A woman who appeared on a popular BBC show says she had no choice but to turn down some major opportunities due to her anxiety.
From TV Star to Influencer
Sophie Bow received a dramatic 'makeunder' on BBC's Snog Marry Avoid, which featured the sassy robotic style guru POD (Personal Overhaul Device). Rather than being given a makeover, those who appeared on the show were given a 'makeunder' as they were persuaded less is more.
The show was a huge hit with fans in the late 00s, with singer Jenny Frost followed by comedian and Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Taylor as the host. The BBC Three show aired from 2008 until its sixth and final series in December 2013.
Sophie was just 19 when she first appeared on TV screens, encountering POD as a teenager who loved lots of fake tan, heavy makeup and eye-catching outfits covered in sequins and glitter.
At the time, viewers fell in love with the teen and show bosses were keen to get her back on TV for other projects.
Turning Down Opportunities
Now 33, she has become a popular social media content creator but revealed that she was forced to turn down a number of TV opportunities because of her anxiety.
Looking back on her journey since appearing on Snog Marry Avoid, she took to TikTok and gave fans an update on her life today.
She started off by saying: 'I would say appearing on telly back in the day definitely helped my career. Back then it was a very popular show but it disappeared off the face of the earth and no one knows why or where it went but it would be so good if they brought it back.'
She revealed: 'After being on that show, I did actually get casted for the first ever Love Island but I was in a relationship. I've always been in a relationship so I never went on the show.'
However her relationship wasn't the only thing holding her back as she explained: 'But there have been so many opportunities that I actually did miss out on - throughout my life because I do have anxiety - I suffer badly with anxiety. I don't really know what triggered it but I do get quite bad anxiety. Even to this day I get asked on brand trips or anything outside my comfort zone, if I'm not going with somebody I can't.'
The influencer added: 'I really need to push myself to do more. I have a little boy and he is the best thing ever so I did take a little break from social media for a little while but then I did go back into social media. I did lose quite a lot of following from having the break then I started a TikTok account and here I am.'
