When I heard I my application for my dream airline job had been successful I went on a bit of a mission to find out everything I could about them and their crew. That included spending a lot of time online, especially on the photo sharing site Instagram.
In many ways it was great, but it also had a very unexpected side effect (for me anyway)– crippling anxiety!
I saw all these young, beautiful people, all of whom were younger than me, slimmer than me, wearing beautiful clothes and to coin a phrase/hashtag ‘living their best life’.
Suddenly my life goal which I was so close to achieving, was becoming a very scary reality.
I was convinced I wasn’t going to fit in, I wouldn’t look right and that I’d have nothing in common with anyone.
Instagram Crew Life vs Real Life
I’ve seen crew on numerous occasions taking 10+ photos to get ‘the one’ which is then filtered and edited prior to being posted on Instagram (with a carefully thought out caption and hashtags).
I’ve also been told of crew going to a restaurant/bar in a carefully selected outfit, taking photos and then leaving without even having eaten or drunk there. Just so on Instagram they can have a photo in the ‘right’ place.
There is nothing wrong with this! But the reality of crew life is sometimes sitting in your hotel room in your pyjamas eating pizza, trying to hide the bags under your eyes with make up as you’re so jetlagged, and stressing out because one false eyelash has gone on perfectly but the other isn’t playing ball at all!!
Those are the pictures that don’t make it to Insta! It doesn’t look quite as glamorous…
As I said at the start, I use Instagram a great deal. And I love it. Both posting and seeing other peoples posts from around the world.
However, I use it in a slightly different way. Mine is all very real, there are pictures on there of me on ‘landing day’, with sticky up hair, no make up and looking pretty rough.
There’s a picture of a mountain of ironing captioned ‘it’s not all about the glamour’. I am very open about the fact I’m not 20, size 6 or blonde, I want to show people that anyone, whatever your shape or size can be cabin crew. You don’t have to conform to the image that you see on Instagram.
I’ve not had any cosmetic work done; however, I will admit to eye lashes (lol!).
I probably get at least one message a week from someone saying that I’ve encouraged them to apply as I’m so ‘normal’, that it’s brilliant to see someone a little older following their dream, that they didn’t think they could do it but they’re now going to try.
That for me is what Instagram is about, sharing my life to encourage others, to inspire, but to make it real!
#followyourdreams
Catch up with Lorna’s life and travels on Instagram at @lornah72
You can also find us on Instagram – @cabincrewwings!
