Messy, honest, true: the rise of realness online
Illustrations by Yuchen Yu
“Post your content” is a phrase you’ll spot in the bios of countless creators. A simple push to just post the damn thing. No need for perfection, the perfect lighting, an aesthetic apartment, an expensive camera, or a crowd of well-dressed, like-minded friends with shockingly clear skin and even better hair. It’s a reminder to show up as your real, unfiltered self and the universe will reward you. Or at least the algorithm might.
The Power Of Raw Storytelling
Tareasa Johnson, better known as ReesaTeesa, skyrocketed to viral fame after sharing her “Who TF Did I Marry,” video series. What started as a woman simply telling her story quickly turned into a global phenomenon. Her raw, vulnerable, and unfiltered retelling of a relationship that unfolded like an A24 movie captivated an audience of 400 million and counting. With a combination of her nonchalant storytelling, unthinkable plot twists, and the sheer vulnerability in sharing something so deeply personal and painful, audiences worldwide were hooked. The story itself was wild enough, but it was her honesty, strength, and bravery in sharing this very raw and real part of her life that made it truly unforgettable.
Gabrielle Fenimore is a multifaceted artist who sees talking to the camera as just another form of self-expression. Her videos strike a refreshing balance between humor and honesty, all while exploring mental health through a lens that’s both real and relatable. And that’s what younger viewers often need – real talk that doesn’t feel too out of reach or out of touch.
Creators like Fenimore are helping break down the stigma around mental health and make those raw conversations more approachable and digestible. “I think people go to the internet to feel connected to others and to be part of something bigger than themselves, which sounds really insane to say, but I think that’s becoming more and more the reality.”
“Oversharing” As Self-Expression
From crying selfies to writing journal-esque entries about one’s inner musings on Substack, oversharers are having a moment right now and I am so here for it. “YOU are what will make you successful. You are your niche.” Alix Traeger, creator, author, and food enthusiast, recently went on To Be Magnetic podcast to talk about manifesting her dream life. Traeger shares that she wants to be “nicheless.”
For Traeger, it’s more about the energy she brings to the screen rather than trying to fit in a box: “That is your magic – it’s about showing up and doing everything with that energy. For me, it’s a very bubbly, messy, chaotic, fun way…” That’s something younger creators could learn early: Don’t try to fit into one idea. Just be you.
Gabby, on the other hand, has opened up about everything from religion and spirituality to the throes of dating and (attempting to) overcome anxiety. What brings her comfort is realizing she’s not alone in those thoughts.
Substack became a dedicated space for creators to cultivate an intimate, cathartic space for honesty, self-reflection, and relatable hyperfixations. Kind of like being at a dinner party with cool girls who had a few glasses, or maybe a late-night FaceTime with your best friend. Honest, raw, unfiltered.
Through words and evocative images, these artists give shape to feelings many of us experience but struggle to express. Toni Bravo’s The Delicate Decade reads like an extension of her Notes app — insightful and personal. In A Twenties POV, Anastasia captures the complexities of early adulthood. Each voice is distinct, but together, they echo the shared themes of identity, mental health, and self-discovery.
Vulnerability With Higher Stakes
Leeor Gal, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and founder of The Therapy Gal, believes that healing starts with feeling understood. “By showing up as real, relatable humans, we help clients feel less alone and more connected, seen, and truly heard.”
But showing up as your most authentic self isn’t always easy, especially for women of color, where the stakes can feel even higher. When Elyse Fox first dreamed up Sad Girls Club, she was searching for a space for girls with similar stories, the space to talk openly about mental health. “I couldn't find a place where I saw myself reflected," Elyse told Popsugar last year.
Instead of letting that absence discourage her, she built what she couldn’t find – a space where women of color can safely express their multidimensionality and form community. “Mental health,” she told Essence GU, “should be embedded into everything that you do.”
Yuchen Yu
Organizations like Sad Girls Club aren’t just creating safe spaces, they’re redefining what healing and belonging look like for this generation. Leeor notes that while mental health was once something people hid, the cultural shift toward transparency has helped normalize conversations that were once shameful. But that kind of vulnerability still comes at a cost. She says, “Most people struggle to show up authentically. It’s raw and vulnerable to reveal all the parts of yourself – and to do so publicly? That’s another level.”
For women especially, the pressure is relentless. As she puts it, “There’s no perfect way to be a woman—too messy, too clean—someone will always find fault.” Still, for Leeor, staying true online is worth it. “People who meet me in real life often say I’m exactly the person they see in my content.” She assures me however, that doesn’t mean everyone will connect with it, and that’s okay. With this comforting sense of community and assimilation comes the inevitable cons. As always, the internet has the power to create so much beauty and connection and so quickly tear it down.
It’s A Balancing Act
“Finding the balance of staying true to you, showing up online in a way that feels true and safe to you while also protecting your inner peace is a balance that is important to strike.” Gabby, a self-proclaimed “professional oversharer,” knows the lingering “hang-xiety” that comes from sharing too much too soon all too well. But messages from people who feel seen keep her going, because what’s on the other side of that vulnerability is connection.
The message there is: Even if it feels awkward or scary, someone out there will feel less alone because you were brave.
There’s a wave of middle school girls sharing “get ready with me for school” videos that have gone viral. Perhaps it’s their honest storytelling, their elaborate skincare routines with retinoids and anti-aging serums, or just the pure, unfiltered way of sharing that makes their content so consumable to people. School drama, boy problems, bar mitzvah meltdowns, friend breakups, and of course the eternal stress that is planning a birthday party (a struggle at any age) – it’s all strangely relatable.
The Cultural Craving for Realness
Tapping into the parts of you that aren’t figured out yet is a true testament to giving yourself space to grow. From Brat Summer (RIP), the messier, emotionally charged cooler cousin to Hot Girl Summer, to crying selfies, filming yourself getting fired, and Lohanny’s raw, vulnerable job-hunting journey, there’s been a massive shift in how we express ourselves online, and perfection is no longer invited to the table. The clean girl aesthetic came and went, as did the aspirational wellness trends that seem only attainable to those with really rich parents and great water pressure.
Yuchen Yu
People are craving something real. A chance to be seen, to be heard, to feel understood amidst the noise and chaos of the outside world. In the wake of post-pandemic exhaustion, continuous fear and frustration with the current administration, the regression of basic rights for marginalized communities, and growing uncertainty about the future, the desire to connect feels more urgent than ever. And maybe the bravest, most liberating thing we can do is show up exactly as we are: messy, honest, complicated, and human.
Mhaya Polacco is an award-winning writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. Her work, inspired by relationships, mental health, and life's awkwardness, has been featured in Sweety High, Flexx Magazine, and more. With over 30 film festival recognitions, she’s currently in production for a short comedy film. When she's not on set, you can catch her performing stand-up comedy at clubs around LA or creating viral content for brands' social media platforms.
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Illustration by Holly Farndell