Social ‘influencers’ and content creators are taking social media by storm at the moment. A lot of these people use their position to advertise a plethora of products ranging from teeth whitening kits to fast fashion labels and do little to actually make people think about our society. They remain detached from social problems, seeming to dissociate themselves from any social responsibility. One woman, however, is changing the influencer game, and I’m so happy about it. Grace Beverley, or GraceFitUK has created a million follower strong social media platform which has opened up a dialogue on issues ranging from veganism to mental health to female orgasms. She is active mostly on Instagram and YouTube, and if you haven’t checked her out already, by the time you’ve finished reading this you’ll definitely want to go and see what all the fuss is about!
Although her channel started off as a fitness account, it has morphed into so much more. Even if you’re not interested in the more intimate topics that she discusses, she worth a follow just for her attitude towards fitness. She posts videos about combatting gym anxiety (those who gym, we’ve all had it at some point!) and how to maintain a decent relationship with food even if you’re trying to lose weight. She’s not one to shy away from a bit of grilling either, questioning some other fitness influencers who she thinks portray an unhealthy relationship with the gym and fitness. Her workout videos are inclusive too, creating content that can inspire the most avid gym girl as well as those who’d prefer to work out at home or can’t afford a gym membership. It’s great to see someone who is so aware of the people that she is reaching – so many youtubers and Instagram influencers seem so far removed from everyday life, advertising £80 a pair gym leggings and £200 teeth whitening kits. She is real, and I love it!
My favourite part about her platform is the way she discusses some much tabooed topics like female sexuality and mental health. She opens up a frank conversation about these issues, bringing up her own experiences with disordered eating and PTSD to help reduce stigma around mental illness. Her girl talk videos are also great, discussing everything about sexuality. Trust me, I don’t think there’s anything this girl won’t talk about!
She has been on YouTube for a few years now, and you can watch her transition to a plant based diet and into a vegan lifestyle. As someone who is trying to consume less animal products myself, its really helpful to see someone going through the same changes as me. Its also really motivating to watch. Her attitude towards it is really refreshing too; she represents veganism in such a way that it trumps these myths of militant veganism that are so prevalent in mainstream media. She doesn’t preach about eating a plant based diet, and instead challenges people to just eat less meat and make more mindful choices when it comes to beauty and makeup products. Oh, and I almost forgot. She has just released an entirely vegan footwear collection with Koi Footwear, and better still, all shoes are £40. Not only does this provide an example of her commitment to veganism, it also showcases her awareness of her audience and their financial position. By comparison, a pair of vegan Doc. Martens are £130, so you could buy three pairs from her line and still have a tenner left over to buy something from her website!
Not only does she have a full time job as a social media influencer and business owner, she is also at Oxford University completing her degree. It baffles me as to how she manages to fit everything into her day. She’s a remarkable person who is changing the social media game one post at a time. She is genuine, level headed and so incredibly intelligent, setting a great example to the community that she has created. I can’t wait to see what more is to come for her, and I hope you’ll hit subscribe on her channel too! Check out her YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter accounts here!