ONLINE content creation across digital media platforms has been one big space used to generate, and market businesses by professionals from different corporate and creative spaces.
As is common with the digital media space, content is criticised and different opinions are shared by social media users especially when content goes viral.
Female content creators, particularly moms-to-be have not been excluded from criticism.
Content created by some female creators includes posting themselves showing off their baby bumps and being semi-naked on social media platforms such as X, Instagram and Facebook.
Locally, celebrities and content creators have been seen posting maternity photoshoot pictures although the trend has not been welcomed by many.
One of Zimbabwe’s content creators and prominent fitness trainer, Michelina Chindiya shared with Standard Style in an interview, her reality as a mom-to-be popularly known on social media platforms for her fitness inspiring content.
Chindiya is one of the content creators, who had their maternity photos going viral across digital platforms.
Like many other controversial topics, her pregnancy announcement online stirred debate and discussions on how modern moms-to-be have bold embraced their pregnancies online.
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Chindiya, however, said her journey as a mom-to-be has been nothing short of blessings.
She explained that as someone who has a career of fitness coaching and content creation, being pregnant has been a fulfilling experience which allowed her to advance her qualifications.
“I added to my professional qualifications and became a certified pre-and post-natal fitness trainer,” she said.
“What made my own journey more fulfilling was educating myself on how to make the most of fitness during pregnancy and how to bring out the best in other women preparing for pregnancy, recovering from pregnancy or currently walking this challenging and beautiful journey.”
After announcing that she was expecting a child, Chindiya also celebrated hitting 50 000 followers on Instagram.
She explained that although her following was boosted in a matter of hours, her biggest motive was to ensure that her platform educates and inspires women.
“As with any kind of viral moment, my maternity shoot boosted my following. However what is important to me is that my platform educates and uplifts other mums and mums-to-be,” she said.
“It will always be about impact and education for me, I do not want to just influence but motivate and inspire real change in the lives of those bold enough to take action,” she said.
As a certified pre and post-natal trainer, she explained the new kind of content her followers will be able to find on her digital platforms.
“Having gone through the process myself it only makes sense for me to train other mums and mums to be. I shall be helping other women learn to navigate the scary, beautiful and wonderful journey that is pregnancy. So going forward most of my content will be focused on what fitness during pregnancy can look like and do for you,” she said.
Medical practitioners from the England National Health Services articulated in an article on pregnancy and exercising that: “The more active and fit you are during pregnancy, the easier it will be for you to adapt to your changing shape and weight gain. It will also help you to cope with labour.”
Chindiya alluded with the view based from her own experience saying that her own pregnancy journey has certainly been healthier and manageable.
“My career as a fitness trainer has positively impacted my health now that I am expecting my baby. It has helped reduce back pain, promoted healthy weight gain during pregnancy. The quality of my sleep, energy levels and my mood has drastically improved during this volatile time,” she said.
While a career as a content creator requires consistency in posting content, Chindiya said she has decided to put her baby first above everything else.
“I have had to be more mindful of not over exerting myself, so I have taken on less content creation related work and prioritised rest instead,” she said.
“I have tried my best to maximise the amount of personal content that I create myself when training so that I can share with other women who may relate to my journey.”
Speaking on being a social media influencer and experiencing life as a mom-to-be, Chindiya suggested that her fellow women should learn to strike a balance between realities and social media engagements.
“It really helps to have a supportive and understanding partner, friends who know and love you as you are and family to keep you grounded in your self-worth,” she said.
“I think it’s too easy to confuse likes and comments for real life. I’m extremely grateful for the kind of perspective pregnancy has given me about whom and what matters most.”
She urged other moms and moms-to-be working content creators and other corporate spaces to get familiar with their legal rights.
“Pregnant women are often denied promotions and seen as liabilities or burdens, based on their decision to have a baby,” Chindiya said.
“When you’re expecting, understanding your rights is an important place to begin. Unfortunately, many women find themselves in situations where their rights during pregnancy are not respected to their full extent.”
Besides being a qualified fitness trainer, Chindiya is also a private wealth manager and brand ambassador.
