No Filter Influencers - My Top Five
We all know influencers carry huge responsibilities on their shoulders. From the latest trends to promoting the latest products and styles, they have social responsibility with every move they make online.
More and more warning signs are beginning to show both online and in society. Stigmas behind mental illness and the negativity shown behind different body types means influencers have a major platform to help contribute towards eliminating these trends and stigmas, helping everyone realise that what they see on social media sometimes just isn’t real.
You never know the battles people go through behind closed doors. From body confidence, mental illness and motherhood to eating disorders and messiness. These influencers are my top five that keep it real and inspire me, reminding me that no one is perfect.
Number 5: Girl About Yorkshire
https://www.instagram.com/girlaboutyorkshire/
I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and working with Lyndsey Thomas. Lyndsey is a Mum of two, and founder of the Girl About Blog Squad in which I had so much fun helping launch. Lyndsey just has a way of always making me smile when I watch her stories, with rants about the kids, weather and I love the odd cooking demo!
After recently turning 40 last month, Lyndsey’s honest posts about entering a new decade were so refreshing to read.
‘A year ago today I wrote a card to myself. I told myself I would do all it takes to ensure that on my 40th birthday I would be the most fabulous version of myself. Not about how I look but about how I respect myself… being the best version of myself. Being perfectly imperfect.’ – taken from Lyndsey’s Instagram post.
All of Lyndsey’s posts also never fail to remind me how grateful I am to live in Yorkshire, with all the beautiful surroundings we are lucky to live with. I also love seeing realistic Mumsy content which I know reassures many Mums out there that no one really knows what they’re doing, do they?
Number 4: Malin Anderson
https://www.instagram.com/missmalinsara/
If you don’t follow Malin on Instagram or twitter, you should. In my opinion she is the most inspiring contestant to come out of Love Island to this date. After the absolute devastation of losing both her parents and her beautiful baby daughter Conty one month after being born, she is one of the strongest women online.
I don’t know how, but Malin has turned such tragedy into knowledge and helps her followers through baby loss, grief and domestic abuse by just being so real, so no one feels alone.
Not only this but you can see through Malin’s images, she is so passionate about realistic body image. All her posts show what Instagram never sees from most influencers. Normal body parts such as cellulite, bloated stomachs, and a bit of chunk here and there in which I can all definitely relate to myself. For the younger generation in particular I think it is so important for influencers such as Malin to keep being real and showing what people don’t normally see.
Malin also talks about her progress and feelings at her worst time with her body, back during her Love Island experience. To hear how she thought her body was ‘supposed to be’ is really hard to hear, but raising awareness is so important in the society we live in and I have total respect for Malin.
Number 3: Lucy Flight
https://www.instagram.com/lucyflight/
I have been following Lucy Flight both on Instagram and on Youtube for a long time, probably since I was around 15, so I have seen Lucy go through lots of different stages in her life. Recently, I think Lucy has started sharing a lot more in her life than what she used to.
Lucy’s more realistic and relatable body image posts have really gone into detail about her opinion on bullying, body shaming and confidence. Most recently, Lucy posted a video on her YouTube channel on her struggles with Bulimia that she currently battles with in order to answer and help anyone with the same ongoing issues.
With such an honest and open approach both on her YouTube channel and her Instaggram posts and stories, I think Lucy is amazing and inspiring for the younger generation who watch and follow her.
Number 2: Anna Saccone Joly
https://www.instagram.com/annasaccone/
I absolutey love Anna. Like Lucy, I have been watching and following Anna and her family on the Saccone-Joly’s channel for around 6 years. I have literally watched her children grow up – it’s crazy. Anna is a 32 year old Mum of four kids and 6 dogs!
After a year of breastfeeding Anna’s fourth and final baby, she opened up and talked about her struggles with coming to terms with ending an era of breastfeeding. This lead her into talking about her struggles with eating disorders, and feeling as if her body has no purpose.
Anna is extremely realistic at relatable both as a Mum and a Wife to follow and to watch. With her recent struggles about putting on weight and changing clothing size, Anna hasn’t shied away from sharing any of it and answers questions daily in order to help others.
I love seeing her children on her channel and her growing as a Mum as her children grow older and enter different stages of life. Anna has released her own brow kit with Benefit and her own jewellery line which are both amazing. She shares her work outs that she does every morning at 5am (I don’t know how she does it) and she continues to be enjoyable to follow and watch.
Number 1: Stacey Solomon
https://www.instagram.com/staceysolomon/
I firstly have to comment on how adorable baby Rex is, I literally can’t get enough of him! Stacey never fails to make me laugh on her Instagram stories. I love to see her daily routines that are so realistic and capture both the good and the disastrous moments of a day.
With their family bringing together children from different parents, Stacey shows this but also as one big family who are all equal to one another. ‘Her tap to tidy’s’ are THE most satisfying things on the whole of my Instagram feed and are giving me too many home ideas for the future!
Her realistic and relatable photos, and her before and afters show how new Mum life really is, but most people don’t get to understand and see. She tells honest stories and answers many questions every day, from parenthood to being a girlfriend and a working Mum. I love watching Stacey’s stories every single day!
Thanks for reading! Keep smiling and have a great day! Liv xxx
