Influencers Leading Health Movements

In a society immersed in social media, influencers have become the newest role models for current and future generations. An individual’s rapid growth of popularity, sometimes overnight, comes with big responsibilities with those consuming their content. Some of the most controversial ones? Health and fitness-focused content creators. These influencers often struggle to handle this new, accelerated popularity, and in efforts to maintain their newly gained social status they rely on sharing misleading information about weight loss, gym endurance, and extreme, unhealthy diets in order to attract and retain followers. Such was the case of YouTuber Tana Mongeau, who received backlash from health professionals and followers for promoting detox teas that were unregulated and harmful in exchange for profit. But in a world full of Tana’s, we can find amazing influencers such as Jaz Margalef, a content creator focused not only on healthy habits but also on transmitting the importance of self-love.

For many years, women across the globe have been taught what a socially acceptable body should look like. This acceptable image is oftentimes connected with extreme thinness which results in unrealistic beauty standards. Society is actively working on getting rid of these unhealthy expectations that have persisted for decades. Margalef serves as an example by embracing a healthy and balanced approach to beauty, fitness, and wellness. This change in her lifestyle is a result of self-care where her main goal is wholeness. The search for an unattainable “perfect” body has not been Margalef’s main goal. Instead, she emphasizes on the importance of building healthy relationships with food and exercise.

“In order to elevate, you need to remove yourself from toxic situations,” Margalef said in one of her videos. She represents and promotes empowerment and self-acceptance by sharing nutritious meal preps, often featuring Latino dishes reimagined in healthier ways. Margalef takes pride in the richness of the Latino heritage including it into her lifestyle. By analyzing her social media profiles, Margalef serves as an example of breaking stereotypes. She embraces her larger build, a result of her devotion to physical activity, while embodying her feminine energy, glowing in confidence and strength. These approaches have made her an empowering figure for women of all shapes and sizes, showing how self-care does not equal society’s beauty standards nor extreme self-limitations. 

While social media is a universe full of deceiving information and dishonest content creators, Margalef marks a difference with her passion and authenticity. She is a representation of a healthier lifestyle, leaving behind methods full of worries, sickness, and unhappiness. Margalef is also showing the current society that social media can be a positive and powerful tool to promote positive change and educate. Not only is she promoting wellbeing, but also she encourages her followers to take pride in and love themselves despite their shape or size. Creating impact and change, Margalef is an individual trustworthy for the current generations to follow and use as a role model.