HOT AND ON A MISSION: Australia’s sexiest activists
The social media influencers stripping off to champion everything from ocean conservation to veganism in a rising protest trend.
U on Sunday
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Social media activists are proving sex sells, using their huge online followings and bodies to champion causes and spread political awareness.
Protestors have long used nudity to fight for change but a new form of activism is on the rise with Instagram influencers posting racy photos in support of everything from ocean conservation to veganism.
It raises questions whether nudity and sex appeal is obscuring educational messages but
activist groups have thrown their support behind the attention-grabbing move.
In a recent campaign for PETA, Australian DJ and influencer Dara Hayes, known as DJ Tigerlily, who has half a million followers, posed naked wearing only a crown of vegetables in her hair. She posed nude alongside the message, “Go Natural. Go Vegan.”
PETA spokeswoman Emily Rice said it was intended to empower and promote healthy living but, she admits, it was definitely tactical.
“The reality of it is attention grabbing which is what we want,” she says.
“Social media is a powerful tool for change and it can be a great platform for spreading a message... as long as it’s staying to true the core and (in terms of veganism) trying to work animals into the conversation so they’re never forgotten.”
Instagram has seen a dramatic shift from it’s initial intent of sharing simple photos to becoming an advertising and marketing space saturated with brand collaborations.
But more powerfully, it’s become the home of protest movements like Black Lives Matter, and climate change.
Anthony Svirskis, CEO of Australian influencer marketing company Tribe, said influencers now use their platforms to, well, influence.
“Influencers are similar to any other social media user in that they talk about what’s important to them and reflect the cultural conversation of the moment,” he says.
Svirskis says influencers are savvy enough to know how to draw followers in to make them listen by using things like bikini shots but there’s a fine line between an creating popular content and educating.
“If it’s a legitimate connection between influencer and the cause, and the context of the messaging is right, it can be extremely helpful (to the cause),” he says.
“If it feels forced, or the messaging is awkwardly delivered, then it’s not helpful.
“Authenticity to the messages or cause is critical.”
PETA have used celebrities to endorse their cause for years including Joaquin Phoenix and locally, Hugh Sheridan.
More famously, Pamela Anderson was among the first to use her body to protest for PETA, posing nude in various campaigns including an anti-fur protest.
But Rice said influencers were proving to be just as, if not more, influential than traditional celebrities.
“We’ve been using influencers as long as social media has been growing,” she said.
“I think we’ve seen an uptick in influencers for all kinds of things since they became celebrities in their own right and developed huge followings, some influencers have bigger followings than celebrities.”
In most cases, Svirskis says, the passion for the cause comes first then the followers.
“If you’re producing engaging content about your passions that appeals to other users who want to hear more ... then your audience grows,” he says.
Sunshine Coast influencer James Aspey, 33, combines his muscle-heavy gym content with messages about animal rights and veganism to his 275,000 followers.
“The last place I’d choose to get protein from is the flesh, milk and eggs of tortured, slaughtered animals,” he posted alongside a muscle-heavy photo of himself after a workout.
He says his gym content goes hand-in-hand with promoting what he believes in.
“With the rise of the influencer and the popularity of social media, activism has an added dimension of healthy, happy, friendly, encouraging and s supportive vegans who are more like lifestyle advocates, rather than the typical activist,” he told U on Sunday.
Bikini shots, muscles and gym selfies could all be used to spruik a cause, says Svirskis, if the influencer is authentic.
“If an influencer is speaking about the causes they genuinely care about then it can have a powerful impact by helping the cause spread awareness and amplify messaging.
“If there’s a sponsored relationship that is disconnected from an influencer’s true passions, or the reasons why someone follows that influencer, then it’s likely to be ineffectual or could potentially backfire.”
AUSTRALIAN ACTIVIST INFLUENCERS:
LAUREN MCGEACHIN
@laurenmcgeachin and @veganwithlauren, 73.8k followers, vegan activist
Lauren is a Brisbane model and vegan activist who promotes a plant based lifestyle and doesn’t shy away from showing off some skin.
“What’s better than 2 naked girls in a spa? 2 naked vegan girls in a spa” she posted alongside a picture of her posing naked in the water.
JAMES ASPEY
@jamesaspey, 275k followers, vegan and animal rights activist
James, who lives on the Sunshine Coast, says he stands for “peace, justice and respect for all sentient beings.” His posts are varied, as are his ways of protesting after he took a yearlong vow of silence to raise awareness for ‘voiceless animals.’ He also cycled across Australia to show the ‘power of a vegan diet’ and was tattooed for 24 hours straight to raise money for charity.
“I post a variety of things from healthy, delicious and easy vegan recipes to footage of the standard legal practice inside factory farms and slaughter houses,” he said.
“I post my workouts to show vegans can be fit, healthy and strong.”
ELLIE SURSARA
@elissasursara, 187K followers, wildlife biologist and environmental storyteller
Ellie is passionate about animals, the environment and is an advocate for wildlife, posting pictures of sustainability, ethical living and self love.
PACHA LIGHT
@pachalight, 126K followers, environmentalist and surfer
This Gold Coast athlete is a rising star in surfing. She uses her platform to promote the conservation of the environment,her love for the ocean and women’s empowerment.
JACKSON GROVES
@jackson.groves, 423k followers, environmentalist
Jackson, from Adelaide, takes his followers on a journey around the world has he documents his travels and picks up litter along the way.
“This is an ADVENTURE BAG! In case you’re new here the idea is that every time you go on an adventure like a hike, to a waterfall or visit the beach you also fill up a bag of trash. Think of it as natures entry fee!” he posted with a photo holding a bag of rubbish.
MADISON STEWART
@sharkgirlmadison, 190k followers, shark protection activist
This Gold Coast activist founded Project Hiu, which aims to ‘provide alternative incomes to shark fishermen through tourism.’ The ocean-lover posts a mixture of beauty and shock, with photos of her swimming under the sea with the wildlife to pictures of frozen marine animals.
DJ TIGERLILY
@djtigerlily, 587k followers, vegan activist
Aside from her music, DJ Tigerlily is a fierce supporter of veganism. She was recently involved in a campaign for PETA where she stripped bare with only a crown of vegetables in her hair, promoting the message “Go Natural. Go Vegan.” Tigerlily uses her body to show the healthy benefits of veganism and its empowerment.