Helen Skelton Speaks Out on Social Media Pressure
Helen Skelton, the much-loved TV presenter and mum-of-three, has opened up about the pressures of social media and how it affects everyday parenting. Speaking candidly, she admitted that at times she has felt like “a slave” to it, even while acknowledging that it isn’t entirely negative.
She explained that modern parents often feel an overwhelming pressure to create a perfect image online, presenting lives that look beautifully organized and effortless. But in reality, she said, family life is messy, chaotic, and far from polished. “Why do we put pressure on ourselves to present this picture-perfect image to the outside world,” she asked, “when real family life is busy, rough around the edges, and that’s just what it is?”
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Helen, who separated from her children’s father, rugby player Richie Myler, in 2022, often pokes fun at herself and her own parenting style. She recalled being asked to support a new campaign about the unrealistic standards parents face on social platforms. At first, she thought it might be because her life wasn’t picture-perfect, but she quickly embraced the idea. “My friends said I was relatable,” she laughed, “but I said, no—I’m chaos!”
The campaign itself is a playful one launched by Warburtons, focusing on “lunchbox guilt.” It highlights how nearly half of parents admit feeling guilty about what they pack for their kids because it doesn’t match the Instagram-ready bento boxes so often seen online. Helen thinks this strikes a chord with most parents, reminding them that food doesn’t have to look perfect as long as it keeps kids happy and nourished. “Everybody’s doing the best they can,” she explained. “It’s not about having the perfectly presentable box where everything matches.”
She believes social media is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can inspire with creative ideas, recipes, and hacks. On the other, it can create endless comparisons that leave parents feeling inadequate. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” she said, warning against the trap of measuring yourself against the carefully curated posts of others.
For Helen, social media is something you can’t live with, can’t live without—but crucially, you can’t let it control you. She stressed that while it can open doors to opportunities and give access to useful ideas, it should never dictate how people live their lives. Inspiration can be taken from it, she noted, but it must not become the standard against which families are judged.
Despite the demands of work and parenting, Helen is determined to stay grounded, embracing the fact that life is often messy and imperfect. Whether she’s packing lunches for her children’s busy weekends or trying out new recipes she finds online, she chooses to laugh at the chaos rather than strive for impossible perfection. In her words, it’s about “taking the pressure off” and remembering that being real is far more important than being flawless.
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