Life & Work with Mo Cooper of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mo Cooper.

Hi Mo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals due to chronic illness, and throughout high school, I often missed out on experiences that my peers were having. During that time, social media became more than just entertainment—it became a way for me to connect with people, share my story, and build a sense of community even when I couldn’t always be there in person. That experience inspired me to create content that helps others feel less alone and reminds people there’s someone who understands what they’re going through.

As I continued creating, my content naturally expanded to include fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and UGC while still staying rooted in authenticity. Today, I work full-time as a Community Specialist in campus and influencer marketing while also creating content professionally. I get to combine my love for storytelling, community building, and digital marketing every day. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how something that started as a way to connect during one of the hardest seasons of my life has grown into a career where I can make an impact both online and behind the scenes.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. For years, I struggled with unexplained health issues and spent a lot of time in hospitals before finally being diagnosed with mitochondrial disease and MALS, a rare vascular compression syndrome. Living with chronic illness meant constantly navigating doctor’s appointments, treatments, and trying to find answers while feeling like my life was on hold.

At the same time, I was battling an eating disorder, which made my relationship with food even more complicated. Because of MALS, eating was physically painful, and for a long time it was difficult to separate what was caused by my medical condition from my eating disorder. Recovery required healing both physically and mentally.

One of the biggest turning points in my journey was undergoing a major open abdominal surgery to treat my rare compression syndrome. It was truly life-altering. For the first time in years, I could eat without the intense pain I had come to expect after every meal. It gave me a second chance at living a more normal life and reminded me how much I had been missing.

Those experiences changed the way I see the world. They taught me resilience, gratitude, and the importance of sharing my story openly. Today, I use my platform to advocate for chronic illness awareness, mental health, and eating disorder recovery because I know how powerful it is to feel seen. If sharing my journey helps even one person feel less alone, then everything I’ve been through has found a greater purpose.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I originally earned my degree in Psychology, where I became especially interested in the connection between mental health, physical health, and behavior. That interest led me to work post-grad at an eating disorder treatment center, where I supported individuals in recovery and gained firsthand experience with the complexities of eating disorders, chronic illness, and the emotional side of healing.

That role really shaped me—it deepened my understanding of how intertwined mental and physical health can be, and it also reinforced my passion for advocacy and support work. At the same time, I was navigating my own health journey, which made the work even more personal and meaningful.

From there, I transitioned into my current role in community and influencer marketing. While it may seem like a shift on the surface, it’s actually a continuation of the same core passion: understanding people, building connection, and creating spaces where others feel seen and supported. Now, I get to combine my background in psychology and healthcare with my skills in storytelling, social media, and community building.

What I’m most proud of is being able to take a non-linear path and turn it into a career that blends both my academic foundation and lived experience. It allows me to show up in my work with a level of empathy and authenticity that really sets me apart.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
A big part of my professional growth has come from my work at Her Campus Media, where I currently work as a Community Specialist in campus and influencer marketing. In this role, I help build and engage Gen Z communities, support influencer campaigns, and contribute to social and content strategy across different brand initiatives. It’s given me hands-on experience in understanding what resonates with young audiences, working directly with creators, and seeing how community and storytelling come together in real time within digital media.

One book that’s had a really big impact on me is The Body Keeps the Score. It gave me a deeper understanding of how trauma lives in the body and how closely connected mental and physical health truly are. Given my own experiences with chronic illness and recovery, it helped me make sense of a lot of what I’ve lived through and reinforced the importance of compassion in healing—both for myself and for others.

I also learn a lot just from watching other creators online. I’m constantly inspired by people who share their real experiences with chronic illness, mental health, lifestyle, and creativity in an honest way. It helps me stay connected to trends in content creation, but more importantly, it reminds me of the power of storytelling and community online.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgraco_?igsh=b3V6aWc4NXpzeXls&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-cooper?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgraco_?_r=1&_t=ZT-97Y3cDz93fi