#MyBlogLife: Rachel Martin Opens Up About Bullying, Overcoming Depression And Her Brand New Blog

When did you start blogging?

Things took off pretty quickly, I’ve only been blogging for four months! At the beginning I blogged quietly without sharing it to my family or friends, just to test it out, but by January I felt confident that things were going to work and shared away.

What’s the best part of blogging for you?

Blogging has been a way for me to express myself. The lifestyle section of my blog is very personal, it’s a form of therapy! If something has been playing on my mind, I write about it and I love seeing it all come together for the end result.

You’re very open about your experience with bullying, how has that shaped you?

Before I was bullied, I was a completely different person. I was shy, quiet and wasn’t very confident. Over the years, working through the bullying made me stronger. I know it sounds cliché.  I think overcoming depression at such a young age changed me too.

When you go somewhere that dark and then work through it, you start to appreciate things  more. I never look back and think ‘I wish I was never bullied’ because that’s a part of me now. The bullying did take my teenage years from me, which is sad, and it was only really from my college years that I started enjoying myself again.

Would you say you’re more confident now because of it?

I wouldn’t give the bullying credit for my confidence. It was working through my depression that did it. It wasn’t a quick fix, there’s no one moment or specific time that I started to feel confident. I just keep working on keeping myself in a good place every day!

What advice would you give to young girls who are suffering from depression or being bullied?

Don’t be so hard on yourself. I always try to talk to myself as if I was talking to a close friend. Just think to yourself, what would your best friend say? They definitely wouldn’t bring you down, they would build you up! So work on making your mind your best friend.

We really enjoyed your “comparison kills individuality” post.

I  have that quote written on a post-it beside my bed. It’s a daily reminder that brings me back to myself. On my low days, I’ll scroll through Instagram and start comparing myself to other girls! It’s about working on the balance between appreciating someone else’s talents and knowing your own without feeling insecure.

As a blogger, do you think you feel more or less pressure from social media than other people?

I can look at that in two ways. It could be more – people will expect more from you and expect your Instagram to look a certain way. They signed up for something and if you don’t meet their expectations, they’ll drop you pretty fast. That’s a lot of pressure!

On the other hand, it could be less – going back to my comparison kills post, I know it’s not real. Everything you see on social media has been planned to make things look perfect. I know it’s not real so I don’t feel so much pressure at a personal level.

Who are your favourite bloggers?

I love Sarah Ashcroft AKA That Pommie Girl for her fashion sense and photography and Lydia Millen for her well-written posts and sleek minimalist style. I also love Rosemary Mac Cabe – I could read her stuff all day and it’s very relatable for anyone who’s suffered from depression.

Let’s talk beauty. How is your make-up so flawless?!

To be honest, it’s all about keeping your skin looking great. Your skin is the base for your make-up so the better it looks, the better your make-up will be.  My favourite products are Chanel CC Cream, NYX HD Photogenic Concealer and Soft Matte Lip Creams and MAC Lip Liner in Spice. I also love Benefit’s Hoola bronzer and High Beam highlighter.

Do you follow a particular skincare regime?

Unlike most, I don’t actually wash my face with a cleanser in the morning. I think it helps my skin from drying out! I just apply a light layer of moisturiser and a quick spritz of one of my face mists. I’ve started using facial mists as part of my daily skincare routine and they’ve become one of those products I don’t know how I lived without. At night, I cleanse and occasionally use a gentle scrub on my face. I have more make-up free days in a week than make-up days too which I think makes a difference.

And what about fashion, what will you be wearing this spring/summer?

My style will always be 70’s retro.  Neutrals are huge for SS16 but I’ve always loved that colour palette anyway. I might add a hint of suede and denim to my wardrobe if I find some stylish pieces!

And where will you be shopping?

I love Zara, their collections always have a very designer feel to them. I wish I shopped in some less well-known places and worked the vintage style, you know Nine Crows and Siopaella, but so far I just haven’t managed to crack it as a style I like.

Wanna be a part of #MyBlogLife? It runs online weekly and in the magazine monthly, too. To be considered, you need to have a personal blog. Join STELLAR’s Facebook group, open to all personal bloggers, or drop an email to info@stellar.ie, telling us why we should feature you.

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• #mybloglife
• Rachel Martin