Basing Our Self-Worth On Instagram Accounts Like Arielle Charnas’s Is Destroying Our Mental Health.

While I have the utmost respect when someone creates their own stardom and successes, I can’t help but cringe when it can so negatively impact thousands and thousands of people. 

1.1 million followers are lured to Arielle Charnas’s Instagram account. There is no question that her style blog, Something Navy, offers helpful information, direction, and advice when it comes to clothing and fashion. But, in a time where young girls are struggling emotionally and physically by constantly comparing themselves to others on social media, Charnas does no favors.

In our world of social media, we validate our worth based on how many people follow us, “like” our posts, and even “share” them. When we see someone who has reached 1.1 million followers on Instagram, we automatically rate them as successful, popular, and influential. We strive to be like them, in some way and some how. And, when we compare ourselves to them based on their looks, style, and numbers associated with their accounts, we naturally feel like failures. 

But what about when someone like Arielle Chanas shares an endless amount of photos of herself in swimsuits? I could appreciate her modeling a variety of different looks fully clothed, but what message is she sending with her almost naked pictures? Is this what we need to look like to be a successful fashion blogger? Or to have a major presence and following on social media? Or to constantly receive comments about how beautiful and hot we are?

If that’s the case, I and many others fail before even beginning. Her body, especially after giving birth two times, is an unrealistic representation of how most women appear (especially after two pregnancies!), and gives so many women reasons to berate themselves. 

I know your eyes go directly to her thigh gap… mine do. I know your eyes then go straight to her lengthy, bony limbs, and you wonder why your legs can’t be that long and slender. And, finally, your eyes admire her tanned, radiant skin, while you silently blast yourself for becoming so pale and unattractive.  

Arielle Charnas is one hell of a social media influencer. While I realize she may have good intentions, I wish she would use her dominance to acknowledge her exceptionally slender figure in a way that encourages body positivity— building women up rather than knocking them down.