Introducing Larissa May, our Conversationalist of the Week!

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Larissa May is the Founder and CEO of #HalfTheStory, a global community that encourages individuals to share the parts of their lives that exist outside of the standard social media story. While earning her degree in Creative Strategy and Marketing from Vanderbilt University, she founded a social media strategy consultancy. Now residing in Brooklyn, NY, Larz is proving herself as one of the go-to social media experts in creative strategy and influencer marketing. With partnerships on the horizon with publications such as Thrive Global and leading influencers, #HALFTHESTORY is becoming the beacon of Larz’s future media enterprise.  In addition to being an entrepreneur, Larissa is the mother to her adorable pug, Poncho. You can follow Poncho on instagram @ponchointhecity.

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As we discuss the connection between mental health and social media this week, Larissa is opening up conversations about this connection every single day.  Whether or not we realize it on our own, social media affects our wellness and mental health in ways that we try to keep hidden. Larissa has set out to change this culture, which she champions with her social media movement and nonprofit, #HalfTheStory. Check out her Ted Talk here!‍

Larissa is breaking down the stigma around this idea of the social media ‘highlight reel’ and has created a chain reaction of vulnerability and action by allowing people everywhere to share the truest version of themselves online.

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On social media, we tend to post very limited portrayals of our lives, our true colors, our hopes, and our dreams. In an exclusive Make Muse feature, Larissa shared that her goal in beginning the campaign was to open the dialogue of social media to include the other half, the pieces of our lives that we don’t post due to stigma, insecurity, fear, anxiety, image, or whatever it might be. She wants to show that people are not alone in their experiences and that everyone has more to them than their online profiles might suggest. Even more importantly, #HalftheStory is showcasing that real connections can be made online once we surpass the superficial.

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We were lucky to have Larissa on set last month as we filmed our first ever video series in Lower Manhattan. We partnered with #HalfTheStory and My Wellbeing to uncover the stories of those struggling with mental health and social media. Stay tuned for the videos!

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All in all, Larissa is making Instagram a more authentic place to be, with all of her incredible work.

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In honor of Mental Health Awareness Week this week, she’s premiering an original film this Thursday called Diagnosis! The film evolved from a play she produced in partnership with Brunch Theatre called ‘Brainfood.’ The short film reveals the candid relationship between patients and therapists behind closed doors. 

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Want to continue the conversation with Larissa outside of our platform? Follow Larissa, follow her community, engage with the stories that have been shared, and submit your own story here to be a part of the #HalfTheStory campaign!