In today’s day and age, being an Instagram influencer seems to be an ideal profession. Enticing perks like receiving free products, attending prestigious events, and earning big bucks for a single post – sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? However, I’m now starting to realise that there’s a flip side to it that we all may have overlooked entirely.
Let me start with the basics–being an influencer is all about having the power to inspire through hard work, talent, and knowledge. But it can only happen if people find influencers relatable and see themselves in them. Once they successfully establish these connections, it leads to a massive following, and exciting brand partnership pours in. Now, what began as a simple business concept has somehow blurred the lines between influencers and Bollywood celebrities. The key difference? Influencers are in front of the cameras around the clock, willingly sharing even the tiniest details about their lives. They bear it all on a public platform, from finding a new partner to what they ate for dinner.
No doubt, they get credited for their hard work. But then comes a phase when this journey takes a U-turn. With great fame comes great scrutiny. Similar to any other public figure, their actions start to gain a wider spotlight, leading to opinions, and criticism. Now, this is the flip side that we all completely overlooked–the more exposure you get the more scrutiny you will face.
I have got a few examples for you.
Komal Panday
Komal has become one of the most sought-after fashion influencers in India. Brands want her. Creators want to be her. Her unique and eccentric sense of style has literally made her a household name. One can also say that she now has a cult following. But recently, she had to face the wrath of the people on the internet after she decided to come out clean regarding her lip fillers. No, that’s not the actual reason. People were upset with her because they felt cheated. They claim that Komal once openly denied and boldly rejected the speculations about getting anything done to her lips. Some also believe that a person who is seen as a ‘role model’ by many is setting some unrealistic beauty standards.
Kusha Kapila
Kusha has successfully made a mark for herself in the entertainment industry. So much so that she’s now starring in films and series alongside B-town biggies. But Kusha saw the dark side of being in the public eye when she announced her separation from her husband, Zorawar. Soon after, people started digging up her old video interviews and conversations where she was talking about infidelity. The scrutiny and criticism went to a point where people started labelling her as the ‘problematic one’ and her rising fame as the reason behind their divorce. There were others who felt that she’d been painting a false happy picture of her marriage, when in fact, it was something else.
Masoom Minawala
Masoom is one of the few fashion influencers who have made it to the global scene. And I honestly loved following her maternity-style journey. But can being a fashion influencer count as creating an impact in society? Well, Masoom thinks so but her followers were not very happy about it. She recently posted a reel (which has now been deleted), where she claimed how influencers have been creating an impact and changing lives with their work. The majority of people, of course, disagreed with her and called her out in no time. They felt that though she was good at what she was doing, she in no way was impacting their lives.
These are three very distinct instances where an influencer has been scrutinised for their actions but the crux remains the same–being in the public eye means dealing with constant gossip and discussions around their lives. This also makes me realise that influencers need to be a bit more mindful of their actions, words, and how much they choose to share with the world. Maybe that’s the price they pay for the fame that has been granted to them.
But do influencers really owe us explanations for their actions? Do we have the right to get personal with them as if they belong to us? Perhaps we should reflect on the amount of attention we give them. Even when they go against our beliefs, we can still approach the situation with kindness and empathy. They are, after all, humans who are just as flawed as any of us.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from these episodes, it’s that all that glitters is indeed not gold.
Featured Image: Instagram
