Erotic Influencer Psychology: The Duality of Idolization and Dehumanization
Erotic influencers are social media personalities who share explicit images and videos to promote their brand and earn money from followers. Their audience tends to idolize them but also objectifies them, which can be mentally challenging for them. This essay discusses how erotic influencers cope with this duality using examples from top performers such as Mia Khalifa, Daisy Dior, and Belle Delphine.
Erotic influencers like Mia Khalifa, Daisy Dior, and Belle Delphine have gained enormous popularity due to their sexy, seductive, and sometimes shocking posts. They post photos and videos that reveal their bodies in various stages of undress, often with suggestive captions and titles. Erotic influencers typically use hashtags related to sex and intimacy to boost visibility and engagement. They frequently interact with fans through direct messages or live streaming sessions where they answer questions about their lives, relationships, careers, and more.
Being an erotic influencer comes with psychological challenges because it involves a dual process of idolization and dehumanization.
Idolization occurs when people see someone else as better than themselves, idealizing their appearance, personality, or achievements. It's common among celebrity worshipers, sports fans, and religious devotees. In the case of erotic influencers, audiences may idolize their beauty, sensuality, sexual prowess, lifestyle, or success. They can fantasize about being with them, feeling close to them emotionally, even romantically. But some audiences also objectify erotic influencers by seeing them only as objects for pleasure rather than human beings with feelings and needs. This can lead to emotional damage and self-esteem issues since it denies their individuality, uniqueness, and humanity.
Example 1: Mia Khalifa
Mia Khalifa is an ex-porn star who became popular on Instagram after leaving pornography. She has over 28 million followers, but many objectify her body and blame her for past choices that led to cyberbullying from trolls. Fans ask inappropriate questions and make sexually explicit comments under her posts, which she finds disturbing. Still, she tries to stay positive, saying it makes her feel loved and appreciated.
The constant barrage of messages takes a mental toll, leading to anxiety attacks and panic disorders. To cope, Mia practices yoga, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). She says she reframes negative thoughts into more positive ones, such as "my followers are just expressing their admiration," and uses affirmations like "I am beautiful inside and out." This helps counteract dehumanization while maintaining a sense of pride and confidence.
Example 2: Daisy Dior
Daisy Dior is a UK-based erotic model with over 400k followers. She shares sensual images and videos where she plays with herself or interacts with fans via live sessions. Her audience idolizes her beauty, sexuality, and freedom to express herself openly online without censorship. But some objectify her by reducing her to a sexualized object, focusing on her breasts or genitals instead of her personality. It's not uncommon for audiences to demand nudes or direct them how to perform certain acts without regard for her comfort level. It can be psychologically damaging, leaving her feeling used and abused, especially since she has been sexually assaulted before. To deal with this duality, Daisy prioritizes self-care by engaging in regular exercise, healthy eating habits, restorative sleep, and supportive relationships outside social media. She also works with licensed therapists who help her process the emotional effects of being an erotic influencer.
Example 3: Belle Delphine
Belle Delphine is a South African cosplayer who gained fame after selling bathwater containing her vaginal fluids for $35 per bottle. She received death threats from people angry about it but continues to post provocative content despite the backlash. She says that having millions of fans makes her feel loved and appreciated, which helps counteract feelings of dehumanization.
Some messages she receives are disturbing, such as requests to meet offline and suggestions to do pornography full time. To cope, Belle uses mindfulness techniques like deep breathing exercises and meditation before posting anything controversial. She also talks about her struggles with mental illness to show followers they have common ground beyond online interactions.
Erotic influencers face the paradoxical challenge of being both idolized and dehumanized by their audiences. They must balance their need for recognition and validation while maintaining individuality, dignity, and respect. Some use coping strategies like yoga, meditation, CBT, self-care, and support networks to manage these complex psychological issues. Others rely on positivity, humor, or transparency to connect authentically with followers without feeling used or exploited.
How do Instagram erotic influencers psychologically cope with the simultaneous experience of idolization and dehumanization by their audiences?
Instagram erotic influencers are a unique breed of social media stars who have amassed large followings through the sharing of provocative and sexually suggestive content. While some may find this line of work empowering, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One such challenge is the psychological impact of being simultaneously idolized and dehumanized by one's audience.