Matilda Green might be a social media influencer - but despite having 166,000 followers to keep updated, the TV personality says it's still important to stay away from the cell phone for as long as possible.
Green, née Rice, captured New Zealand's interest as a contestant on The Bachelor NZ. She also captured formerly eligible bachelor Art Green's heart - and the reality TV relationship has stood the test of time.
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The fairytale continued off-screen with a wedding and a baby - but despite the glitz and glamour of Fashion Week, television and celebrity status, there were plenty of tough times behind Green's curated Instagram feed.
Ahead of the release of her second book, The Feel Good Guide, Green sat down with The Project to talk social media, self-esteem and stuttering.
Green said the constant comparison that comes with social media is an "attitude we need to change".
"In the social media world, everyone seems like they've got a perfect life and we're constantly looking at other people... [thinking] they must be really happy."
"I think it's really important to remember that everyone goes through struggles with self-esteem, no matter who you are or how much money you've got. That attitude needs to change," she told The Project on Monday.
The Instagram influencer admitted the pressures of being in the public eye contributed to a number of "ups and downs" with her self-esteem over the last few years.
"With social media and being on TV... they're great things, but they come with negative sides, like having to deal with public opinion and judgement... that has an effect on mental health," she explained.
Green's newfound fame also caused the return of a childhood stutter.
"To treat the stutter I had to treat the anxiety behind it," she said.
"Things like meditation and mindfulness really helped... it's still there, it comes and goes, especially if I get nervous... as soon as [I] treated the anxiety, it kind of went away."
Despite having thousands of followers, Green doesn't feel the need to be constantly connected.
"At the end of the day, put down your phone for as long as you possibly can," she advised.
"It's all very well to say social media is bad, but it's easier to change your mindset and behaviour instead."
Newshub.
