Pink hair. An adorable accent. Tattoos, jewelry, and bright vintage outfits.

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She’s not even afraid to show her tummy, which — if I may comment on another woman’s body — is what I would call "normal." (And I’m so RELIEVED by that.)

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I found her last week. And though she probably doesn’t neeeeeed me to help add to her 893K audience, I do think she might be worth a look if you have the time.

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​Florence Given took over my life (and motivation) last week.

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I binged and binged and binged. Couldn’t look away.

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Bad for my productivity, yes. But I also put Florence in the very rare category of “productive scrolling” for me. Because Florence did what practically NO ONE else on social media can … she made me feel GOOD and ENERGIZED.

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• She’s hyper confident — and tells you to be, too.
• She dresses somewhere between 70s casual glam and vintage grandma — and tells you why she's not bothered by stares.
• She tells you to get comfortable making other people uncomfortable — it’s not your job to make other people feel better.

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I tend to be attracted to people like Florence: loud, colorful, unabashed. But it’s not just their aesthetic that draws me in.

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The ones that truly capture me are the ones that are authentically themselves.

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I reflected on this. And that’s when things turned a bit sour for a moment.

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If I’m attracted to LOUD authenticity … why would anyone be attracted to my own QUIET authenticity?

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In a very human move, I compared myself to Florence.

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• Pink Hair v. Brown Hair

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• Fur lined parka vs. holey sports bra I really need to wash

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• Bright, colorful reels vs. Carousels I half-assed in Canva

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• Inspirational messages vs. oxford commas

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I mean, fuck ... she even says "fuck" more than I do.

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The spiral started knocking, and I had all but resigned for the day.

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BUT THEN …

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I recalled all of the other also “quietly authentic” women I follow, work with, and admire.

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The ones without the pink hair, without the flower mood rings, without the green shag coats.

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I love them, look up to them, and want to have wine with them JUST AS MUCH.

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So I adjusted my lens:

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I’m not just attracted to loud authenticity.

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I’m attracted to authenticity, in any shape or form it introduces itself in my life.

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I’m attracted to the *energy* of someone being themself.

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I’ve also found it doesn’t usually matter whether I like/agree/resonate with them or not … I’m still drawn to them.

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Because there is something so magnetically alluring about someone who is comfortable in their own skin (especially, I’d argue, if they’re NOT particularly loud or outrageous).

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These thoughts were constantly rolling in my head last week, so I wanted to email you about it, on the chance that you, too, might struggle to love your own authenticity when it’s up against the backdrop of such BIG personalities online.

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People like people. And you, Reader, are a person.

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You have thoughts, quirks, habits, biases, dislikes, obsessions, favorite colors. When you add it all up, the combo makes you irresistibly unique. You just have to start believing that.

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So rather than comparing ourselves to the loud, beautiful people of the internet, let’s spend that time getting to know our own beautiful selves … and then being “loud” in our own ways.

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Much love ✌️Kelsey

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PS Here are a few of my favorite reels from Florence:

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​If you think you’re not qualified to do what you want to do​

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​If you want to see the body positivity that *I* personally need to see​

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​If you need a reframe on being “great”​