If you love reality TV and have a comfortable sofa, you’re probably having an excellent summer. We’ve seen Ex On The Beach, just finished an explosive season of TOWIE, been treated to a new run of* Geordie Shore* and now we’re spoiled with a special, bonus, New York City edition of Made In Chelsea. But is 24/7 reality programming just innocent entertainment, or is it worse for us than living off Kraft cheese singles?
READ MORE: TOWIE Needs To Move With The Times: Its Sexism Is Beginning To Look Rather Old Fashioned
We don’t need to look too far to find worrying examples of how your life can go wrong when you let cameras film every second of it. Heidi Montag first appeared on our screens in 2004’s Laguna Beach – by the time The Hills ended in 2010, she had an entirely new face, and she’s since revealed she regrets some of the surgery.
*TOWIE’*s Mario Falcone admitted to ‘going off the rails’ after he was videoed using cocaine, and suspended from the show. Last summer* Geordie Shore’*s Sophie was sacked for using a ‘racial slur’. We don’t know whether these people would have done the same thing if they hadn’t been on TV, but it’s pretty clear that the pressure of being in the public eye doesn’t help when you’re trying to make sensible life choices.
TV presenter and blogger Ashley James knows all about those pressures following her appearance in Made In Chelsea. Since leaving the show, Ashley has started blogging about her personal experiences with depression and anxiety in a weekly column in Metro. ‘Depression and anxiety is a taboo subject, but the majority of people will experience it at some point in their lives,’ Ashley explained to The Debrief of her decision to ‘go public’, as it were, with her experiences.
Ashley adds that by being honest about what she was going through, she’s been able to make peace with some old ghosts. ‘Since I started writing about depression, people who bullied me at school got in touch on Facebook and sent me these page-long essays, because they related to what I was saying. It shows that when people are being unkind to you, they’re often coming from an incredibly unhappy place themselves.’
READ MORE: Why Geordie Shore Might Be The Most Moral Reality Show We've Got
She’s keen to stress that she knows being on TV brought her many opportunities. ‘It’s thanks to MIC that I’m doing what I love now. And it marked the start of a great chapter for me. At the time, I’d realised my job wasn’t making me happy, and I’d handed in my notice and started a presenting course, and two days later, I was asked to join the show. It felt like a sign.’
People who know me from the show might think ‘What has she got to be sad about?’ but even when your life looks perfect from the outside, it often isn’t the case
However, Ashley admits that viewers have preconceptions about the people they’re watching, which aren’t always real. ‘Talking to young fans of the programme, I’m aware that it’s hard to watch something where everything in the world looks glossy and perfect,’ she says, admitting that if you’re having problems off-screen, knowing that can exacerbate them.
‘I was aware we were portraying a wealthy, perfect world, and I think it’s important for everyone to see it isn’t really like that. People who know me from the show might think ‘What has she got to be sad about?’ but even when your life looks perfect from the outside, it often isn’t the case.’
READ MORE: It's A Tough Time For Feminist Fans Of Made In Chelsea
She added: ‘People assume you’re really privileged because you’re part of that programme, but it’s not necessarily the truth. I’m from a Northern, working-class background, and I know I wasn’t the only one there who was working incredibly hard when the cameras weren’t rolling. There’s a misconception that you must be from a certain background, and have a huge amount of money and an easy life.’
Ashley explains that ultimately, being on the show helped her grow, but sometimes it was hard to do what was expected of her. ‘I’m actually pretty geeky, and even when I wasn’t a student I didn’t really drink, but I felt pressured to go out a lot. I’m not very girly either, and I’d usually turn up to filming with no make-up on and my hair all over the place.
'But when you’re on TV, you’re quite exposed, and I felt that I ought to be going out and getting dressed up. In a way, this was great for me – you have to go outside your comfort zone to reaffirm your boundaries and realise what you’re happiest doing. But when you’re already struggling with depression and anxiety, that extra pressure doesn’t help!’
Ultimately, though, Ashley feels that Made In Chelsea put her on the right path. ‘Right now, I love my life. I’m really proud of my blog, and the feedback I’m getting. I’m also loving my role as a presenter of Style Stars on PopGirlTV, and working with the jewellery company I helped found, Whistle And Bango, which raises money for homeless and vulnerable people in London.
'And Made In Chelsea was the start of the journey that’s led to this. But there’s still so much more that I want to achieve, especially when it comes to helping young girls and women to deal with the pressure society places on them.’
Ashley’s story has a happy ending – or rather, a happy beginning. But I’ll definitely be thinking about her experiences next time I watch TV. I’m definitely guilty of assuming that everyone else has a perfect life, whether I’m seeing it on screen or via their Instagram feed. Ashley’s honesty makes me realise we’d all be healthier and happier if we remembered that we’re not watching the whole truth.
Read more from Ashley on her blog here
Like this? Then you might also be interested in:
Ask An Adult: When Are The Post Holiday Blues A Sign Of Something More Serious?
Facebook Should Be Investigated For Admitting Controlling Our Emotions, Says MP****
Follow Daisy on Twitter @NotRollerGirl
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.