IN CONVERSATION WITH MACY ELENI
- Annie Hobson
- Mar 28, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 28, 2018
Blogger and YouTuber discusses her journey with an eating disorder, comparing yourself to others on social media and bringing positive change to a saturated blogging community.
"Sometimes you have to make people feel uncomfortable to make change happen and for people to open up dialogues about things such as eating disorders and body confidence," Macy Eleni says, and that's exactly what she does. Starting her blog in 2010, Macy never dreamt about sharing her journey with mental health. Skip to eight years later, Macy openly discusses living her life with an eating disorder. Empathetically, Macy uses her platform to raise awareness of the issue and provide support for those battling the illness.
"I like to be there for people whilst also being able to make them smile."
Before starting her blog Macy said she would use YouTube as a means of escapism: "I would watch it for comfort, there was a time in my life where I was really depressed and I felt like no one understood me. YouTube was that community that I could connect with people all over the world that share my taste, that's what I love about YouTube. " As time progressed, Macy began creating her own video content that she posted on her channel.
YouTube hasn't always been the platform that we recognise today. Until 2010, 'vlogging' wasn't an established, defined word and making a career from the platform was unforeseeable. Macy was one that caught onto the sensation when it was first introduced. "I feel like those that got into watching YouTube and creating content so early on have a connection to it because at the time, people weren't making money off their videos, people didn't even know you could, YouTube was not a career.'"
In contrast, YouTube is now a well-established social media site that has curated many successful vloggers, influencers and entrepreneurs. Although, Macy pointed out a concern that many content creators relate to: "Some people aren't as authentic and real and are only doing it for the money, despite this, you can't concentrate too much on what others are doing, you'll lose yourself."
Macy realised she wasn't alone in her experience and her journey with an eating disorder. "I've been through some hard things in life that I know others can relate to," she says. "The difference is, when I was going through my eating disorder, no one was talking about it on the internet."
Macy's approach to vlogging allows her to differentiate herself within the blogging community. Eating disorders and mental health are difficult topics to talk about due to the severity of the issue. Macy plays to her vulnerability and shares a lot about her hard and dark experience but adds positive light by adding a comedic twist - "I like to laugh and I like to entertain people" - as well as promoting her road to recovery. "The content that I’m bringing is more about my words versus the pictures on my Instagram, I want to bring people value.”
"It is known that the fashion industry can push people towards eating disorders due to its nature being solely based on one's look, it's sometimes an unsaid thing that people often overlook."
"I wanted my platform to be a place for people like me that love fashion, who are still trying to push through the industry, that they can recover from their eating disorder and it's OK to talk about it," she says. "It's not embarrassing, it's real life. I felt like if I was confident and comfortable talking about it on camera and sharing it with people then it’s my duty to do so because otherwise I don’t know who will. "
Macy enthusiastically expresses her love for the typical everyday routine of a blogger: filming; editing and uploading, planning and sharing. The most difficult thing about blogging? "Comparison kills," Macy says.
"Every time I dive into a hole of comparing myself to other people is when I don’t grow and when my engagement is lower. Every time you compare yourself, you lose little bits of yourself because you’re telling yourself you’re doing something wrong. You begin to chip away at yourself and then you make yourself less authentic, less you."
It's not unusual to flick through your social media to see 'the coolest pair of boots' or 'the best face cream ever,' is it time to look beyond that? Macy thinks so: "I think the industry is getting too saturated, we're past the pretty pictures, people want to know your story and what you stand for. I want it to be less about the stuff and more about the person."
As well as spreading positivity and awareness on her social media channels, Macy expresses a goal for 2018 is to begin public speaking. "This year I'm not even going to say 'I hope' anymore because this year will be my year of growth and connection. I want to achieve bigger and better things and I want to share that with as many people as possible."
People often think those with an eating disorder or struggle with mental health are defined by it, although, Macy continues to rail against these societal beliefs and positively influences the blogging community with her honest and compassionate approach to life.
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