Nottingham-Born Influencer Lauren Black Lifts the Lid on Social Media’s Impact on Body Image and Mental Health

One of the newest developments in the fashion industry is the growth of social media influencing, with more and more young models using their own platforms to showcase the latest styles and trends. Yet while this has many benefits, and has led to successful careers for many, it has also posed a number of challenges - from struggles with self-esteem to body image issues. Nottingham-born Lauren Black lifts the lid on these challenges, as well as her work in helping to make Instagram a better, more uplifting place... 

Fashion is obviously an industry that is largely based on looks and appearance. What kind of pressures does that put on you as an individual, if any? 
I’ve felt a lot of pressure through social media and my work. With my job, I have to look at myself all the time. The average person might not look at themselves that much, but for content creators and influencers, especially if you do all of your own editing and so on, you look at yourself quite a lot - and with that, I think it’s common to pick out things that you don’t like about yourself, and that's what I fell into the habit of doing.

Obviously social media is highly edited too. There’s definitely a lot of pressure from seeing filters all the time and not knowing whether people are editing their bodies or not. I used to think that I had to look a certain way to be successful in my job. I don't think that now.

You use your social media for a number of positive reasons, one of which is speaking openly about your experience with eating disorders to help others who might be struggling. Is this quite a prominent issue within the fashion and influencer industry, and is there sufficient support for those living with disorders?
I think it is quite prevalent in both the modelling and influencer industry, and there definitely isn’t enough support. For example, when I went to get help I was put on the waiting list for six months, and then by the time I’d got my appointment I was told I could no longer have therapy because I’d regained weight myself. But it’s a mental illness, and I was still struggling mentally at that point. I was very privileged to have been able to afford the therapy that I ended up having, but I know that’s not going to be the case for everyone - if I relied on my family to pay for support I wouldn't have been able to have it, as they simply wouldn't have been able to afford it. I think eating disorders are still very misunderstood overall, so I’m trying to help spread awareness however I can. 

You’ve featured in The Instagram Effect on BBC Three, which dives into the impact that social media can have on our body image and mental health. Why was that an important project for you to get involved in, and how have you found the response so far? 
It was important to share my story to a wider audience because I knew there would be hundreds and thousands of women who related to it, and maybe it was something they’d never spoken about before. The response to that has been amazing. I’ve had hundreds of DMs from women of all ages, from teenagers to women in their forties and fifties, talking about how they struggle with body confidence. It’s been insane.

What would your message be to people experiencing body image challenges themselves? 
Have boundaries with social media. You can see things on social media that trigger illnesses like eating disorders, and there can be something inside of you that almost likes it, that pushes you to go and look at more triggering posts. So I’d say to follow people who post uplifting messages and follow people of all sizes. It’s really hard for me to advise any more than that, though, because these issues are so complex, I could write a book. They certainly require professional help, so do reach out if you need support. 

What is it that drew you to your career path, and what inspires you to keep working in the field? 
I originally started when I was studying Fashion, Communications and Styling, and I did it because I loved fashion and showcasing outfits. Now, I’d say what keeps me going is knowing that I am having a positive impact on people’s lives. I know that I can say something on my Instagram and someone vulnerable could see that, and it could have changed some aspects of their day in a beneficial way. 

Is there a close-knit community within this industry, or can it be quite competitive? 
In any industry like this, there is always going to be a competitive streak to it. I can be competitive myself - I’ll go on Instagram and see other people getting work and think, ‘I wonder why I didn’t get this job.’ But you can’t live your life like that, comparing yourself to others. I know that whatever is meant to be will be for me, and that's always what I keep hold of if I feel downhearted. 

Generally, it is a nice community, though. I had loads of supportive messages from people within this industry after I went on The Instagram Effect, which is really great - and we all kind of get each other because we have an understanding of what it's like having our job.

You’ve now set up Love Glow Heal, a page on Instagram dedicated to “empowering people’s relationships with their minds and bodies”, as the next step in your journey. Tell us a little bit about that. 
Love Glow Heal is going to be a community-based brand. I can’t talk too much about it because it’s in its early stages, and I haven’t really spoken about it much on my own social media. But I am going to make it a helpful platform for people. It’s going to be my main focus going forward - it certainly won't be a small project!

@imlaurenblack
@loveglowheal