A religious sister has been labelled a "nunfluencer" on TikTok after gaining over 136,000 followers by giving an inside look at life within a convent.

Sister Monica, 55, from New Jersey, set up her account in June and says she has been inundated with support ever since.

Her social media fame has allowed her to join the TikTok creator fund to make money from her videos and all sorts of parcels have been arriving at the convent for the nuns to try out.

“I was actually joking around in the video when I was speculating as to what products we would promote since we don't wear makeup and we don't wear any fashion items,” Sister Monica said.

“I thought what in the world would we want to influence people to buy?”

“I didn't think anyone would take it seriously, but when I mentioned that we knit hats and scarves and blankets for the homeless, people sent us a ton of yarn! That was so nice!

“Even Lion Brand Yarn sent us a huge box. Now we have enough to knit a tremendous amount of items to help people who are experiencing homelessness.

“Generous people from TikTok also mailed us Salon Pas patches and Dr. Scholl's shoe pads.

"The Dr. Scholl's company sent us a huge box of products. We can share those products with homeless agencies now.

“People have also sent donations and the Jones Organic Tea company sent us some heavenly teas.

"Salon Pas are very inexpensive analgesic patches you can buy at the drugstore. They are really helpful for back pain or any kind of pain. I have psoriatic arthritis in my spine so I am in constant pain.

"The patches help a lot. Many of our Sisters have back pain, and we're always trying various things to help us get through the day.”

She plans to give any money from her online content to ministries within the community as well as an orphanage in Cameroon.

Since monetising her account two months ago, she has made around $12 (£9) but hopes to continue using her account to raise more.

All of the sisters within the convent have taken a vow of holy poverty so anything Sister Monica makes online with be shared out between them or donated to others.

She said: “None of the Sisters have our own money. We do not have individual bank accounts.

“Our needs are taken care of by a central convent fund that is made up of donations from individuals. We do not receive funds from the church - only from individuals. Sometimes we get grants for building repairs and other things.

“We also share everything in common. Any item we have belongs to all of us - not to any one Sister.

“We try to live as simply as we can, with only our basic needs taken care of and nothing superfluous. We try to leave a smaller footprint in the world and take good care of everything we have so it will last as long as possible. Some Sisters are wearing habits they've had for 30-40 years.

“Holy poverty is very much in keeping with the simplicity movement in modern society.”

Sister Monica has cornered a niche market with even those who are less religious supporting her online.

She said: “The people I've met on TikTok are so kind and supportive. Most of them are not religious at all, but they are curious about religious life and ask all kinds of questions.

"They encourage me by saying my posts are meditative and calming in a world that is loud and chaotic. I've found that the community gathered on TikTok is the most supportive and affirming that I have found on any social media platform.

“These people are not wealthy, but they have donated small sums to our ministries and have sent us items to help out. That really touches my heart.

“They are sharing out of the little that they have, in order to help us minister to vulnerable people. Even though these generous people say they're not religious, their actions are what I would call true religion. Loving kindness is the real religion.”

Despite the success Sister Monica is having online, some of the other sisters in the convent are sceptical of publicising religious life.

She added: “Many of them are suspicious of social media because of the obvious pitfalls that can happen, so most Sisters avoid all the social apps.

"They don't quite understand what TikTok is, but they have been very tolerant of me making videos even though it makes them nervous. I try to reassure them that my goal is to simply tell the world about the many gifts of monasticism.

“Until now, the religious life has been "the hidden life." Publicity was not allowed. It was always considered too risky to put ourselves out there because our life is counter-cultural and people who don't understand it might attack it or ridicule it.

"In the last ten years, though, religious communities have tentatively started going on social media to spread the message about our life. It's a great way to reach people who might not ever know anything about what we do.”

A religious sister has been labelled a "nunfluencer" on TikTok after gaining over 136,000 followers by giving an inside look at life within a convent.

Sister Monica, 55, from New Jersey, set up her account in June and says she has been inundated with support ever since.

Her social media fame has allowed her to join the TikTok creator fund to make money from her videos and all sorts of parcels have been arriving at the convent for the nuns to try out.

“I was actually joking around in the video when I was speculating as to what products we would promote since we don't wear makeup and we don't wear any fashion items,” Sister Monica said.

“I thought what in the world would we want to influence people to buy?”

“I didn't think anyone would take it seriously, but when I mentioned that we knit hats and scarves and blankets for the homeless, people sent us a ton of yarn! That was so nice!

“Even Lion Brand Yarn sent us a huge box. Now we have enough to knit a tremendous amount of items to help people who are experiencing homelessness.

“Generous people from TikTok also mailed us Salon Pas patches and Dr. Scholl's shoe pads.

"The Dr. Scholl's company sent us a huge box of products. We can share those products with homeless agencies now.

“People have also sent donations and the Jones Organic Tea company sent us some heavenly teas.

"Salon Pas are very inexpensive analgesic patches you can buy at the drugstore. They are really helpful for back pain or any kind of pain. I have psoriatic arthritis in my spine so I am in constant pain.

"The patches help a lot. Many of our Sisters have back pain, and we're always trying various things to help us get through the day.”

She plans to give any money from her online content to ministries within the community as well as an orphanage in Cameroon.

Since monetising her account two months ago, she has made around $12 (£9) but hopes to continue using her account to raise more.

All of the sisters within the convent have taken a vow of holy poverty so anything Sister Monica makes online with be shared out between them or donated to others.

She said: “None of the Sisters have our own money. We do not have individual bank accounts.

“Our needs are taken care of by a central convent fund that is made up of donations from individuals. We do not receive funds from the church - only from individuals. Sometimes we get grants for building repairs and other things.

“We also share everything in common. Any item we have belongs to all of us - not to any one Sister.

“We try to live as simply as we can, with only our basic needs taken care of and nothing superfluous. We try to leave a smaller footprint in the world and take good care of everything we have so it will last as long as possible. Some Sisters are wearing habits they've had for 30-40 years.

“Holy poverty is very much in keeping with the simplicity movement in modern society.”

Sister Monica has cornered a niche market with even those who are less religious supporting her online.

She said: “The people I've met on TikTok are so kind and supportive. Most of them are not religious at all, but they are curious about religious life and ask all kinds of questions.

"They encourage me by saying my posts are meditative and calming in a world that is loud and chaotic. I've found that the community gathered on TikTok is the most supportive and affirming that I have found on any social media platform.

“These people are not wealthy, but they have donated small sums to our ministries and have sent us items to help out. That really touches my heart.

“They are sharing out of the little that they have, in order to help us minister to vulnerable people. Even though these generous people say they're not religious, their actions are what I would call true religion. Loving kindness is the real religion.”

Despite the success Sister Monica is having online, some of the other sisters in the convent are sceptical of publicising religious life.

She added: “Many of them are suspicious of social media because of the obvious pitfalls that can happen, so most Sisters avoid all the social apps.

"They don't quite understand what TikTok is, but they have been very tolerant of me making videos even though it makes them nervous. I try to reassure them that my goal is to simply tell the world about the many gifts of monasticism.

“Until now, the religious life has been "the hidden life." Publicity was not allowed. It was always considered too risky to put ourselves out there because our life is counter-cultural and people who don't understand it might attack it or ridicule it.

"In the last ten years, though, religious communities have tentatively started going on social media to spread the message about our life. It's a great way to reach people who might not ever know anything about what we do.”

Fans in the comments are banding together in support of Sister Monica and her "nunfluencer" endeavours.

One person commented: “The first time I wouldn’t mind watching a creator do an advert.”

“We’ve needed a nunfluencer for a long time. Welcome,” another user said.

Someone else commented: “Can’t wait to see what anyone sends you!”

I’m already extremely influenced by yarn and salon pas. They need to cut y’all a deal,” said another fan.

Another person suggested: “What about stuff for your knees? As a Christian speaking we kneel to pray a lot. And when I keep my knees bent for a long time they start to hurt."

“I hope you get a lot of good products to try,” added one person.