infinite scroll BBG to BBLs to Pilates Princesses: The Toxic Evolution of Fitness Influencer Culture
In this week's episode, I explore the origins and evolution of fitness influencing, begging the questions: Have we truly moved past it? Or are today’s fitness influencers simply repackaging the same harmful ideals under new aesthetics and workout trends?
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
4:02 What is a fitness influencer & why they gained popularity
6:10 Media that influenced early online fitness culture: Biggest Loser, VS Fashion Show & ANTM
14:00 First-wave of fitness influencers & their impact
16:37 Kayla Itsines
20:44 Sarah’s Day
23:00 Misogyny in fitness
25:30 Second-wave fitness influencers: weightlifting & bodybuilding
28:18 The online fitness industry now: The “Ozempic craze” & pilates princesses
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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Biggest_Loser_(American_TV_series)#Television_ratings
https://deadline.com/2010/05/full-series-rankings-for-the-2009-10-broadcast-season-44277/
https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/health-fitness/americas-next-top-model-body-standards-792363
https://www.vox.com/2020/5/8/21249408/tyra-banks-antm-backlash
https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/antm-robin-manning-plus-size-body-shaming-20220409
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/16/style/victorias-secret-fashion-show-return-ny
https://centennialworld.com/fatphobic-racist-origins-y2k-fashion-trends/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/nov/22/victorias-secret-show-angels-lingerie
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-cult-of-kayla/
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/smallsteps/calorie-needs.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoeWcKQynM&t
https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/whats-so-feminist-about-fitness
Duplaga, M. (2020). The Use of Fitness Influencers’ Websites by Young Adult Women: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 6360-. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176360
https://www.tiktok.com/@oprahdaily/video/7463140577324928286
https://www.tiktok.com/@serenakerrigan/video/7460880368153939246
https://hypebae.com/2024/12/pink-pilates-princess-trend-explained-tiktok-spotify-wrapped