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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCT chapter.

Social media has exploded. With over 320 million internet users, 1.3 billion YouTube watchers and 1 billion Instagram users, everyone is online and uploading now, more than ever. We are spending more time online – either doing work or pleasurable things. We need to ensure that we are aware of who we are following and what information we are absorbing. In light of this, I have made a list of YouTube and Instagram accounts that I believe are worth following. 

YouTube: Tatiana Ringsby 

Tatiana is not your ordinary a model and influencer. She uses her YouTube platform to address body positivity, self-love, mental health, mindfulness and meditation. She focuses on the environment, how to become an eco-conscious consumer and the problem surrounding fast fashion in modeling industry. She speaks about her growth as a model – aspiration changes from Victoria Secret model to an in-between size model. Her life as a Hawaiian has made her a nature and outdoor physical activity lover. 

 

I feel Tatiana breaks the mold of your “ordinary” influencer by encouraging peace and a call to return to nature. She is joy to watch and her calm demeanor leaves you feeling at ease and ready to self-reflect. 

YouTube: Luna Montana 

Luna is a professional ballerina. Her YouTube channel allows her to speak from her experience with body dysmorphia, mental health and spirituality.  She is expressive about the importance of suicide awareness and how to accept body changes as a ballerina/professional dancer. My favourite part of her channel is her constant reminder of period positivity. Living in Los Angles, USA, has also lead her to advise others on not getting caught up in a fast paced environment driven by popularity, money and social media. 

 

I feel that Luna brings a real and behind-the-scene view of life as a professional dancer. Her channel is a space to learn and listen to an experience that is too often hidden. 

YouTube: The Real 

The Real Daily Show features a diverse group of womxn who come together, each day, to discuss fun, current and controversial topics. It is can be inaccurate, at times, and come from a place of priviledge, but what I do enjoy is their want to learn. They are not afraid to admit their errors, their priviledge nor open up about struggles that they have experienced or witnessed. I love how raw these womxn can be and it feels great to have them approaching topics that so many are afraid to do, such as fears around finding out their DNA and being perpetrators of colourism. 

The most useful part of this channel is the variety. You can choose to have a lighthearted video, an emotive one or watch something thought/discussion-provoking.

YouTube: Jubilee

Jubilee is a discussion-based channel that deals with topics ranging from modern gangsterism, colourism and the reasoning behind the ordinary person’s political views. This channel is especially educational as it constantly is including people of all ages, education, career paths, abilities, sexuality and class etc. It is executed in a fun, engaging and emotional way. 

 

I feel that channel is a special space that has a lot of planning and research before a video is published. It is so informative, yet doesn’t make you feel like you are in a lecture or Ted Talk. My favourite part about this channel is how it is wide reaching and truly addresses concepts that everyday people face. 

YouTube: Naakie Nartey

I am including Naakie in this list because her journey is so stunning to watch, specifically her skin and hair journey. I think YouTube can also always do with more type 4C hair influencers who are dark skin and suffer from acne and scaring – because this is what is needed on the YouTube platform. 

 

Naakie’s hair and skin journey is encouraging and uplifting. Normalizing acne and scarring is so important and having pride in your skin and hair, is what makes Naakie such a delight to watch. 

YouTube: Michelle Khare

Michelle Khare is a lighthearted channel that explores the fitness and physical toll it takes on your body to be in a specific industry. She does this through training programmes with police academy, ice skaters, beauty pageant competitors and so much more. Michelle chooses to do this to challenge stereotypes forced upon that group of people and show viewer that everyone has a story, talents and challenges. 

Instagram: Erika Hart

I have followed Erika Hart for almost 4 years now. I stumbled across the page while looking up how to do a breast examination. Erika’s confrontatial and proud stance took me by surprise. I have been inspired ever since. Erika is a sex-positive educator, race/gender and social justice distruptor, writer, breast cancer survivor and model. She has become a place of constant learning for me. Her posts vary from daily racial experiences, to rants about the social system or current happenings. 

If you want to be woken up, shaken up and are ready to learn – Erika Hart is the place to learn the hard truth. 

Instagram: The Nap Ministry 

I have had my fair share of overworked moments. Grind culture is promoted throughout social media posts, and I found that it was exhausting to constantly see on my feed. The Nap Ministry is a page that is reminding us to sleep, rest, nap, reflect and pray. It is a beautiful page filled with peaceful quotes, stories and expressive followers. If I ever feel guilty about taking a nap, I scroll through their page or comments to remind myself that it is OKAY. 

The Nap Ministry leaves you feeling peaceful and empowered to take a nap.

Instagram: Alok

This page’s true value lies in the caption of each picture. I wish I could express how much we can all learn from reading POC history and the gender fluid individuals who also “don’t fit” into the LGBTI+ community. 

Read read read read. 

Instagram: Fembot

Similar to our space here at Her Campus, Fembot is a space that allows writers, photographers, videographers etc. to partake in a pro-womxn community. They discuss current affairs and write about feminism and the challenges thereof. Their page allows for active discussion in the comment section, which is always a great space to learn and engage. 

My favourite part about Fembot is seeing a space just like Her Campus push boundaries and explore topics that we, as a community, are interested in too. 

Instagram: Mary Ellen 

Diabetes is a worldwide disease. Worldwide statistics are not updated, but it is predicted that people who have diabetes and people who are undiagnosed with diabetes sum up to nearly 8.4 billion people in total. 

Mary Ellen is a mother who has a child with type 1 diabetes. This page is lovely space about food neutrality, understanding the nutrional value of food and how to approach food in a fun and healthy way. I specifially enjoy reading about her and her daughter’s experiences, and using the recipes when I make lunch for varsity. 

Instagram: Constaza Concha

Through social media, I have noticed a climb in acne-postive pages. The only problem I see in these popular pages, is that majority are lead by white femmes. Constaza is an Indian person suffering from severe acne and uses Instagram as a reminder to her followers that skin can be textured, pigmented, have good and bad days, be hairy and be unrelated to the food consumed. I love her page because she is real, raw and is honest about her medications, makeup and struggles with scarring as a person of colour. 

These are my suggestions to help you curate your feed and make it more informative and empowering. I hope you use some and find more like these in the process.

Jess is an aspiring Chartered Accountant studying her final year at UCT. She is passionate about about education and aims to promote a holistic and healthy lifestyle. Her interests include circuit exercise training, makeup, feminism, tutoring and educating/empowering womxn. Read her blog for more: https://justjessjournals.blogspot.com
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