'I get paid to visit hidden gem locations and change people's minds about the Midlands' Sarah O'Connor visits a host of hidden gems across the region Sarah O'Connor (Image: Sarah O'Connor ) Sarah O'Connor does not like the term 'influencer' - but with more than 60,000 followers on Instagram - it is safe to say that people love her content. The 33-year-old posts videos of herself visiting hidden gems across the West Midlands and is determined to showcase the region's offerings. ‌ This comes despite the common assumption from people living in other parts of the UK that the place "is a dump," Sarah said. Article continues below READ MORE: I visited hidden waterfall outside Birmingham but was issued a warning by the locals After growing up in Bearwood, she moved to Halesowen as a teen and joked: "I’m not really sure if that makes me a Brummie or a Yamyam, but I’m happy either way." She has always had an interest in filming and media and decided to channel that creativity into her social media page. ‌ Speaking about her social media journey, she told BlackCountryLive: "I studied film and documentaries at uni and have always loved content creation and vlogs so much so that I ended up working at a social media agency which is sick! Sarah O'Connor has more than 60,000 followers on Instagram (Image: Sarah O'Connor ) "Combine that with my love for the outdoors and we were onto a winner. When I started this channel, I was really searching for a purpose. ‌ "I felt like life was just passing me by. Then one day I went for a walk in Leasowes Park, filmed it, and honestly, the rest is history. "Something I never expected was finally being content spending time alone and the confidence that came with that. Before that, being alone was something I truly hated." Sarah said she is lucky not to encounter too much negativity on her social media platforms. ‌ "I’m sure I’ll face more of it one day, but for now I’m living in ignorant bliss," she said. But showcasing what the West Midlands has to offer is worth it, she added. Sarah said: "I absolutely love it. Never in my wildest dreams did I think people would resonate with me or the things I love to do. ‌ "I just enjoy exploring the region and most of the time I’m discovering these places for the first time too, so it’s cool to go on that journey with other people. Content cannot be displayed without consent "People think I know loads of spots, but honestly, most of them come from my mom or my mates' recommendations." ‌ Asked about the best places she's visited, Sarah said: "There are so many amazing places I’ve visited and so many lovely people I’ve met. "But I’d say Soul Inah Bowl in Cradley Heath, which is a Caribbean restaurant on a double-decker bus, and Tamu in Bearwood both hold a special place in my heart." Sarah continued: "The West Midlands gets such a bad rep and I didn’t even realise how bad until I moved up north for a bit. ‌ "People love to mock the accent and say this place is a dump but in reality it’s incredible. "There’s so much to do here. We’ve got a rich history, loads of creativity, you can go rage painting, we’ve got water parks, boat trips, festivals, sunflower fields, so much green space and we have orange chips. "You can’t get those anywhere else can ya, bab?" ‌ She continued: "The only way we’ll change the perception of the West Midlands is by being proud of it ourselves. "Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle are all so proud of where they’re from, but we always seem to be the butt of the joke. "We need that same community spirit. It does exist, we’ve just got to be a bit louder about it. Article continues below Sarah went on to say: "I’d never really call myself an influencer, but if anyone’s thinking of starting a channel, I’d say just go for it. "Don’t worry about what people will say, they’ll probably only see it if it’s doing well anyway. "Just be yourself, don’t try to be someone else, and talk about what you love. Your passion will shine through."