Influencer Jess Judith Is Looking for Her Next Adventure in Miami

If you've made the trip between the 407 and the 305, you know that, although they're less than four hours apart, there’s a world of difference between Orlando and Miami. No one knows just how stark those differences are better than social media star Jess Judith, who recently packed her bags and made the permanent move from Central to South Florida.

New Times met with Judith at Midtown's HGAB Studios as she prepped with her glam team for a photoshoot commemorating this fresh new phase in her career.

"I used to hate Miami, honestly, years ago," Judith says openly. "But now I feel like I found the perfect group of friends, and it’s actually so fun. There’s so much stuff to do here."

Judith might have already graced your algorithm, especially if you follow Latin music. An avid fan of artists like Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Rauw Alejandro, she’s amassed content collaborations and appearances with many of the genre's top players since her breakout moment in 2020. Her eager fans live vicariously through her as she interacts with their favorites at the Grammys and Latin Billboard Awards. In one viral clip, she shows off her salsa skills for the camera. Her dance partner? None other than Benito himself.

@jess.judith bailando salsita por PR @Bad Bunny ♬ sonido original - Zhy

Judith, 23, was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. at 15. She posts in both English and Spanish, broadening her appeal to her more than 5 million followers to date.

"It’s insane, I don’t think I even process what I’ve done or that any of this has happened," Judith says of her success. "I’m going with the flow, and things are happening. But it feels so cool, and I’m so grateful that I have this career."

Miami is a boomtown for creators like Judith. Since moving here, she's befriended new besties Fernanda Gimenez, an Uruguayan creator known for her TikTok dance moves, and Santina Rizzi, the former assistant to Dr. Miami. Judith tells us she’s neighbors with Gimenez, and they often help each other with small errands.

But moving from Orlando, where she spent most of her adolescence and young adult life, is not without its downsides.

"I’m going to miss my family the most, especially my brother," she says. "That was the hardest part for me — not having him right next to me every single day. But in a way, I feel like I see him a lot more, too. Almost every hour, we’re on FaceTime."

She's made the move, but Judith isn't entirely sure what's next for her. That's precisely the point, she says.

"I feel like there are so many opportunities in Miami and there’s so much to do, so many people to meet, and so much networking," she says. "I don’t know where I’m going next in my career, but whatever happens, happens."