Zoe Sugg recently turned 28 and took the opportunity of her
birthday to raise money for the charity Mind. In an amazingly short space of
time she hit and surpassed her target of £10,000, raised even more awareness
for mental health and I’m sure helped so many people personally struggling. And
it got me thinking - what a woman.
It is only when I look back at my 13-year-old self that I
truly realise the impact that Zoella has had on me. I found Zoe’s videos, like
many did, in the 2013 world of YouTube and I couldn’t be more grateful that I
did. She has inspired me so much through my teenage years and helped me in more
ways than one to overcome potential barriers in my life. So, this is
essentially my Thank You letter to Zoe (as potentially cringe as that sounds)
because I feel as though she has not only been a significant person in my life,
but in many others - and the most amazing thing about it is that we’ve
never met haha!
• Mental Health •
Around the time I found Zoe’s videos, I was beginning to struggle
with anxiety. I remember seeing Zoe’s video ‘Dealing with Panic Attacks and
Anxiety’ and it taking me forever to click on it. It was as though I was afraid
to admit that I was struggling with anxiety. Eventually watching that video and
reading the stream of supportive comments underneath was unbelievably
reassuring. Zoe was the first public figure that I had come across personally
who had spoken so candidly about her struggle with anxiety, and this was a
massive help to my 13-year-old self (and continues to be today). Since watching
that video, I have continued to follow Zoe’s journey with anxiety, which not
only gives me a push every now and then to know that anxiety is normal and that
I can and am overcoming it, but also I guess even makes me feel proud of how
far Zoe has come. In a recent vlog, she explained how she may no longer have to
speak to her therapist about her anxiety because of how much it has improved and
how much she has worked to improve it. The fact that Zoe shares this online not
only gives me confidence in my own ability to improve my anxiety, but also
makes me feel so happy for her.
• Business Woman •
In 2018, so far Zoe has really let us in to the business
aspect of her life. This has been so motivational for me to watch. Her business
meetings and brainstorming sessions are something I find so interesting and I
am so glad she has let us into this aspect of her life. I have personally found
it very inspiring. Since I was about 15
(maybe even younger), I have always wanted to start my own blog, but never
truly had the guts to just do it. I was always too afraid to put myself out
there and be creative. But, as you can see if you are reading this post, I
finally did it. Along with my family’s support and push to get started with my
blog (after having spoken about it for so long), this also has a lot to do with
Zoe’s vlogs at the beginning of 2018, especially those where she lets us into
the business side of things, as well as her car chats with her friend Mark .
Hearing her bits of advice, and her motivation to know that ‘the world needs
you’, really gave me the push I needed to just 100% go for it. I also can’t
forget to mention the success of her beauty and lifestyle ranges, which of
course I love, and her trilogy of Girl Online! So, thank you Zoe, for not just
being so inspirational to me, but to so many other people out there.
•Being Kind •
Zoe has always struck me as a kind and caring person. This
is partly because of her amazing hosting skills making people feel as welcome
in her home as she possibly can, but also throughout her vlogs she is always
polite to everyone. Whether that be literally a simple thank you in a shop or
stopping with viewers/readers to take a picture, she always seems to be so
friendly to everyone she meets. Another reflection of this is her great
friendships. I don’t know how many times I have re-watched her vlogs with Mark
(I just know it’s a lot haha), but seeing how they are so friendly to one
another and have such a fun time together, whilst also being able to truly
support one another and have endless ‘car chats’, has been something that I
have loved to watch. I remember in one of Zoe’s vlogs she posed the question as
to why people love to watch her and Marks videos and the simple answer is that
it brings such happiness to me seeing two people who are so kind to one another
and have the ability to have fun no matter what they are doing. Zoe’s kindness
and fun side have always been able to make me smile and I love watching her
relationships with those around her. The importance of Zoe’s friendships and
family to her also make me cherish the friendships and family I have and make
me realise the importance of the people around me in life.
So, thank you Zoe. I am so glad that in a modern age of so
many potential influencers out there on social media, I was able to find you. I
feel as though without having met Zoe, it never fails to surprise me the impact
that she has on my life. Her videos, blog posts and products are consistent
motivations throughout my life and I am so grateful that I have had Zoe Sugg to
look up to since I was 13 years old: a kind, funny, strong, business woman who
never fails to spread positive messages in every way that she can. Thank you,
Zoe!
I think this tweet by ‘Fabulous Hannah’ sums it up:
‘I hope that when my daughters are 11/12 they have someone
like @Zoella to look up to, a kind hearted successful entrepreneur’
@fabuloushannahh
Thanks again Zoe, I can’t wait to see where life and
business takes you in the following years.
Zoe's links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Zoella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoella/
MoreZoella - https://www.youtube.com/user/MoreZoella
Mind Charity Donation Page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/zoella
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