2020 is already a year for the history books, and we are only 6 months in. There are a lot of things happening around us right now, and whilst it might seem very doom and gloom, I think many of us can already see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This year is going to be a year of big changes. Millions of us have already seen our lives turned upside down because of the pandemic, and now we have more change on the way due to the massive surge in support for the Black Lives Matter movement. But these events have accidentally caused a mini-revolution within the online world, I believe they've triggered the demise of the influencer.
Definition of an influencer
Influencers will always be around, the very definition of an influencer is ''a person or thing that influences another'' so for that reason we will always have an influencer of some sort. However, the influencer as we know them are running the risk of extinction, and I'm not mad about it.
Instagram is full of the typical influencer, you know the 'do it for the gram' crowd, and if I'm honest I've fallen into this category myself one too many times. We've all taken a photo, or shared some content purely because we knew it would get likes. I mean I still do it, I'll spend hours getting ready just to take a couple of cute shots and whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, I think the world is starting to getting bored of it. My generation, in particular, is getting tired of empty Instagram posts and a lot of us have already abandoned celebrity culture for this exact reason.
Stephanie Yeboah
I've followed bloggers and influencers for years on many different platforms, and whilst my favourites have changed over time, there are certain people I have always kept around. I didn't realise the reason for this until last week when it hit me that some of the 'influencers' I've followed the longest are the ones with a voice. People such as Stephanie Yeboah, Grace Victory, Leanne Woodful, they've all spoke up on important issues, and I've always admired them for that, whether I realised it or not.
This certain type of influencer offers the world so much more than a pretty face. They share important information and opinions, they unapologetically advocate for change, and they give us hope of a better world. As much as these women can influence others to purchase the latest skincare products, they also have the power to inspire a revolution, and that is what I believe my generation is now looking for.
So how are current events causing the demise of the current top influencers? I think it's been very clear over the last couple of weeks just how fragile this industry is, and how shallow some of the most popular influencers are. With the murder of George Floyd and the disgust that followed both on and offline, it was obvious that many of us looked to our favourite influencers to speak up. And many of them did. Our feeds were filled with information and acts of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, but disappointingly many influencers chose to stay silent.
Grace Victory
Influencers with huge followings seemed to ignore the disgusting acts of police brutality and everyday racism that was being shown on all platforms, and this simply wasn't good enough. Staying silent when the most important civil rights movement of our generation is battling on around us is not good enough. If you're not using your voice for good, what are you using it for?
I think maybe some influencers, especially those with a smaller following may have felt they didn't have anything of value to add to the conversation, especially after the controversy around the black square on Instagram. But I also think more and more of us are waking up to the fact that with a following of any kind comes responsibility, and it is our job to at the very least amplify voices of change, which in this case was the Black community.
Leanne Woodfull
"Influencers" won't be going anywhere just yet, but influencers, as we know them, will soon find themselves dying out if they don't shape up and find a voice. People are tired of nothing but empty Instagram posts and they are tired of influencers, especially those with a large following, staying silent on important issues. In the coming weeks and months, we are going to see a surge of people looking for leaders and I'm not sorry to say if that if you're not with the movement publically, your silence suggests you're against it.
The way is currently being paved for influencers who have the power to change things for the better, and that is something I can get behind.
While you're here, have you had a chance to donate to the Black Minds Matter fund? The fund aims to provide mental health services for Black people in need. If you would like to make a donation you can do so on the Black Minds Matter Go Fund Me page.
Thanks for reading!
x
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Hi, my name is Grace and I am addicted to free walking tours. The obsession started back in 2017 whilst I was visiting the beautiful city of Zurich. Poor as fuck and short of affordable things to do, I hopped on a free walking tour and I've been hooked ever since.
But this isn't an addiction I'm looking to beat, oh no, if anything I'm looking to take more tours, and here are 8 reasons why I think you should take a free walking tour next time you visit a new city!
1. First up, the obvious reason, they're free! Free walking tours are a super cheap way to see a new city. Whilst these tours don't technically cost a penny, it's good etiquette to tip your guide once the walk is over. You're under no obligation to tip at the end, however the tours are usually really great quality as the guides rely on tips for their income so it's likely that you will want to leave them a little something once the tour is complete.
2. Sometimes tour guides will offer you discounts on future paid tours simply for showing up to the free tour. This won't always be the case but if you are thinking of paying for a tour it might be worth jumping on a free one first to see if you like the way they are run.
3. Another bonus of taking a walking tour is that often the tour guide will hand out free city maps and other free resources to anyone taking part. Whilst the majority of us will use Google maps to find our way around a new city, if you're in a country where you can't use your internet data, a map could come in pretty handy!
View from the Top of St Mary's Basilica in Krakow
4. If you have just landed in a brand new city, a free walking tour is a fantastic way to see the guts of the city and help you decide what to revisit later for a better look. Whenever I take a walking tour I always see things I didn't know about before, and they help me plan what else I want to do on my trips.
5. Only have a short amount of time to see the city? Free walking tours are the perfect way to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Most walking tours will last between 1-2 hours and cram a hell of a lot into that time which makes them perfect for short breaks!
6. Landing in a brand new city for the first time can sometimes be a little daunting, especially if you're not a naturally gifted navigator. Walking tours always help me to get my bearings in a new place, and I usually feel a lot more confident finding my way around once the tour is over.
View from St Mary's Basilica looking out towards Wawal Castle
7. One of my favourite things about free walking tours is the people you meet when you join them. You're almost guaranteed to make new friends from all over the world when you go on a tour, and there's nothing stopping you from going for a drink (or seven) afterwards.
8. Whilst the tour guides are good at covering everything on their set tours, they are also the best people to ask for recommendations. The best bar, the best restaurant, the best place to pick up a spare SD card for your camera, these guys likely know it all so milk them for all the information they have.
So those were 8 reasons why you should take a free walking tour when visiting a new city!
Have you ever joined a free walking tour before?
Thanks for reading!
x
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I have been layering everything in my wardrobe lately! I don't know what it is about sticking a top underneath another top, but I just really love the way it looks. Especially in the summer if I want to wear a strapless top but I'm not confident enough, I just whack a T-shirt underneath and the jobs a good'un!
With this in mind, it only made sense to invest in a staple mesh top I can wear undeath multiple items of clothing. I went for something simple and long-sleeved so that it would be a super versatile piece.
So here are 3 ways to style a mesh top...
1. Over a vest top
The first way I've chosen to style the mesh top is over a plain black vest top. It's a super simple look that can be worn with jeans or a skirt. I've chosen to pair it with a plain black skater skirt and some heeled boots to create an outfit I'd likely wear on a night out.
- Shop the look -
2. Under a cami top
Like I said previously, I'm not always confident enough to wear sleeveless tops (which is silly I know) so I'll often pair them with t-shirts to cover my bingo wings. My arms are something I'm working on loving, but until I do, I'm happy to wear this mesh top underneath my cute cami's.
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3. Underneath a strappy dress or jumpsuit
This is probably my favourite look of the three and one that can easily be dressed up or down. Here I've paired the mesh top with my favourite Topshop jumpsuit. I never wear this jumpsuit without some sort of top underneath it but this might be the nicest top I've worn underneath. The mesh top helps to cover my insecurities without taking away from the super low v-neck which I love.
- Shop the look -
So those were the 3 ways I would style a mesh top!
Which outfit is your favourite?
Which outfit is your favourite?
Thanks for reading!
x
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The last few weeks have been a real wake up call for so many of us. While I imagine a lot of us think of ourselves as nice people, just being nice isn't enough anymore. As well as being nice we need to be actively doing better and use our platforms for good. So many of us have a decent following, and it's only right that we use that to help make the world a better place.
So with that in mind, I'd like to introduce a new series I'm going to be starting on the blog. Each month I will be picking a charity to support and promote. I'm not a big blogger and I won't be able to afford to make massive donations each month either, but if I can help to share important charities to just a few of my followers then it will be worth it.
This month's chosen charity: Black Minds Matter
Black Minds Matter is a charity started to ensure that Black people have access to mental health professionals who can help them in their time of need.
Why is this so important?
We are currently in the midst of the most important civil rights movement of our lifetime, and whilst this is uncomfortable for white people to watch and be a part of, the scenes we are seeing each day in the media can be seriously harmful to Black people's mental wellbeing. As a white person, I can only imagine the pain of having to see people who look like myself murdered and injured on a daily basis. The fund also aims to connect Black people with Black therapists who will be able to understand their situation much more.
What can I do to help?
You can donate to Black Minds Matter on their Go Fund Me page. As of 10th June 2020 they have reached their goal of raising £300,000 to cover the cost of therapy sessions for both individuals and families in need, but the fundraising doesn't need to end here.
I know not everyone can afford to donate, so if you can't please share the Black Minds Matter Go Fund Me page to help this amazing charity supply vital mental health services to those who require them.
You can also follow Black Minds Matter on instagram to see updates on the fund.
Thanks for reading!
x
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