[News] Vegan raw food influencer dies of starvation aged 39

[Guinness Boy]

Not enough

Who was controversial vegan raw food influencer Zhanna D’Art:

Russian-born ‘influencer’ was once an aspiring model, who died in intensive care in Malaysia after falling ill

www.independent.co.uk

 

[CHAPPERS]

Really?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Really?

Yep. File under Darwin Award

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Clickbaity headline.

Sounds to me like somebody suffering from considerable mental health difficulties linked to a severe eating disorder.

I'm not a vegan, but eating a plant based diet (even a raw food one) isn't going to kill you so long as you're getting the right nutrients from wherever. That headline sounds like the sort of thing you'd expect from the Daily Mail.

 

[portlock seagull]

Rather a poor taste thread. No one dies because they’re vegan. Likely mentally ill and/or suffering from something like anorexia. DM Clickbait as someone else said.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Clickbaity headline.

Sounds to me like somebody suffering from considerable mental health difficulties linked to a severe eating disorder.

I'm not a vegan, but eating a plant based diet (even a raw food one) isn't going to kill you so long as you're getting the right nutrients from wherever. That headline sounds like the sort of thing you'd expect from the Daily Mail.

Doesn’t sound like someone with an eating disorder should be a food influencer.

 

[borat]

Doesn’t sound like someone with an eating disorder should be a food influencer.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Doesn’t sound like someone with an eating disorder should be a food influencer.

Well no, but then it's very common for people with eating disorders to be suffering from chronically low self esteem and body dysmorphia, therefore maybe she felt like having social media presence gave her validation from others, no? Perhaps she started out doing quite well and eating healthily but other life issues have taken over and sent her spiralling downwards.

Also, she probably didn't publicise the fact that she was starving herself on her social media accounts. Eating disorders are often characterised by secretive behaviour: hiding food so others don't know you haven't eaten it, or eating but surreptitiously making yourself vomit afterwards etc. Few sufferers do it publicly.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Doesn’t sound like someone with an eating disorder should be a food influencer.

Sadly/luckily her influence appears to have been minimal:

'When she died, Samsonova had around 16,000 followers. At the time of writing, however, that number had increased to 33,000.'

Just a poor lost soul with mental health issues and an eating disorder

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Well no, but then it's very common for people with eating disorders to be suffering from chronically low self esteem and body dysmorphia, therefore maybe she felt like having social media presence gave her validation from others, no? Perhaps she started out doing quite well and eating healthily but other life issues have taken over and sent her spiralling downwards.

Also, she probably didn't publicise the fact that she was starving herself on her social media accounts. Eating disorders are often characterised by secretive behaviour: hiding food so others don't know you haven't eaten it, or eating but surreptitiously making yourself vomit afterwards etc. Few sufferers do it publicly.

I think the point the OP is making is about influencers…and their well, disproportional influence. It’s a valid point on any subject and on her particular one she was hardly likely to be a force for good, was she ? Schools spend a lot of time having to pick over the consequences of this sort of thing and this one will likely be a bit of a case study.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Doesn’t sound like someone with an eating disorder should be a food influencer.

do any of these 'influencers' know much about their subject matter thought their main attribute is fleecing the gullible.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Yep. File under Darwin Award

A comment to be proud of.

 

[Muzzman]

Rather a poor taste thread...

Agreed. Not a fan of vegan food.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Well no, but then it's very common for people with eating disorders to be suffering from chronically low self esteem and body dysmorphia, therefore maybe she felt like having social media presence gave her validation from others, no? Perhaps she started out doing quite well and eating healthily but other life issues have taken over and sent her spiralling downwards.

Also, she probably didn't publicise the fact that she was starving herself on her social media accounts. Eating disorders are often characterised by secretive behaviour: hiding food so others don't know you haven't eaten it, or eating but surreptitiously making yourself vomit afterwards etc. Few sufferers do it publicly.

Nothing healthy about a raw food diet. Physically you’re missing key nutrients. Mentally you’re missing enjoying food.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I think the point the OP is making is about influencers…and their well, disproportional influence. It’s a valid point on any subject and on her particular one she was hardly likely to be a force for good, was she ? Schools spend a lot of time having to pick over the consequences of this sort of thing and this one will likely be a bit of a case study.

This is the world we live in now. Any idiot with access to the internet can label themselves an "influencer" and try to monetise their skills/unpleasant political beliefs sparkling personality/ enormous breasts.

Look at that whopper Andrew Tate. Must be almost impossible for schools (and parents) to police what content their kids are exposed to now.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Nothing healthy about a raw food diet. Physically you’re missing key nutrients. Mentally you’re missing enjoying food.

Well it's not my bag, but I daresay it may appeal to some- I've met people who swear by the Paleo diet in the past, and who were proper gym bunnies.

Like anything, you need to understand what you're eating, and if there are areas where a particular diet leaves you deficient, then you look to obtain whatever it is via supplements or other means. In this particular case, it sounds like it wasn't a case of her eating only raw food: rather that she ended up not eating anything at all.

 

[jcdenton08]

do any of these 'influencers' know much about their subject matter thought their main attribute is fleecing the gullible.

All influencers are simply monetising their strong personalities/good looks. Any talents/hobbies they have are secondary to their likability. Most are seeking fame and money, and are using their natural charisma and/or sex appeal rather than any particular talent to try and achieve this. Indeed, there are legion of aspiring and existing “internet celebrities” who simply chase trends, regardless of personal interest in the subject matter.

The general aim is to foster a parasocial relationship with their fans/customers. They develop a persona which is appealing to their audience; the top influencers do brilliantly in accommodating as many people as possible. Girls want to be them, guys want to be with them - or vice-versa.

Influencers are comforting for some people, particularly those with sub-normal social lives, or those having difficulty forming relationships. This is why the majority of subscribers to the top influencers consist mostly of school age children. They provide a constant, cosy and reassuring presence in their lives which often substitutes for real life relationships.

Naturally, this provides enormous merchandising and branding opportunities for both the influencer and brands. You’ve got one foot in the door - people love the influencer, the influencer raves about a product - the customer buys the product (or gets their parents to buy it) as it is their duty to “support” their favourite influencer and “friend”.

This is huge bucks for all concerned and really that’s all it comes down to.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Well it's not my bag, but I daresay it may appeal to some- I've met people who swear by the Paleo diet in the past, and who were proper gym bunnies.

Like anything, you need to understand what you're eating, and if there are areas where a particular diet leaves you deficient, then you look to obtain whatever it is via supplements or other means. In this particular case, it sounds like it wasn't a case of her eating only raw food: rather that she ended up not eating anything at all.

'She also claimed that her body did not “require” water, writing last year that her fruit-based diet meant she had gone without water for the past six years.'

 

[beorhthelm]

do any of these 'influencers' know much about their subject matter thought their main attribute is fleecing the gullible.

my observation is they usually know a lot about the subject, its just what they know isnt worth knowing.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

This is the world we live in now. Any idiot with access to the internet can label themselves an "influencer" and try to monetise their skills/unpleasant political beliefs sparkling personality/ enormous breasts.

Look at that whopper Andrew Tate. Must be almost impossible for schools (and parents) to police what content their kids are exposed to now.

Doesn’t stop us trying to address the issues. Misogyny/Andrew Tate featured pretty highly in PHSE last year and some interesting discussions were had. I don’t think we can just give up in the face of the power of the internet and we won’t.