Mental Health Awareness Week: Leading Ladies
- Kirst
- May 22, 2018
- 5 min read
With last week being Mental Health Awareness Week, and your social media likely being filled with everyone’s own beautiful journeys they’ve endured in combatting their own mental health battles, I thought I’d join in. But instead of sharing a story of my own, I thought it better to share some of my most inspiring instagrammers and social media influencers that I believe have impacted my outlook on daily struggles, and that I find inspiring in their own ways.
Allegra Shaw // Youtuber / Instagrammer / Fashion Designer. 25. @allegrashaw.
Allegra is my ultimate girl crush in all ways. Her style is fab, her Instagram is stunning and beautifully curated, and she’s one of the most brilliantly blunt and honest Youtubers I’ve watched. And in being so honest, she’s opened up in a few videos and admitted her own struggles with anxiety and how she’s managed to gain control over its effects through meditation. Alongside that she’s one of my favourite kinds of people; she’s both up for a night out and to be in bed by 8pm, she expresses herself through fashion, promotes a healthy diet of both kale salad and McDonald burgers, she’s an amazing Girl Boss- having her label with her friend, personal brand and platform; and using it to prove that you don’t have to stick to anyone else’s ideas of you. She’s given me such a great ‘if you don’t like me, I’m okay with that’ attitude and she just oozes that self confidence. But at the same time has her awkward moments which makes her so SO easy to relate to. On top of that, she’s Canadian (which of you know me, will know my obsession with all things Canadian) I highly recommend following her, if not for all this, then for her brilliant style and movie quote captions.
Grace Beverly // Youtuber / Instagrammer / Oxford University Student. 21. @gracefituk
Okay so Grace is just a must follow generally speaking because she’s hilarious and you feel like she’s your best friend within one Uni Vlog. For me, with respect to the Mental Health aspect of this post, she’s the most wonderful example of balance. She runs a fitness instagram, is studying music at Oxford University, has her own gym accessories line, her own clothing line, what seems to look like a pretty banging social life, a model/singer boyfriend, AND travels the world regularly. Now that might seem like a ‘ugh she just has it all doesn’t she’ type of person- but no. She is insanely hard working. And is very open about the difficulties of trying to balance the social/academic/fit life expected of a student, on top of her running the businesses she does. I used to watch her vlogs on repeat during exams at uni, just because I felt like I was studying with my bezzum for ezzum while she chatted away. She’s also almost painfully hilarious (last year she fell down the stairs of a club- sober- and essentially broke her elbow- and proceeded to laugh about it). She’s recently gone vegan and, as someone who has been bombarded with every good and bad version to be a vegan since becoming one four years ago, she just represents such a healthy mindset to it. You want your dairy free pizza? Have it! You want your green smoothie with extra coconut water? Go for it! She’s open about bloating, about the realities of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle when student life is largely based on partying and eating out, and about personal body struggles. I could probably write a whole series just about why I love Grace, but that would be problematically stalkerish- so instead, just follow her and watch some of her vlogs, and you’ll see for yourself!
Flora Beverly // Instagrammer / Blogger / Fitness Gal. 23. @foodfitnessflora
Another Beverly sister! And just as fabulous. Flora is largely fitness lifestyle based on her social media and really shares some great recipes and general tips on how to train better, incorporate more fitness into your daily life, and just lead a more balanced lifestyle. But more recently she’s opened up about her own mental health struggles and to be honest, it shocked me. Hearing/reading about her struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts in her youth made me think ‘she’s got to be talking about someone else?’’ And just by watching one of her Instagram stories you’ll see why. Always starting each day with a super cheerful and grinning ‘Good Morning Guys!’, it’s almost the best story to watch as you roll over in bed because it’s so happy! And that’s the beauty of her sharing her story. She clearly suffered through serious struggles in her past, and no doubt deals with them occasionally these days too, but her cheery outlook is a constant reminder that a day is what you make of it, it gets better, and you will smile again! She praises the weather, her simple breakfast, even her full day job! Just the perfect representation of gratitude and positivity, and such an important one for those who have previously endured what she went through.
Christie Swadling // Instagrammer / Youtuber. 21. @christieswadling
Okay before I get into the beauty of this girl, inside and out, I need to share a disclaimer- this girl is weeeeeeird! But not in a ‘ok stay away’ way, more in a ‘we are officially bffs because wow’. She’s loud, she’s Australian, she puts on accents, pulls faces and is just honestly- kookoo. And that’s what makes her story truly amazing. Christie posted a picture on Instagram at the beginning of the year with two parallel images, one of her boney body in a swimsuit, and beside it; her strong, healthy, recovered self smiling in one of her amazing bikinis. Chris struggled, up until very recently, with the crippling disease of anorexia nervosa, that got so severe to the point that she was down to 30kgs and hospitalized in hope of saving her fast fading life. And this beautiful girl fought back and reclaimed her life from it, growing into a role model for so many, and a total hoot behind the camera. She’s released ebooks with her delicious vegan recipes, runs a self love program with a handful of clients to allow for her to establish and foster personal relationships with each of them and help them with their struggles. She truly such a gem of a human and her outlook on life is inspiring. Gratitude, peace, appreciation and just positivity.
And that's just a small handful of lovely ladies that I believe have inspiring outlooks and stories! I have tons more, and ones that aren't just tanned and blonde babes (totally coincidental there). I'm thinking of making a series of Leading Ladies in different interests and spheres, because I honestly follow so many incredible females that I just feel I have to share with people! But that's that for now-
Sorry for disappearing for so long, I'm in limbo about what/when I want to post, and working full time leaves me no time to create content on my days off (my admin days)!
For very regular content; follow me on instagram: @gingerdoes! I'm really loving instagram at the moment and you're definitely promised some entertaining, if not aesthetically pleasing, instagram stories!
Have a lovely day you x
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