Too Tight, Too Tired and Too Damn Much

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Or shall I say, howdy y’all, with Dallas being my current writing destination. What happens when you’re bicoastal and order clothes to get to LA before a trip to Texas, London, and DC? Half of it gets shipped to NYC a day after you depart, the third that does arrive gets stolen by an errant building bandit, and the gorgeous gala gown you were certain was going to fit according to the size guide doesn’t allow your Latin curves to squeeze into the zipper.  So what’s a girl to do but make a mad dash for the bougiest mall in South Orange County?  Add this to an impromptu cafecito with my prima for some much needed chisme time, impulse shopping at the Nordstrom semi-annual rack, and running the car back home on empty, only for my mom and I to make a mad dash for $5.00 (ughhh why) per gallon gas fill up before making our way through traffic to LAX.  Yes, I know this was a run-on sentence, but that was the point, and I need you to feel the distress I felt this weekend.  Meanwhile, once I get to the airport, much to my dismay, I’m set back with yet another flight delay.  Delta- this is three in one week. Be still, my poor little heart cannot handle another late night arrival.  

The only thing keeping me sane is that I accidentally (on purpose?) made the best grilled chicken tacos with mango serrano salsa, and got to hug my dog before the mad dash to yet another airport. There’s nothing like a taco and dog kisses to keep you sane in between client meetings, project deadlines, and airport travel. I've also finished therapist shopping, and have Headway to thank for the amazing woman that now gets to hear about my relationship and business woes instead of my poor mother. Granted, my mom is the best at obliging my mindless chatter, but it feels good to have another human, not my LLM, tell me that my life choices are somewhat on track, and that my reaction to situations may not entirely be unfixable once I am able to unpack that childhood trauma.  

Being in LA this weekend was extremely sobering overall. My brother-in-law lost a partner in his police station, ICE is raiding, people are rioting, and frankly, the world feels super unstable. Tragedies have been hitting very close to home lately, and if you think you’re the only one feeling it, just know that you are not alone. Sending my heart, thoughts, and prayers up to everyone going through things right now, it’s heavy, I know.  Here’s to hoping that some of the group chat this week piques your interest and lightens your mental load a bit. 

In the latest episode of the MHOB podcast, I sat down with Melinda Jackson,  a strategic and results-driven PR expert specialized in brand elevation, media relations, and thought leadership.

In this engaging conversation, we discuss public relations, entrepreneurship, and the increasing significance of achieving work-life balance. Melinda shares her journey from a small town in North Carolina to becoming a successful PR expert in LA, plus the important lessons she learned along the way.  

In this episode:

If you want to make a big career or business move, but fear is holding you back, Melinda’s story will 100% inspire you to take action. 

Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Content Note: This piece discusses body image, disordered eating, and appearance-focused social media trends. While we’ve taken care to approach the topic thoughtfully, please take care while reading, and feel free to skip if it feels too heavy today.

In the early 2010s, Tumblr was a formative space for many young people exploring identity and aesthetics, but it was also home to concerning content related to body image. Under hashtags like “thinspo,” users (many of them teenage girls) curated aspirational visuals and daily routines that centered on restrictive eating habits and appearance goals. Despite moderation efforts, much of that content persisted in coded forms, quietly shaping norms around beauty and health.

Fast forward to today, and the conversation has shifted to a new platform: TikTok. The hashtag #SkinnyTok recently drew attention for promoting similarly idealized and narrowly-defined body standards. TikTok has since intervened, removing the hashtag from search and redirecting users to mental health resources. The move follows growing concerns from experts across Europe and the U.S. about the potential psychological impact of this content, especially among young girls and women. While public health advocates welcomed the decision, many emphasize that banning a term is only a first step. Much like during the Tumblr era, new phrases and trends often emerge to fill the void, perpetuating the same ideals under different names.

These developments sit uncomfortably alongside the body positivity movement, which gained cultural traction in recent years by championing inclusivity and self-acceptance. The emergence of #SkinnyTok also coincides with the rise of Ozempic, as well as a noticeable uptick in ultra-thin celebrities dominating red carpets and magazine covers Yet as aesthetic trends evolve, and as wellness discourse becomes more entangled with appearance, there is increasing evidence of a cultural shift back toward a more rigid, idealized body type. Commentary around rapid body changes, coupled with rising interest in semaglutide medications, has made it difficult to separate wellness content from image-driven pressure.

Social platforms play a pivotal role in this dynamic. TikTok’s recommendation algorithm is designed to personalize content quickly and continuously. A single interaction with a body-related video can result in a feed that feels saturated with similar messaging, reinforcing certain standards through repetition. This creates what researchers call a “curated bubble” that’s difficult to exit and can subtly shape self-perception.

While platform responses like hashtag bans are visible and immediate, experts say a deeper solution lies in adjusting how content is ranked and promoted. More transparency, stronger guardrails for sensitive content, and expanded media literacy tools may offer longer-term protection for users navigating these spaces.

Ultimately, today’s digital body ideals are not a carbon copy of the past. They are algorithmically amplified, visually polished, and often framed through the language of discipline, transformation, or empowerment. As we reflect on this shift, the challenge lies in balancing freedom of expression with the responsibility to foster healthier, more inclusive digital environments for all.

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