About
Cherry Tung, the carefully curated force behind the high-luxury influencer brand NextStepWithCherry, presents an image of polished perfection. From her Irvine, California, base, she broadcasts a world of Hermès, Chanel, and Loro Piana, a life steeped in the codes of “quiet luxury” and the “old money aesthetic.” Yet, behind the scenes of effortless elegance lies a narrative of sharp business acumen, a strategic pivot from a demanding career in finance, and a trail of controversy that questions the very authenticity of her digital empire. Her recent expansion of family, with the birth of a third child in January 2024, adds another complex layer to a career built on aspirational, and often opaque, precision.
NextStepWithCherry: How It Started
Before she was an authority on luxury goods, Cherry Tung was navigating the world of high finance. A Chinese-American raised in Los Angeles, California, Tung armed herself with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and a Master of Science in Finance. This educational foundation led her into the demanding sectors of corporate finance and venture capital, a world where analytics and strategic growth are paramount. Her husband, a former investment banker, shared this professional background.
In 2018, Tung launched her blog, initially framing it as a chronicle of her post-partum journey and a guide to affordable luxury fashion. The content was relatable, aimed at a specific demographic of new mothers seeking style inspiration. The pivotal moment, however, arrived in 2020. After joining the growing platform TikTok, a video she created demonstrating multiple ways to style a single white t-shirt went viral. This explosion of visibility marked a definitive turning point, accelerating her transition from a niche blogger into a full-time content creator with significant reach.
NextStepWithCherry Content: Evolution and Style
The viral TikTok served as a catalyst for a profound strategic shift in Tung’s brand identity. The early “relatable mom” persona, focused on accessible style, began to dissolve. In its place emerged a highly aspirational figure, an arbiter of high-end luxury. Her content pivoted sharply toward showcasing premier designer brands, with Chanel, Hermès, and Loro Piana becoming central pillars of her aesthetic.
This evolution was not merely about price tags; it was a wholesale adoption of the “quiet luxury” and “old money aesthetic” trends. The tone of her content transformed, becoming more polished, less personal, and almost instructional in its presentation of an elite lifestyle. The narrative was no longer about a shared journey with her audience but about providing a window into a world of immense wealth and curated taste, a strong example in aspirational living.
How NextStepWithCherry Makes Money
Cherry Tung’s background in finance is evident in the well-built architecture of her business. Her primary monetization engine is the affiliate marketing platform LTK, formerly rewardStyle, where she is consistently ranked as a top earner, converting her aspirational content into significant commission-based revenue. While she maintains a YouTube presence, a deeper analysis reveals it serves a different purpose. With an engagement rate of just 3.2%, the dossier’s research suggests the channel functions less as a revenue driver and more as a “brand legitimacy play”—a polished, professional-looking platform that solidifies her status as a serious, multi-platform creator for brand partners.
The corporate structure behind the brand is even more telling. Tung operates under the name Cherry Blossom Ventures LLC. An investigation of corporate records reveals a significant red flag for analysts: the LLC is registered in Wyoming. This state is a well-known tax haven that provides enhanced anonymity and liability protection for business owners. While her public-facing address is a PO Box in Irvine, the Wyoming registration is a calculated business decision, noted by researchers as a “point of scrutiny” that speaks to a well-built strategy for maximizing financial advantages.
NextStepWithCherry's Network
Tung’s ascendance into the upper echelon of luxury influencing is cemented by her high-level brand partnerships. She has secured major collaborations with premier luxury retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Farfetch. These relationships are a direct result of her cultivated image and her demonstrated ability to drive sales among a high-net-worth demographic. Beyond formal partnerships, she maintains close ties with a circle of other high-end luxury influencers, forming a powerful, if informal, network within the industry.
NextStepWithCherry: Public Reception
For all her success, Tung’s career has been marked by significant controversy that strikes at the heart of her brand’s credibility. In 2022, the magazine “The Cut” published a tell-all interview with an anonymous former assistant that sent shockwaves through the influencer community. The assistant described Tung’s inner circle as the “Instagram mafia,” alleging a ruthlessly competitive environment obsessed with securing brand deals and carefully maintaining an illusion of effortless wealth.
The most damaging allegation was the claim that Tung purchased followers in the early stages of her career to “bootstrap her visibility” and attract the attention of brands. Tung responded swiftly and directly via an Instagram story, categorically denying the claims as “baseless attacks from a disgruntled former employee.” While the allegations remain unproven, the dossier analysis concludes they have “cast a shadow” over her brand, fueling a persistent perception of “inauthenticity” among certain segments of the audience and watchdog communities.
Philanthropy and Impact
Beyond her commercial ventures, Tung has engaged in philanthropic activities. In 2023, she organized a charity drive for Dress for Success, an organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence. The contribution was substantial: she donated over 500 “gently used” designer items, a collection that included valuable handbags, shoes, and clothing, directly from her own collection.
NextStepWithCherry Today
Today, Cherry Tung stands as a strong figure in the luxury influencer space, her brand a potent mix of high-fashion aesthetics and shrewd financial strategy. The birth of her third child in January 2024 presents a new personal and professional dynamic, as she works to integrate themes of motherhood back into the hyper-polished, aspirational world she has so carefully constructed. Her career remains a example of modern brand-building, defined equally by its commercial success and the lingering questions of authenticity that continue to follow her calculated rise.