Where Are They Now? with Corryn Timmerman
Where Are They Now? with Corryn Timmerman
By: Emma Greene
From her two-bedroom apartment in Tampa, Florida Corryn Timmerman is building an empire of free-spirited, beach-loving, cowgirl-boot-wearing twentysomethings.
Since graduating from the University of Mississippi in 2022, Timmerman has taken social media by storm. With a whopping 52K followers on Instagram and over 100K on TikTok, she has mastered the art of content creation. Now, founding the brand Basic Beach Apparel, she is making her first foray into entrepreneurship.
Timmerman behind the camera at a Basic Beach shoot.
However, the titles of CEO and influencer were not always a part of Timmerman’s plan.
“I was sitting at my corporate job and realized, I don’t want to be sitting behind a desk every day,” said Timmerman. “I didn’t know how exactly I’d start a business, but I knew I could. That’s how I started influencing.”
Upon graduation, Timmerman took a job in tech sales and planned to maintain her online presence during her free time.
“I studied psychology and biology thinking I’d go the medical route,” Timmerman said. “Then I went into sales and realized I didn’t want to do that either; I wanted to do what I’m passionate about.”
In June, Timmerman made the decision to quit her 9-to-5 and pursue influencing full-time.
“Working both my full-time job and doing social media, I felt like I couldn't breathe,” Timmerman said. “I got to a point where I was not giving my job the time that I needed to, which wasn't fair to my boss or co-workers.”
After leaving the corporate world, Timmerman dove head-first into content creation.
“I film at least four TikToks/Reels per day and I’ve also been trying Lemon8,” Timmerman said. “I shoot with my close friends two times a week for Instagram.” Those close friends also happen to be Tampa-based influencers.
This schedule has also given her the time to pursue her office daydream of founding a clothing line for which “everything has fallen into place.”
Basic Beach is a line of elevated, high-quality basics “designed exclusively and ethically for every Basic Beach” in Bali, Indonesia. Timmerman’s first drop, the “Coastal Cowgirl Collection,” is available for pre-order as of today, August 7.
While designing, Timmerman took into account three main aspects: comfort, versatility, and universally flattering cuts.
Timmerman’s friends and fellow Influencers modeling the first Basic Beach collection.
“I feel like every time I buy a patterned swimsuit, I wear it once or twice and never touch it again,” said Timmerman. “But everyone has that one black bikini in their drawer that they’re constantly re-wearing. I want my pieces to be something you can go back to time and time again.”
Basic Beach’s suits will be available in solid colors and constructed in a fabric that Timmerman has personally tested for a “buttery-soft” feel and day-long comfort.
Aside from her career success, Timmerman feels she has found a social stride in her post-grad home of Tampa.
“I loved college, but I love the freedom after college,” Timmerman said. “I didn’t know anyone before moving to Tampa, but I’ve met so many new friends here, most of them through influencing, and I’d consider them my closest friends.”
Although finding new friendships as an adult is often challenging, Timmerman encourages recent and upcoming college graduates to utilize social media in their search for a new circle.
“If you see girls in your city who look normal, reach out to them,” she said. “I’m sure they’ll want to hang out with you… If you stay in your apartment, you’re not going to meet anybody.”
Timmerman says she plans to continue down the path of influencing “as long as [she] love[s] doing it.” She also has plans to expand Basic Beach into the realms of activewear and eventually casual and professional attire as well.
As her career paths continue to progress and diverge, Timmerman urges fellow post-grads to embrace the fact that “every job is a stepping stone to the next one.”
After all, it was her corporate job that offered her the freedom to move to Tampa, where she expanded her social media presence. It was this expansion that ultimately inspired her to found her own clothing brand where she could work on the other side of influencer marketing.
“Business doesn’t grow overnight,” Timmerman said. “I know it takes years of persistence, but I’m excited for that. I just have to do one thing at a time.”
For more fashion content and glimpses into the lives of University of Mississippi alumni, continue reading Square Magazine. Follow us on Instagram for updates and exclusive content.
Follow Timmerman on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with her life in Tampa and beyond. Click here to be one of the first shop Basic Beach. Keep up with the brand on Instagram and TikTok to know when Timmerman’s next collection becomes available.
Photos courtesy of Corryn Timmerman.