As The Sober Curator’s UK correspondent, it’s a joy to share some influencers from across the pond to add to your regular dose of sobriety content. As a sober gal in her first year of abstinence, social media has been a massive lifeline for seeking inspiration and support and adjusting the balance of hedonistic vs. holistic posts in my feeds. Here are my five favorite influencers to add some British accents to your collection of sober friends in your pocket.
Abi Feltham
Powerlifting, TikTok vlogging badass Abi Feltham takes the top of this list for her raw, honest accounts of her recovery and mental health journey. Abi got sober after a wild and unconventional early adulthood in which she traveled across the globe, especially Southeast Asia, but eventually realized that she couldn’t outrun her alcoholism. Abi offers a refreshing outlook on her journey in sobriety, providing an honest look into her life — she isn’t afraid to share that it’s not always rainbows. While some recovery accounts focus on the benefits and overlook some of the more challenging parts of sobriety, Abi’s videos don’t spare any gory details of the past or the present. We think this makes her a brave, relatable, and inspiring advocate of sobriety, who carries the message in a way that Team Positivity doesn’t always manage — and ultimately shows people that if your recovery is a rollercoaster of positives AND negatives, you’re not alone. Find her on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Issy Hawkins
Issy Hawkins is a genuinely brilliant storyteller. As an actress, she uses her ability to connect with an audience to stand in as a sober big sister to tens of thousands of followers. Issy came to sobriety through rehab, which she shares in a number of her videos online and gives some brilliant advice for people both new to and firmly footed in their sobriety. Issy is one of the lucky ones who came to sobriety at an early age, at just 21, but that’s not to say she didn’t suffer her fair share of chaos and trauma in active addiction. With nine years of sobriety, Issy imparts her knowledge and experience in bite-sized videos that are as engaging as they are eloquent. What I love about Issy is her deep understanding and ability to communicate niche topics, including the science of alcohol/ISM and spiritual aspects of recovery (especially the 12 steps.) Find her on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Siôn, The Sober Gay
Siôn The Sober Gay is an absolute joy. His appreciation for mocktails and ability to be adventurous and social without any inebriation were incredibly inspiring and reassuring in my first few weeks of sobriety. Siôn dispels the myth that you need alcohol to let your hair down, bringing his followers along to trips in Barcelona, London, and more to show just how much fun you can have without alcohol or drugs. His way of reaching the newly sober and sober-curious is impressive: he’s encouraging and humble, offering an empathetic and uplifting take on early sobriety. He hosts a podcast, The Sober Gay, a fantastic resource for the sober LGBTQIA community. Find him on Instagram and TikTok.
Lily and Sober
One half of the Flamingo AF duo, Lily, is another influencer who inspires me with every video she posts. Like Abi, she shares personal, vulnerable details about her recovery, including relapse, adding to the collection of online personalities who aren’t afraid to let their audience in on the struggles as well as the triumphs. Speaking of triumphs, her community — Flamingo AF — has been hosting alcohol-free events since 2021 and forming a flock of fellow sober people who support each other and celebrate the good times with no alcohol needed. Her friendly, down-to-earth manner of speaking and connecting with her viewers feels as close to being on FaceTime as one can get via a video on social media — she’s a sober friend in my back pocket and one I love to bond with (in a parasocial, imaginary way.) Find her on TikTok, Instagram, and the Flamingo AF website.
Annie Davies
Annie is another excellent example of a sober young woman focussing on her mental and physical health and letting us in on her journey. At just 25, she’s an inspiration to the younger generation of sober people that’s growing year on year. She’s not afraid of sharing the less glamourous parts of sobriety, with videos like her honest one-year sobriety update showing her audience that it’s normal to face hardships and slumps through sobriety — after all, life keeps on happening. Her “unfuck my life” series and “come with me” videos invite us along for the ride and show us the wins, big and small, and the joy of making space in her life for things like rock climbing, weightlifting, skincare, and makeup. Find her on TikTok.
SOBER ENTERTAINMENT: Top 75 Sober Instagram Accounts to Follow in 2024: A Community United in Recovery « The Sober Curator
SOBER ENTERTAINMENT: Let us entertain you! Here you’ll find a curated selection of podcasts, TV series & movies, events, and music with the underlying theme of addiction. We’re sober, not boring! We’re covering it if it’s trending in pop culture and relates to sobriety. Our taste is eclectic, and our reviews are honest. Check out the sober entertainment you never knew you needed until now.
ENTERTAINMENT SECTIONS:
#QUITLIT Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. #QUITLIT is our curated list of addiction and recovery book reviews. All Sober Curators should be well-read, from addiction and recovery memoirs to fiction and self-help.
ADDICTION FICTION Addiction fiction is a burgeoning genre that delves into the gritty reality of substance abuse and its impact on individuals and relationships, uniquely spotlighting personal growth, redemption, and the road to recovery. These narratives offer compelling, relatable messages through their exploration of addiction and recovery themes.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR brings you the movies we love that also carry the underlying story of addiction, recovery, and mental illness.
THE MINDFUL BINGE features TV series where addiction and recovery are part of the main storyline.
PLAY IT AGAIN is jamming with music selections representing some part of our journeys and giving us all the feels.
RECOVER MIXTAPES Coming Soon!
SOBER SPORTS is our section of the site that is dedicated to promoting sobriety and wellness through sports and fitness. The section features articles, interviews, and personal stories from athletes and fitness enthusiasts who are committed to living a healthier, alcohol-free lifestyle.
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND is your one-stop shop to check out all recovery-based podcasts we’ve been curating.
SOBERSCRIBE NOW!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
