What becomes of a Housewife with no show?
Real Housewives is my comfort show. Some people watch sitcoms to relax, I prefer rich women arguing with each other.
That’s to say, I’m familiar with a particular reality TV personality. I’m talking the type of person, in this case woman, whose number one priority is to be on trend. She wants to be in the latest fashions, in the latest headlines, and use the latest slang.
These kinds of Housewives are the most boring to watch since they’re the most unoriginal. They’re influenced by every media source, trending designer and baby with an iPad. They start “businesses” as obvious get-rich-quick schemes — we never hear about their ventures again after a couple years. Their faces drastically change thanks to cosmetic work they inexplicably deny.
I don’t want to use the word “insecure”, but I’ve never encountered someone with a strong sense of self who acts this flighty.
Surprisingly, these Housewives’ biggest flaws isn’t their screen presence. It’s what comes after they’re no longer invited on camera.
See, these kinds of ex-Housewives miss the spotlight. They seek another platform that brings them fame and allows them to flex their counterfeit lifestyles.
So they turn to Instagram.
Instagram has hundreds of millions of daily users. It allows for long-form videos with Instagram Live. And it’s a haven for portraying a fantasy life that is nothing like the one you actually lead.
Sounds a lot like reality TV to me!
However, one of the many differences between a social media network and a career in reality television is that you’re paid to be on the latter. No one’s paying you to be on Instagram until you reach a certain follower threshold or strike brand deals.
What’s an out of work Housewife with a bad spending habit and no real skills to do?
You guessed it: she hawks shoddy goods in an effort to maintain the faux glamorous lifestyle she once flaunted on TV.
If that sounds like an unsustainable, immoral and insufferable plan to you, you have the right instinct.
Only desperate people hawk shoddy goods.
Here’s the problem I have with the kinds of influencers that sell crappy stuff: their insincerity. They don’t care about the obvious poor quality of the product they’re selling or the fact that you can get it for much cheaper directly from the supplier.
They just want to make a buck quick.
Let’s face it, these people have no real skills to bank on. And if they do, they’d prefer hawking shoddy goods from their phones than utilizing them.
That’s unsettling. It sends a message to impressionable people that it’s more normal to get the proper angle to record yourself using an “instant fat burner” than build a career.
That’s not normal. And it’s immoral to sell cheap products at exorbitant prices. You’re profiting off of people buying into your delusion.
The delusion that an “instant fat burner” is actually a means of exercise. The delusion that selling these products affords you the luxury cars the influencer actually leases.
It’s an irresponsible method of selling and it’s embarrassing. In fact, I don’t even consider these tactics as marks of a salesperson. More so of a charlatan.
They promote a “fast money” mentality which runs counter to how real success is built.
Something you often hear from these Housewives and similar influencers is grand plans that are not realistic. For example, they start brands and “businesses” that are not indicative of their skillset.
Their “businesses” are obvious attempts at making fast money with no critical thought involved. They have no knowledge or experience in any of the fields they found them in. And they inevitably disappear in a couple years.
Business owners need to be focused, organized, consistent and self-motivated. It’s easy to start a business and difficult, but rewarding to sustain it over years.
The kinds of “businesses” influencers start are playthings, not lines of work. In fact, calling them “businesses” is insulting to actual business owners — hence the quotes.
Business owners dedicate years and even lifetimes to being experts in their fields. They found their business to solve a problem or address a need. It’s an admiral line of work that is mocked by the sham “businesses” opened by influencers.
Here are some examples of poorly managed influencer “businesses” I’ve seen: subscription boxes, wine clubs, spiritual guidance academies (LOL), exorbitantly priced online thrift stores, swimwear that’s advertised as sustainable (but actually isn’t), exorbitantly priced cheap makeup, exorbitantly priced cheap handbags.
What need do these “businesses” fulfill? Who are they really helping?
The answers are none and no one. I’m sure the influencers make some pennies from their crappy products, but nothing substantial. Especially since most of these “brands” disappear in a couple years.
All they create is waste. More useless, cheap crap circulated with its only purpose being some fast cash for lazy people.
They flaunt waste.
We all know Instagram isn’t reality. People usually only post their biggest success and flexes on the platform.
Influencers take it to the next level. They advertise their fake lives at all times. And their fake lives are defined by waste.
They promote “new” everything: new cars, new clothes, new everything all the time. They rarely repeat outfits, shoes or even restaurants. It’s an odd flex since all it reinforces is their careless mindsets.
There’s no logical reason to own that many shoes or clothes. And if they’re renting them instead — a much more environmentally and mentally sound choice — they should make that clear! Promoting constant consumption has disastrous consequences.
It feeds into a materialistic shopping cycle defined by never being satisfied with what you have. That’s the makings of a cultural malaise.
We should celebrate people who appreciate what they have and are inventive with closet items they cherish.
We shouldn’t follow “influencers” who are influenced by every trend; who buy excessively and subconsciously reinforce what we have isn’t enough.
There’s a Buddhist saying — “Enough is a feast.”
We don’t need any more than what we’re lucky to have now. It’s dangerous to think otherwise.
Final Word
Influencers are regular, if even less interesting, people. Their daily activities are probably even more boring than yours. The only difference is they document them ad nauseam and attempt to advertise them as exciting.
What they’re selling isn’t cheap makeup or swimwear — although they really hope you fall into those traps. They’re selling delusion.
They hope you believe the facade they’ve created and poorly maintain. Since if you trust them, you’re susceptible to fall for their shady “businesses” and any other money grabs too.
We have a responsibility to promote hardworking, critically thinking, accomplished people. If we support the opposite, we’re buying into a fantasy that will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction.
Don’t believe the hype.
More Help from Style Files:
- You Suck at Shopping for Clothes. Here’s how to do better.
- Want to Know if a Brand is Fast Fashion? Just answer these questions!
- How to Clean Out Your Closet [Step by Step Guide]
