Essena O'Neill: Gorgeous IG Model Quits Social Media For Good

Summary

Asena O'Neal, a popular Australian Instagram model with over 800,000 followers, has made a bold decision to quit social media for good. In a heartfelt 17-minute YouTube video, she shared her struggles with feeling defined by online attention and the negative impact it had on her happiness. Asena reflected on how her career led her to lose touch with reality and personal connections, admitting that despite her online fame, she felt miserable. Now, she’s deleting self-promotional photos and embracing a more authentic, offline life. Her decision is a powerful reminder of the importance of real-life connections over virtual validation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Asena O'Neal, a popular Australian Instagram model with over 800,000 followers, has quit social media for good.
• 😀 She posted an emotional 17-minute YouTube video explaining her decision to leave social media.
• 😀 Asena shared that gaining attention from strangers did not bring happiness and felt disconnected from reality.
• 😀 She emphasized that being defined by social media numbers is not authentic, real, or loving.
• 😀 Asena deleted over 2,000 photos from her Instagram feed, including those that were self-promotional.
• 😀 She also edited captions on past photos, revealing the struggles behind the images and her distorted body image.
• 😀 In a raw admission, Asena shared how she had taken over 100 pictures in the same poses, starving herself to look 'good' for social media.
• 😀 Asena revealed that at 12 years old, she felt 'nothing,' and by 19, she was lost and unsure of what was real due to the pressure of social media.
• 😀 She expressed regret for not spending more time in the real world, like interacting with people in person or enjoying nature.
• 😀 Asena's decision to quit social media is a call for authenticity and self-care, urging others to value real-life experiences over virtual validation.

Q & A

Why did Asena O'Neal decide to quit social media?

Asena O'Neal decided to quit social media because she realized that it was negatively affecting her happiness and self-perception. Despite having over 800,000 followers, she felt miserable and disconnected from her true self, as her life had become defined by numbers, likes, and online validation.

What emotional impact did social media have on Asena O'Neal?

Social media made Asena feel isolated and disconnected from real life. She felt pressured to present a perfect image, which led her to believe that her worth was defined by how many followers and likes she had, rather than by genuine, real-world experiences and relationships.

How did Asena O'Neal curate her Instagram feed to present a perfect life?

Asena carefully curated her Instagram feed by taking multiple photos in similar poses to make her body look ideal. She often edited the images to enhance her appearance, and at one point, she would hardly eat in order to maintain the 'perfect' look, going to extreme lengths to achieve what she thought was perfection.

What significant action did Asena take in relation to her Instagram account?

Asena deleted over 2,000 photos from her Instagram feed that she felt were self-promotional and no longer represented her authentic self. She also edited captions on old posts to reflect the reality behind the images, revealing the struggles she went through to achieve the 'perfect' look.

What message did Asena share about the photos she posted on Instagram?

Asena shared that many of her Instagram photos were not authentic representations of her life. For instance, she admitted to taking over 100 pictures in similar poses to make her stomach look good, and would often go without eating to look perfect in the photos, which she now realizes was unhealthy and misleading.

How did Asena feel about her younger self before she gained social media fame?

Before gaining fame on social media, Asena felt like she was nothing at the age of 12. She struggled with self-worth and did not have the validation or attention that she later received through social media, which made her question what was real and what was not as she grew older.

What aspect of real life does Asena emphasize in her decision to quit social media?

Asena emphasizes the importance of real-life experiences, such as being with loved ones, hugging people, and spending time in nature. She realized that these authentic experiences were much more valuable than the validation she sought online, which often kept her trapped in a virtual world.

What is the overall message that Asena conveys about social media?

Asena conveys the message that social media often presents an unrealistic and inauthentic version of life, where people focus more on appearances and external validation rather than meaningful, real-world connections. She encourages others to reflect on their own relationship with social media and prioritize genuine experiences over online attention.

How did Asena describe the impact of social media attention on her happiness?

Asena described social media attention as something that did not bring true happiness. She explained that being defined by numbers, likes, and followers is not real or fulfilling, and it led her to feel miserable despite having everything she thought she wanted. This realization was key in her decision to leave social media.

What did Asena's story inspire others to consider about social media?

Asena's story inspired others to think about whether they could live without social media and if the validation they seek online is worth the emotional toll it may cause. It also prompted viewers to reflect on the authenticity of their own social media presence and whether it aligns with their true selves.