Tik-Tok trends come and go, but the inspiration Brittani Lancaster brings is here to stay! The UO alum has racked up nearly a million followers in about the last year on Tik-Tok due to her uplifting posts surrounding the topic of eating disorder recovery, balanced eating and much, much more. Initially gaining her popularity on the app last February after posting a video celebrating her three and a half years in recovery, she continues to see success in building a community in support of body positivity. We spoke about this community she and many other Tik-Tokers have created, as well as where she finds her optimism and more.
We spoke about the resources the university has to offer. College can normalize disordered eating, especially when party culture is added into the equation. Brittani touched on how helpful that UO’s health center is, offering different resources that can be game changers for students. She also advised to be mindful with the community you surround yourself with. Questioning friendships or relationships that no longer bring you good energy was something she mentioned was a good way to keep your mental health in check.
Brittani is the perfect embodiment of optimism. The recent grad gains the most traction on her “What I Eat in A Day” videos, which are always narrated with unwavering enthusiasm. When chatting with Lancaster about the Align’s theme of optimism she had a lot to say about how optimism has been integral in her life’s journey. She recalled that, “My optimism started when I realized, wow, I should enjoy every single day I am given.” Brittani also mentioned how a life altering trip to Croatia helped her realize the importance of optimism and living life to its fullest. She recalled her trip fondly and a particular moment she had glancing out at the vast, seemingly endless ocean. She said this moment taught her to “live up your life, enjoy the food, enjoy your time with your friends and family and have a good relationship with yourself and your body because why not? This life is just so precious.” These words symbolize her epiphany to choose to prioritize self love and care.
Another aspect we touched on was how it can be scary to live a life where some of your struggles are public on the internet. When I inquired if this was something that concerns or bothers her, she again showed her optimism and leadership qualities by conveying that she is okay with being open and honest about her struggles because it will inspire others to also take steps towards living a balanced life and continuously making the choice to love their body. One of the major things that contributes to why she feels comfortable being so transparent with her journey is how she values vulnerability. Brittany said, “Something that keeps me going is that my favorite quality is vulnerability; because number one, vulnerability is hard to do and it is hard to be vulnerable and the second reason I love it so much is because vulnerability is how we are able to connect with one another and how we are able to help one another.”
It is no surprise Brittani found success on TikTok because she is an example of using her platform to inspire and create a great community online. Following influencers, such as Brittani, that uplift and inspire you is very important to keep a healthy relationship with social media.
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