Portsmouth body positivity influencer shares mental health impact of social media and reality TV shows

According to the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, Instagram is the worst app for young people’s mental health with issues asccoaited with it including body image, trolling and poor quality of sleep.

One person who knows that more than most is fitness and body positivity influencer Hayley Madigan.

In 2018, the 31-year-old from Portsmouth appeared on the first and only season of ITV’s show Survival of the Fittest, presented by Laura Whitmore with the same producers as Love Island, and saw teams of men versus women compete for a cash prize.

After she was eliminated, the former Priory School PE teacher found herself in a downward spiral as agencies shut doors in her face saying she didn’t fit ‘the influencer mould’.

Three years on she has amassed a body positive community of more than 440,000 followers on Instagram, an ambassador for Fabletics activewear, co-founded by Kate Hudson, and shares the reality of cellulite, the ups and downs and mental health and fitness tips.

Hayley told The News: ‘It is crazy because I look back now and forget that I was on that show. A lot of it is not real and a lot of it is you are forced into situations you might not want to do.

‘After the show was a weird one as it didn’t have a massive impact like Love Island did which we didn’t expect it to, but you would get recognised in the street and people would take selfies and then you just carried on living your normal life.

‘It was constantly up and down. I never felt like I fitted into social media influencing because I didn’t have fillers or make a massive influence with my makeup. I couldn’t get an agent because I was doing fitness and your pictures aren’t tweaked or photoshopped which is what they wanted then.

‘There was a slight bit of “I should look like those girls, maybe I should change my face and look like them so I can build a business”. I had never thought about changing my face or body before and I never felt that pressure until after the show.

‘When it came out I put on weight and felt depressed. I didn’t have a period for three years before because I was so lean and that affected my mental health and so I started to talk about it.’

Now an online health coach, Hayley has been using her platform throughout lockdown to show tips for exercising at home for those who want to stay active and the importance of keeping your emotional wellbeing in check.

She said: ‘Once I started being open about weight gain and showing that social media is nothing like real life at all and you meet these girls in real life that you look up to and their faces can be completely different in real life.

‘This wasn’t really shown before and it has only built up in the last year so I started to post more about that you can be really lean and be extremely unhealthy, you can be really lean on your upper body but you can have cellulite on your legs.

‘There is a lot of girls who think you have to look perfect or think that you look like the people on the TV or on social media and on Instagram but these girls don’t look like that themselves. It is just posing and it is just lighting.

‘I started posting side by sides and showing my legs don’t look perfect in lighting. Back when I was a personal trainer girls would say that you don’t have cellulite and I would say no I have leggings on you just can’t see it but I still have it.

‘In lockdown I really want to show girls that is now the time to worry about your aesthetics but focus on your mental health and more focus about how we feel inside and not attach to how we look on the outside. And understand that if we can feel good at working out and training for our mental health our days will be better.

‘Mental health is way more important than trying to burn calories.’

SEE ALSO: Portsmouth mental health advisor stuck away from partner turns to art to help switch off from work

In 2020, the UK had 45 million active social media users as people tried to connect with loved ones during lockdown.

Jane Wilson, a psychotherapist from Talking Change run by Solent NHS Trust, said: ‘We live in a world which is more connected than ever thanks to social media.

‘The Covid 19 pandemic changed our relationship with the internet almost overnight. Remember the zoom quizzes, which were never really about the quizzes? Being able to look into our loved ones’ faces and to hear their voices, even virtually, provided essential comfort in unprecedented times.

‘Many people have found acceptance and love in online communities that would be otherwise be inaccessible. However, at what point does social media become so influential that it becomes harmful?

‘There have been several studies highlighting a link between heavy use of social media and an increased risk of depression and anxiety. How many hours do we spend in our virtual networks? If you have never been up until past midnight mindlessly scrolling, then I’m sure you’re not alone in that.

‘Social media is essentially windows into the lives of others. Whilst as individuals we may publicize our best moments, advertising on social media is a powerful influence. When we compare ourselves to what we see on social media, we can easily become self-critical when our lives seem mundane and our achievements not that special.

‘We are exposed to idealised and, perhaps, unrealistic images of other people. Our use of social media is shaping our idea of beauty, and with the widespread use of editing software, there is a call for more research into this and the impact on our mental health.

‘So, what can we do?

- Know that you are not alone.

- We cannot help the little hits of dopamine that keep us hooked on social media into the early hours. Consider using an app which can set limits on the time spent on social media.

- Switch off alerts that draw your attention to those accounts.

- Create space by leaving your device in another room for some time.

- Perhaps most importantly, consider your social network; only follow and interact with accounts that truly add value to your life.

For those in need of more support Talking Change is a team of professionals which specialises in the understanding and treatment of common emotional difficulties.

It’s a free and confidential service for those aged sixteen or over, who live in Portsmouth and those registered with a doctor in the city. Self referrals can be made by calling 0300 123 3934 or by visiting talkingchange.nhs.uk

The News is running a mental health campaign called There For Each Other.

Over the next few weeks you will hear from a range of people about their mental health journeys, relating to a number of topics including Covid-19, veterans, suicide, financial stress, grief, domestic abuse and the impact of social media.

Health professionals, organisations and charities will be sharing the range of support that is available and how it can be accessed.

For mental health support across Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Waterlooville, Havant and Hampshire

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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