Alix Earle starts her TikToks the same way a lot of us do: a messy bun, a cup of iced coffee in hand, talking about her latest daily struggles. She's there, sitting in front of a mirror, confessing how "overwhelmed" she feels by work and life, or how much she’s been running on empty after a busy week of events and parties. We’ve all been there—scrolling through the app, nodding along, thinking, yeah, I get it. But as she spins the camera around to show off her outfit for her night out—an effortlessly chic dress from Mugler or some exclusive designer brand—you start to notice that the “relatable” vibe is starting to fade.
Her apartment, too, it isn’t the average 20-something’s cramped space; it’s a sleek, high-rise loft with a view of Miami that screams luxury. And then, there’s the vacation footage. She’s not booking last-minute trips on budget airlines like the rest of us; she’s jet-setting to private islands or five-star resorts in places most people can only dream of. Despite her relatable persona, there’s an undeniable air of glamour and privilege that sets her apart, creating a complex duality that keeps audiences both intrigued and fascinated. As we dive into the phenomenon that is Alix Earle, a girl just like us who’s navigating the complexities of life, it’s not long before we run into the other: someone living a life most of us could only dream of.
So, why do we watch her? Because she’s accessible or unattainable?
When Alix Earle first went viral, she appeared to be just your typical University of Miami party girl, casually documenting her life while juggling school. However, as her social media presence grew, so did the revelations about her life, which were far from ordinary. Alix comes from a blended family, and her background is anything but typical. Her parents divorced when she was young, but it was her father’s marriage to Ashley Dupre—a former escort and singer who became infamous in 2008 for her involvement in a scandal with New York Governor Eliot Spitzer—that thrust Alix into the public eye. This connection, along with her father’s success in the construction industry, gave Alix a lavish lifestyle from an early age, embodying the “rich girl” persona. Alix frequently showcases high-end fashion, luxury travel, and exclusive events, elements that may heighten feelings of inadequacy for those in more typical financial situations. During her time at the University of Miami, she dated NFL player Braxton Berrios.
Given this background, it’s fascinating to consider how Alix has managed to connect so deeply with her audience. While she shares snippets of her life that seem “relatable”—talking about personal struggles, self-care routines, and juggling work with life—her privileged upbringing and glamorous lifestyle can create a disconnect for fans facing financial or personal challenges. While she talks about everyday struggles, they’re not the same ones as most of her followers have. While her candidness on certain topics resonates with viewers, a closer look at her life raises questions about whether she’s truly the relatable girl we once believed her to be or if her social media persona is a curated version of reality that masks the distance between her world and the one most people experience.
One of Alix’s most relatable topics is her struggle with acne. Most influencers use beauty filters and cover any sort of blemish from the light of day. Not Alix though; she suffers from severe acne. She has opened up many times about the products she uses and the medication she has taken to help ease the breakouts. Alix told her viewers she had gone on Accutane twice before and was now on it for her third time in college. Each month, she provided viewers with detailed updates about what it was like to balance being on an intense medication while still living the life of a college student. Accutane can have several side effects, including dry skin, lips, and eyes, as well as increased sensitivity to the sun. Some people experience joint and muscle pain, nosebleeds, and changes in mood or mental health, such as depression or anxiety. Through her heartfelt updates and personal anecdotes, Alix not only sheds light on the physical aspects of her acne but also the emotional toll it can take.
This authenticity continues to shine through in one of Alix’s most viral “get ready with me” videos. Set in her childhood bedroom, she’s joined by her younger sister and best friend as they choose an outfit for a night out at a hometown bar during Thanksgiving break. After a full glam look in her previous video, Alix now faces what she describes as every girl’s hardest battle: picking out an outfit. She emphasizes the importance of this outfit because she’s seeing everyone from high school. As every college student can relate, the night before Thanksgiving is a highly anticipated occasion, blending nostalgia, excitement, and a hint of nervousness as many students return home to reconnect with old friends and relive cherished memories. Through the screen, you can feel all of those emotions with Alix. First, she showcases her best friend Sally’s outfit and asks the viewers what shoes she should wear. Next, Alix pulls out a “very booby” top from Princess Polly, and the clip jumps to her wearing the revealing top as she states, “Is this too much for a little bar in New Jersey? Definitely.” After trying on a few more outfits, she ultimately returns to the white top, noting that none of her high school classmates have seen her new boobs, which she got done earlier in the year. This GRWM video exploded, racking up 1.1 million likes, with comments filled with reactions to her New Jersey line and many users clipping the video to create a viral TikTok sound.
Anyone can relate to being nervous to see old friends again. But a new boob job doesn’t play into those feelings for most people. Alix Earle is the modern-day embodiment of something we've seen before on TV—especially in shows like Gossip Girl, where teens from New York’s Upper East Side live in lavish penthouses, wear designer clothes, and navigate a world of privilege that most viewers could only dream of. Yet, despite the distance between their glittering worlds and our own, audiences still related to their dramas: the backstabbing, the crushes, the family problems. We tuned in, not necessarily to see how the other half lives, but to watch how the "other half" struggles with the same emotions we do. It’s easy to see Alix Earle in the same light—her life is filled with private jets, five-star vacations, and clothes most of us could never afford, yet she still talks about the same pressures and insecurities that plague the average person.
Despite not fitting the mold of the typical college experience, Alix has cultivated a persona that resonates with many, earning her the “relatable” title from fans who admire her authenticity and approachability. She has a knack for presenting herself as incredibly relatable, sharing her struggles with acne and the ups and downs of college life, which resonates deeply with her audience. This contrast between this narrative and her lived experience doesn’t take away from thinking of her as a friend, someone I have a sort of parasocial relationship with. It’s honestly perfectly okay with me that she isn’t entirely relatable—her experiences and glamorous moments serve as a reminder that everyone has their story, even if it doesn’t always look the same.
In a way, it's not such a stretch to see Alix as relatable. Unlike the drama-filled, fictional world of Gossip Girl, which centers on a mysterious figure spreading gossip about privileged teenagers, Alix's presence on social media is grounded in authenticity and relatability. In contrast to the scheming characters of Gossip Girl, Alix maintains a genuine, down-to-earth vibe, connecting with her audience through transparency and humor rather than fueling sensational gossip. While her life may not necessarily feel more attainable, it certainly feels less distant and less perfect—and in that sense, it's perhaps this authenticity that keeps us coming back. Alix is a real person with real moments, while Gossip Girl creates a fictionalized world where every interaction is designed to intrigue and scandalize.