By now, being a social media celebrity can be a lucrative and career-changing position. Take, for example, the Australian Instagram star Essena O’Neill. After cultivating a massive following for her gorgeous photographs, the 18-year-old was earning thousands for each post she made. It seemed like a promising way to start her adult life, but one day, she did the unthinkable and decided to quit. Perhaps more surprising than O’Neill leaving her social media life behind were her reasons for doing so. Her new Instagram posts contain explanations of what was really going on behind the scenes — and her words send an interesting message about authenticity on social media. See more of her story, and watch her heartfelt video, below.
