brands beginning to push their usual “New year, new you” propaganda, I offer you a challenge.
Instead of putting together a list of resolutions that’s focused on betterment, consider meeting yourself precisely where you’re at. Inspired by Caroline and the Gen Z creatives behind this issue, I will be manifesting self-acceptance instead of self-improvement this year. And I very much hope you’ll join me. Readers, I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 2022. Love, Iman
{1} NEW MESSAGE
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Age: 20 Handle: @gm_ag Title: Photographer
HCXO: What are you manifesting for 2022? Gabby: I’m graduating from college in 2022 so I’m anticipating a lot of big changes in my life—I’m nervous but I’m mostly excited! I mainly want to manifest getting accepted to my dream grad school program and traveling abroad for an extended period of time. I also want to read more books, build more friendships, and keep on pursuing photography. I hope to explore other artistic areas as well such as illustration, writing, and mastering a new language. I ultimately just want to manifest a better and happier version of myself in 2022 <3.
Age: 21 Handle: @olivialupp Title: Reporter
HCXO: What are you manifesting for 2022? Olivia: I'm manifesting an awesome (and healthy) final semester in college, job offers, and Taylor Swift concert tickets!
Age: 22 Handle: @tatianaisshac Title: Stylist
HCXO: What are you manifesting for 2022? Tatiana: I am manifesting more laughter, play, and self-directed creative projects in 2022.
Age: 22 Handle: @selfbysoleil Title: HMUA and Creative Director
HCXO: What are you manifesting for 2022? Lily: For 2022, I am manifesting more of the adventurous and exciting things the universe has been sprinkling into my life already and more beautiful opportunities to create amazing work with equally amazing people.
Age: 21 Handle: @you_found_dori Title: Set Assistant
HCXO: What are you manifesting for 2022? Dorilyn: Necessary shifts and an abundance in love and gratitude. As I graduate this year, I want to step into my truth. Here's to more learning, deconstructing, and prioritizing my well-being. I'm manifesting for my communities to heal from their trauma and for the strength to pursue what serves us best.
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Since 2020, Caroline Ricke, better known under the moniker @richcaroline, has been very busy. She’s amassed over three million followers on TikTok, an app where most users share unpolished videos of themselves participating in trends. But internet mean girl Rich Caroline stands out because of her original, scripted clips. On camera, Caroline is self-centered, superficial, and satirical. She plays a character that makes a mockery of celebrity and wealth culture. But offscreen, the comedian remains a mystery. In other words, no one has any idea what Caroline Ricke is like in real life. Before there was Rich Caroline, there was just Caroline. One of six children growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ricke says her family greatly influenced her sense of humor — although some of her siblings still don’t quite get what she does for a living. In fact, one of her older brothers doesn’t even follow her on Instagram, and she’s privated several old videos at her parents’ request. “My family is actually really funny,” Ricke tells Her Campus. “My mom's hilarious. My siblings are really funny. So, I was always around that dry sense of humor. We're a little bit mean to each other. We like to poke fun, and we all have kind of thick skin.”
By Olivia Luppino
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“I literally love being busy. Like, being busy is my favorite thing ever.”
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Will the real rich caroline please stand up?
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But in the Midwest, Ricke didn’t quite fit. She recalls her sister crying at college graduation because she found Caroline’s outfit too embarrassing. “I've always wanted to do my own thing,” Ricke says. While studying marketing at Ohio State University, Ricke began secretly uploading videos onto YouTube, which she describes as an “escape “from her unhappy college life. When she uploaded a fake Harvard acceptance speech, Ricke accidentally struck gold — and Rich Caroline was born. Before she had time to process, Ricke was jetting off to live in Las Vegas, at the content creation mansion The House Nobody Asked For. “My parents think what I’m doing is awesome, but eventually want me to move back to Ohio and settle down with a corporate job,” Ricke says. “As of now, I don't see that happening.” Ricke shares that her character, Rich Caroline, is an amalgamation of her passion for style and humor. A spoiled fashionista who tells it like it is, her alter ego is self-absorbed, wealthy, and punny. Think: Elle Woods with an edge, or Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie if they thrifted their clothes. Now living in Los Angeles, Ricke’s face is all over our For You Pages and Instagram feeds. But the more fame she amasses, the more difficult it is to discern where Rich Caroline ends and Caroline Ricke begins. Does Caroline actually go to Harvard? Does she really dress like a 2000s Disney star? Most commonly: If I meet her IRL, will she be mean to me?
“My parents think what I’m doing is awesome, but eventually want me to move back to Ohio and settle down with a corporate job,” Ricke says. “As of now, I don't see that happening.”
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As a child, Ricke was known for calling attention to herself and expressing her individuality.
Having an online persona is as common as owning an iphone. Growing up as so-called “digital natives” means that Gen Z knows how to use social media to their advantage, launching haphazard SoundCloud accounts and entering partnerships with “viral” brands like Parade. But as young people brand themselves, the characters they play online can bleed into their personal lives. Where should social media users draw the line? Is it even possible to separate our online and offline selves? This is a question that Caroline Ricke has to contend with quite often, and she’s amused by the constant confusion about what she’s like in person. Recently, when visiting her brother, Phillip — who actually does go to Harvard — Ricke met fans outside of a boba shop. Phillip later overheard the women gushing to each other, “Oh my god, she’s a lot nicer in real life.” He immediately knew that they were talking about his older sister. This type of follower interaction has become a daily occurrence for Ricke — even some of her closest friends thought she would “roast their outfits” and “bully them” when they first met. “It’s just hilarious,” Ricke says. “The idea that, because of how I portray myself, I could be mean to people. Someone could say ‘hi’ to me, and I could say, ‘leave.’” Because of the way she’s established herself online, Ricke knows she could get away with a lot in person. But when she meets fans, she’s notably kind.
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“It’s just hilarious,” Ricke says. “The idea that, because of how I portray myself, I could be mean to people."
In 2021, 98% of Gen Z owns a smartphone and 60% dream of becoming an influencer.
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even though she can tap into her character as easily as flipping a switch. She says her voice developed naturally, over time, inspired by her favorite Y2K-era icons and family members. But its success is a testament to her ability to suss out what’s funny. The key is identifying the comedic angle, then keeping herself entertained. For Ricke, it doesn’t matter if she has to completely lie to the internet about who she is in order to achieve comedic gold. “When I started out, I was showcasing my actual life and quickly realized that no one was going to want to watch it because it was so normal,” she says.``It wasn’t interesting or entertaining, and at first, I thought the only way I could make it funny was with self-deprecating humor.” But Ricke has never been into self-effacement, so she instead opted to create an archetypal character, someone everyone could laugh at— including her. “I decided: I’ll just act like I'm the richest girl on Earth." The vapid, rich girl stereotype wasn’t exactly foreign to Ricke — who, to set the record straight, isn’t actually wealthy. But she attended an all-girls Catholic high school, which she said helped shape her persona. “The girls at my high school were amazing,” she says. “But I absorbed some of the ritzy, rich environment and used it in my character.”
“You hear about influencer encounters where people aren’t that nice,” she says. “But if I were rude, fans would think it’s on brand.”
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“I decided: I’ll just act like I'm the richest girl on Earth."
But Ricke’s brand couldn’t be more different from her actual personality,
She gleaned enough from quietly observing her peers to successfully satirize them. She’s studied her favorite Y2K television shows and movies, like Lizzie McGuire and The Simple Life, to soak up fashion inspiration. She even keeps a running list in her Notes App of jokes that could later be worked into her sketches. Basically, Caroline Ricke, the person, is always silently working to piece together Rich Caroline, the character. “I observe my environment and pull from everywhere,” she says. In fact, Ricke’s critical eye, whether it be for fashion or comedy, creates the biggest contrast to her character, who can barely tell left from right. The real Caroline Ricke’s wheels are always turning, and inspiration for a video can strike at any moment. Sometimes, the concept is born through interacting with fans in her comments section. Other times, it’s a conversation with friends or an idea from her younger brother. Once Ricke has her thesis, she writes out a script — a process that can take anywhere between five minutes and seven hours — and then gets to styling, filming, and editing her video. She’s essentially a one-woman production company.
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The real Caroline Ricke’s wheels are always turning, and inspiration for a video can strike at any moment.
I realize that this is the real Caroline Ricke’s super power: observation.
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“He’s my number one when it comes to all of this,” she says. She sends him her ideas, scripts, and videos, getting his feedback on everything, including his final notes on the finer details like lighting and background music, before she hits the upload button. Without Phillip’s support, there’s a chance we wouldn’t even have Rich Caroline in the first place. He’s the one who encouraged her to start uploading videos on YouTube when she was struggling to discover her passion in college and remains one of her biggest supporters and collaborators, joining her in L.A. before he had to move back to school in the fall. Ricke is also very resourceful. “I take advantage of my surroundings,” she says. “For example, my brother lives in Cambridge. So, if I'm going to go to freaking Harvard, I’m going to write a sketch in which I pretend to go to school there.” She’s a method actor, knowing her character so deeply and playing off of her surroundings. Ricke will even ask her brother to send her pictures from the dining hall, so she can pretend she’s at Harvard when she’s in L.A. She never breaks character, which only adds to the internet’s confusion.
Ricke’s younger brother, Phillip, also plays a role in nearly every step of her production process, even though he attends college across the country.
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"So, if I'm going to go to freaking Harvard, I’m going to write a sketch in which I pretend to go to school there.”
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Even in a 60-second clip, Ricke carefully curates every moment of her content. She’s always asking: Is this funny enough? If she realizes the answer is no, Ricke isn’t afraid to kill her darlings, scrapping a video that took her hours to make. “I'm a perfectionist,” she says. “I want to put out stuff that I'm really proud of. If I made a video I'm not happy with, I'm not going to post it.” Unsurprisingly, creative control is very important to Caroline Ricke. Whereas other Vloggers normally choose to bring on professional editors and videographers after amassing a certain number of followers, Ricke shared the thought has never even crossed her mind. “I have creative control over everything I do, and I would never give it up — ever,” she says. At times, Ricke’s perfectionism extends to the extreme. Ricke sprained her ankle at a work event (though she swears it was broken) and attempted to keep it hidden from the camera for the four months it took to heal. She even took off her boot in some videos. Her reason: “It wasn’t fashion forward.” The lengths she will go to for the bit speak to how far Gen Z will go to perfect their online personas — and how, sometimes, they can take priority.
But the end definitely justifies the means. Ricke’s videos have some of the highest production value on TikTok.
“I have creative control over everything I do, and I would never give it up — ever.”
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In fact, playing a character has shielded Ricke from a lot of the downsides of being as popular as she is on the internet. “I am not anything like the character I created,” she says. “If someone criticizes me or gives me hate, it’s not even really me, so it doesn't even matter.” Rich Caroline is almost a built-in defense mechanism. “You can call me a brat, but it’s not me you’re calling a brat. PQ. It makes what I do so much easier.” When it comes to internet toxicity, Caroline also attributes her health mentality to the fact that she didn’t gain popularity until college. “I didn't start getting more followers until I was 20,” she says. “I was at a very good point in my life, where I was OK with myself. I was not afraid to put myself out there and receive criticism. I literally don't care if people call me ugly — because I don't think I am.” PQ Again, Ricke’s persona provides her with some protection. When internet trolls insult her appearance or personality, they’re hurting Rich Caroline, not Caroline Ricke. But that separation means that Ricke is constantly working to keep her followers at an arm's length, which is antithetical to a culture built on being Extremely Online. “No one knows about my day to day,” she says. “But it's not even that interesting. I had to hype myself up for a reason. Now, no one wants to know about my boring life. They want to know about my fake life.’” PQ
In fact, playing a character has shielded Ricke from a lot of the downsides of being as popular as she is on the internet. “I am not anything like the character I created,” she says. “If someone criticizes me or gives me hate, it’s not even really me, so it doesn't even matter.” Rich Caroline is almost a built-in defense mechanism. “You can call me a brat, but it’s not me you’re calling a brat. It makes what I do so much easier.” When it comes to internet toxicity, Caroline also attributes her health mentality to the fact that she didn’t gain popularity until college. “I didn't start getting more followers until I was 20,” she says. “I was at a very good point in my life, where I was OK with myself. I was not afraid to put myself out there and receive criticism. I literally don't care if people call me ugly — because I don't think I am.” Again, Ricke’s persona provides her with some protection. When internet trolls insult her appearance or personality, they’re hurting Rich Caroline, not Caroline Ricke. But that separation means that Ricke is constantly working to keep her followers at an arm's length, which is antithetical to a culture built on being Extremely Online. “No one knows about my day to day,” she says. “But it's not even that interesting. I had to hype myself up for a reason. Now, no one wants to know about my boring life. They want to know about my fake life.’”
But Ricke swears her relationship to social media isn’t unhealthy.
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“You can call me a brat, but it’s not me you’re calling a brat. It makes what I do so much easier.”
Now, no one wants to know about my boring life. They want to know about my fake life.’”
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According to Ricke, she does her work, likes to exercise, and hangs out with her friends. After moving to L.A. a year ago, Ricke says her friend group is finally expanding. She has friends over for dinner and wine, and even made tacos for them every Taco Tuesday, until they got sick of the repetition. Now they experiment by cooking new foods, like Pad Thai. In her free time, she goes to jazz bars or out dancing. A vegan for seven years, she considers herself an environmentalist. She doesn’t watch a lot of TV and has “the most basic music taste ever.” Her song of choice when she’s at the gym is “Rich” by Megan Thee Stallion—of course. She mentions a creative project that has been taking up a lot of her time and her plans to take acting classes. One day, she hopes to transition her career to an even bigger screen. Ricke is also Puerto Rican, a fact that she says doesn’t get enough airtime on her social media, but is hugely important to her. Before the pandemic, Caroline would visit her family on the island every two years. As a fellow Boricua, we bonded over our mutual love for El Yunque and similar stories of family members meeting Bad Bunny before he was famous.
Ricke keeps calling herself “normal.” But what does that even mean?
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One day, she hopes to transition her career to an even bigger screen.
Yes, she’s pretty normal, in the sense that every member of her generation is constantly cultivating their online presence and blurring the lines between their internet personality and personhood. She’s indicative of just how perceptive Gen Z can be, understanding what it takes to maintain viewership and use resources to her advantage. She also exemplifies a new relationship to social media: one that isn’t necessarily detrimental to your mental health. In a world where balancing multiple versions of yourself can feel like a burden, Ricke shows us that it can be a gift. Rich Caroline has allowed the real Caroline Ricke to thrive. “I don't think anyone is their online persona,” she says. “Everyone kind of plays a character. Mine helped me grow as a person. I'm more confident and OK with saying what I think, now more than ever.” In researching Ricke for this interview, I couldn’t find 99% of this information online. This is the most we’ve ever heard from her, and I’m not sure when we’ll hear from her again. So, who is the real Caroline Ricke? The world may never really know — and that’s the point. to land the joke, Caroline will be whoever you need her to be. Interviews have been edited for clarity and length.
“Everyone kind of plays a character. Mine helped me grow as a person. I'm more confident and OK with saying what I think, now more than ever.”
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All of these details make up the real Caroline Ricke—who, despite what she says, is interesting.
Her Campus’s 2022 horoscopes, according to Astrologer Julianna Delgado, aka @theastrologess.
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DateS: March 21 to April 19 Symbol: The ram Element: Fire
In 2022, this ram will experience a very career-focused year. “Any kind of grounding work will help you slow down and be present,” Delgado says. “With Chiron still activating your core wounds, affirmations and inner child healing will also be incredibly beneficial.”
Taurus
DateS: April 20 to May 20 Symbol: The bull Element: Earth
This year, the bull needs to focus on being true to itself. “With Uranus and the North Node impacting your sign, authenticity is crucial,” Delgado says. “Release what other people think of you and step outside of your comfort zone.” As the sign that resists change the most, Taurus will need to roll with the punches in order to thrive.
DateS: May 21 to June 20 Symbol: The Twins Element: Air
If the twins want to get in touch with their truest self, spirituality will be the key. “Prayer, meditation, magic, anything you can do to connect to the Divine, will help soothe your anxiety and enable you to listen to your intuition,” Delgado says. “This year you may be asked to purge any unhealthy habits, and this in turn will help you have a more solid connection to your spirituality.”
DateS: June 22 to July 22 Symbol: The Crab Element: water
The crab should look toward April 2022 for an emotional transformation. “Saturn and Mars move through your 8th house of death and rebirth,” Delgado says. “The best way to move through any heavy emotions or trauma is through any kind of healing modality, especially therapy, as the 8th house rules the inner workings of our psyche.”
DateS: August 23 to september 22 Symbol: The virgin Element: earth
The focal point of Virgo’s next year will be their health. “Daily routines, habits, and the mind, body, soul connection is so important to contribute your energy to,” Delgado says. “The more you can work on this area, the less anxiety you will face.”
DateS: july 23 to august 22 Symbol: The lion Element: fire
In 2022, the lion will be doing a lot of work on its most intimate, committed partnerships. “Whether that's a marriage, long term partner, or business partner, you'll want to think of what's best for everyone in the grand scheme of things and really think about the future of the relationship,” Delgado says.
DateS: september 22 to october 23 Symbol: the scales Element: Air
In 2022, the scales will have to make some major decisions about home and family life. “If it comes to choosing work over family, this year, you're asked to prioritize home and family,” Delgado says.
scorpio
DateS: october 23 to november 21 Symbol: The scorpion Element: water
The scorpion will have to focus on intimate relationships, communication, and creativity in 2022. “For your new year's resolution, you may want to write a list of all your relationship values, in order to manifest healthy and interdependent partnerships,” Delgado says.
DateS: December 22 to January 19 Symbol: The Sea Goat Element: earth
In 2022, the goat will be called to focus on refining and perfecting their skills and talents. “In order to improve their relationship with the physical world, self-worth will be a big theme,” Delgado says.
DateS: January 20 To February 18 Symbol: The water-bearer Element: water
The water-bearer will be working to create a strong identity in 2022. “You'll be getting very clear on your core desires and establish a powerful sense of self and inner security,” Delgado says. “Because of this, you'll have more courage to tell someone how you feel about them instead of ghosting.”
DateS: February 19 to March 20 Symbol: The Fish Element: water
When it comes to the fish, creativity has always been the key to happiness — and will continue to be in 2022. “Writing, speaking, and any other form of creative channeling,” Delgado says. “Creative collaborations in your community are also highly favored.”
DateS: November 22 TO December 21 Symbol: The Archer Element: Fire
This year, the archer will turn every day into its own adventure. “Presence and finding magic in your mundane, day to day activities is a big theme for you in 2022,” Delgado says.
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