Mum 'baffled' after she gains 20,000 followers for family life
A Sunderland mum has gained more than 20,000 followers on Instagram after starting up an Instagram page to share family updates for family who live in the US.
Louise Bennett, 34, from Doxford Park launched her Instagram page @thecalvertclan to keep family in Texas updated after her daughter Selina was born.
Little did she know that two and half years later, her page would blow up and 20.6K people would also be following her family updates.
The mum who works parttime in a bank said she was left ‘baffled’ after the page started to attract attention.
Louise said: “I set up the page in 2018 when Selina was two months old, it was just so family in Texas could see updates of her growing up.
"I soon started getting more and more followers, I have no idea why and it still baffles me now.”
The family post pictures of their days out across the North East at the beach, parks and eateries.
Mum Louise also posts beauty regimes and products as well as paid partnership posts with the likes of clothing brand Shein.
She said: “We do get some advertising and promotion companies contacting us but
I turn a lot of brands down as I only promote companies I would genuinely recommend to people.”
Posts on the family Instagram also include Louise’s fiance Ryan and stepson Rhys, 15, who get involved in family
days out.
The 34-year-old says the social media page has helped build a network of mum’s across the UK who reach out to her with tips and places to visit.
She said: “There’s a sense
of community among the Instagram page, I’ve met other mams in the North East through the page.
"It’s like a big support network.
"It’s been fantastic throughout the pandemic because even though we weren’t able to see people, I could still interact with others with almost survival tips.”
Louise says the Instagram page has also built a platform to see her youngest daughter Selina grow up.
She added: “I can really see Selina’s personality developing as you look through the photos. It’s nice to have that kind of memoir.”
You can follow Louise and her family’s story on Instagram @thecalvertclan.