Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, might be one of the most successful YouTubers in the business, but the 28-year-old revealed that imposter syndrome leaves her “constantly doubting” her achievements.
“I have major imposter syndrome at the moment!” Sugg began in a caption on Instagram, where she has 10.1m followers.
“I’m constantly doubting everything I’ve achieved, everything I’m working on business wise and everything I’m working on in my personal life!” the social media star and author continued.
“It’s such a peculiar feeling and nothing I do seems to make it ‘less so’,” she added, asking her followers whether they shared her anxieties.
“Be honest, we’re a happy, encouraging and very considerate bunch over here. A problem shared is a problem halved after all.”
Imposter syndrome is the psychological term prescribed to experiencing intense feelings of self-doubt to the the extent where people like a fraud, either in their personal or professional lives, though it’s usually the latter.
A survey conducted in 2017 claimed that one third of millennials have suffered from imposter syndrome due to feeling intimidated in the workplace.
Kate Winslet, Michelle Obama and Emma Watson have all spoken out about their experiences with imposter syndrome.
Sugg has been outspoken in the past about her struggles with anxiety, filming countless YouTube videos on the topic and regularly writing about it on her blog.
In January, she revealed that social media can make her feel “suffocated” at times, adding that she finds fame overwhelming.
“I spoke a bit last year about the pressure, expectation and fear of posting that I have often experienced throughout my decade of sharing, but now more than ever, I second guess a lot of things I say or post,” she wrote.
“I also know that SO many of you do the same thing (regardless of follower count) and you can end up feeling a little suffocated and disconnected.”
