Even if social networks often promise perfection, especially with regard to physical appearance, the influencers met by The newspaper maintain that performing daily on the internet has rather led them to accept themselves as they are.
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“What you see is what you get», starts Frédérike Lachance-Brulotte, founder of the Folks and Forks blog with an assumed tone, welcoming us to her home, on the South Shore of Quebec.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Dressed casually, having just finished a workout, she doesn’t feel the need to wear makeup or change for the photo shoot. “I’m very natural, I’m often even seen in pajamas!” she laughs, saying she feels “no pressure” about her appearance on social media.
The 31-year-old single mother, who specializes in creating “accessible and gourmet” recipes, also reveals that she underwent bariatric surgery in 2020, due to being significantly overweight.
“It wasn’t the physical pressure, it was really a health issue. The only fear I had was receiving comments, since my food is very comforting, French-style, with butter and cream. But, I did not receive any”, reassures the one who says today to eat “what she wants”, but in smaller quantities.
No importance to comments
Other content creators say they don’t care about online comments about their physical appearance.
“I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t care about comments about me. No matter what anyone would like to say about me, I’ve already seen it 15 times,” says Pierre-Luc Cloutier, better known as PL Cloutier.
Photo QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
“There is always pressure that is expressed by people, but I choose not to receive it. I don’t mind filming myself uncombed, without makeup, even if I’m missing a tooth, because I’ve already lost my crown, yes, that happened to me! adds for her part, Eve Martel.
self acceptance
For others, it is social networks that have allowed them to better accept themselves. This is the case, among others, of Claudie Mercier, who admits having “walked” in this direction since her beginnings on the web.
“Of course sometimes I compare myself, but I talk to myself. I realized that in the end we don’t care. I’m fine with my body and I continue to advocate self-acceptance,” says the 27-year-old.
The founder of the blog The perfect scathing mom agrees. “In the early years, I felt a lot of pressure regarding my appearance, but today it’s not something I feel anymore,” says 39-year-old Maude Michaud.
Train to promote health
Photo Martin Alarie
For his part, Jérémie Latreille, alias Le Fit Cook, maintains that he must continue to train, to be consistent with what he advocates, namely healthy cooking. “My work may bring me a certain pressure because in my name there is the word fit. If I become out of shapeit won’t work anymore, I won’t sell sauces or books anymore, but at the same time, I’m a fitness enthusiast, so it’s not a chore,” he says.