Culture

Mackenzie Cecco

Curating the Ideal Life: Travel and Fitness Influencers on Social Media

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Hi, I’m Mackenzie Cecco, a fourth-year Professional Communication student at Toronto Metropolitan University, minoring in Public Relations and Tourism. I have a strong interest in digital media, influencer culture, and lifestyle branding, and I’ve always had a passion for fitness and travel. My capstone project explored how social media shapes audience perceptions, but more than anything, I’m focused on continuing to grow my strategic communication skills in a real-world, professional setting.

My goal is to build a career in public relations and digital media, where I can contribute to creating strategic, engaging, and authentic content for brands. As I approach graduation, I’m excited to see how everything I’ve learned throughout my program and my time at TMU will shape my path and open new opportunities in the field.

This study explores how travel and fitness influencers construct aspirational lifestyles through social media content. Using a qualitative approach, I analyzed Instagram and TikTok posts from six influencers to identify patterns in visual presentation, messaging, and storytelling. The findings reveal that influencers rely on curated aesthetics, performed authenticity, productivity narratives, and aspirational framing to present an idealized version of life. While this content can be motivating, it also shapes audience perceptions of success, identity, and self-image, often contributing to unrealistic expectations and social comparison. Overall, this research highlights the importance of media literacy and critical engagement with influencer content in today’s digital environment.

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