Life Beyond the Feed: How Losing Instagram Helped Penny Antuar Reignite Her Passion
Penny Antuar
In an industry where online visibility is often mistaken for success, Penny Antuar’s experience is a reminder that the most profound growth often happens away from the screen.
Six months ago, Penny’s Instagram account her digital portfolio, was unexpectedly suspended and eventually deleted. What initially felt like a devastating loss turned into an unexpected turning point. Instead of scrambling to rebuild, she paused. And in that pause, something powerful unfolded.
Reconnecting With Her Craft
Freed from the constant pressure to post and perform online, Penny reconnected with what brought her into the industry in the first place: the artistry. She immersed herself in photo shoots, focused deeply on her clients, and created work that wasn’t made to fit an algorithm it was made to inspire.
The absence of a social media presence offered clarity. Without the noise, Penny rediscovered joy in the quiet moments the final touches before a model steps on set, the transformation of a client in her chair, the energy of a team collaborating purely for the love of the work.
A Healthier Relationship With Work
The loss of Instagram gave Penny permission to slow down and redefine success on her own terms. She built stronger boundaries, leaned into her offline community, and began to prioritise depth over reach.
What emerged was a balanced, sustainable approach to her career one that champions authenticity, presence, and creativity over constant online validation.
Tips from Penny: Building a Career That Lasts
For those aspiring to work at Fashion Week, collaborate with brands, or simply build a meaningful career in beauty, Penny offers the following insights learned not from social media, but from real experience:
1. Build Real Relationships
Authenticity is everything. Penny encourages artists to invest in relationships with photographers, stylists, and clients. It's these offline connections that lead to long-term opportunities and collaboration not likes or followers.
2. Show Up Offline
Workshops, shows, masterclasses, networking events these are the spaces where trust is built. Penny has always believed that being in the room matters more than being in the feed.
3. Curate a Diverse Portfolio
Don't just create for Instagram. Work across mediums, faces, and campaigns to build a portfolio that showcases your range and adaptability. Penny’s own career spans fashion, editorial and celebrity each project adding depth to her craft.
4. Own Your Work
Penny recommends having a professional website to serve as your professional anchor. A clean, editorial-style site allows your work to shine without the chaos of social algorithms. It’s a space that’s truly yours one that grows with you.
5. Manifest with Action
For Penny, manifestation isn’t just about dreaming it’s about aligning belief with consistent action. She believes that clarity, mindset, and energetic alignment are just as important as skill when building a career at the highest level.
6. Protect Your Energy
The beauty industry is fast-paced and emotionally demanding. Penny regularly makes space for therapy, reflection, and intentional rest to stay connected to her values and protect her creativity.
The Takeaway
Penny’s journey is proof that stepping back can move you forward. That losing an Instagram account doesn’t mean losing your place in the industry in fact, it can bring you back to yourself.
Her message to creatives: You are more than your online presence. Let your work, your relationships, and your energy speak louder than any post ever could.
In a world that values visibility, Penny Antuar continues to carve out a career defined by substance reminding the next generation of artists that real success comes from within.