Derry's Alannah Kerrigan on how audiences 'are craving authenticity now more than ever'
Derry woman Alannah Kerrigan hopes those who view and listen to her content ‘feel seen and less alone in the chaos of real life.’
The mum of three and self-employed digital marketing consultant is known to many through her hugely-popular social media pages on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, in which she has well over 150,000 followers combined.
Her honest, open and relatable content has won her many followers, with individual posts reaching up to half a million people and more around the world
In recent weeks, Alannah has launched her podcast ‘Mad About Herself,’ with the Instagram page achieving almost a million views in the first 30 days.
Like much of Alannah’s work and life, the podcast champions women and their voices, while also highlighting their strengths, achievements and struggles.
Alannah tells the Journal how this is very important to her and while many find her through her online content around DIY, decluttering, home interiors and everyday family life, she is also a survivor of domestic abuse.
Alannah is a member of the Foyle Women’s Aid Voices Forum, a group of survivors who use their lived experiences to help advocate for women affected by domestic abuse.
"I’ve always tried to create a space online that feels honest and relatable, not perfect, because I think so many people feel pressure to have everything together all the time. I want people to come to my page and feel inspired, but also feel seen and less alone in the chaos of real life, while also using my platform to encourage conversations around healing, self-worth and supporting women.”
Alannah began posting on social media ‘properly’ in 2020 ‘whilst we were building our home, initially creating an Instagram page to document our self-build journey and share my love of interiors.’
"What started as a space focused mainly on home projects and interiors gradually evolved into much more over the years. I began sharing snippets of everyday life, and over time, people really connected with the honesty behind the content, especially the more realistic side of motherhood, mental load, organisation and creating a home on a budget.
"Last year, I also started posting on TikTok and Facebook, which helped my content reach an even wider audience. Recently my accounts have all grown substantially, and it’s been amazing to grow such a supportive community. I think audiences are craving authenticity now more than ever, and that’s something I’ve always tried to stay true to.”
The podcast, she outlines, ‘came from wanting to have deeper conversations than social media allows.’
"Online content can be very quick and surface-level, but there are so many important conversations around motherhood, relationships, healing, personal growth and life experiences that deserve more time and space.
"My aim is to create something that feels safe, open and relatable. Somewhere people can listen and think “that’s exactly how I feel.” Long term, I’d love for it to grow into a platform and a community that not only entertains but genuinely helps people feel connected and supported.”
There are a number of core themes Alannah wants to focus on in the podcast, ‘particularly around motherhood, women’s wellbeing, relationships, confidence, healing, self-worth and navigating real life behind closed doors.’
"Some conversations will be light-hearted and funny, while others may touch on more emotional or difficult experiences. I want it to feel honest and natural rather than overly polished or restricted to one niche. The goal is for listeners to feel like they’re sitting having a real conversation with friends.
“I also feel really passionate about creating a space where women feel safe and empowered to share their stories openly. I have an abundance of incredible and inspirational women lined up as guests, all with very different experiences and perspectives, and I think there’s so much power in women having honest conversations and making others feel less alone through shared experiences.”
Going forward, Alannah ‘definitely’ wants her social media ‘to continue focusing on relatable content.’
"DIY, interiors, decluttering and organisation will always be a big part of what I do because it’s something I genuinely love, but I also want to continue sharing more lifestyle and personal content too. I think people connect most with authenticity, and I’ve learned that being open about both the highs and lows can really help others. I also want to continue to use my platform to highlight causes close to my heart and hopefully make a positive impact where I can.”
She is over the moon with the support she and the podcast continue to receive.
“The support so far has been overwhelming in the best possible way. When you put yourself out there, especially with something more personal like a podcast, there’s always that fear of whether people will connect with it or support it.
"So to see the response from the launch and the encouragement from people online has meant so much to me.
"I never take that support for granted, and I feel incredibly grateful that people continue to support what I’m building.”
Alannah paid tribute to all who support her.
“I think the biggest thing I’d want to add is just a thank you. To anyone who supports my content, listens to the podcast, shares a video or even sends a kind message, it genuinely means more than I think people even realise. Social media can sometimes look glamorous from the outside, but there’s a lot of vulnerability in showing up online too, and it doesn’t come without some personal costs.
“I’m really excited for what’s ahead and I hope the podcast and my platforms continue to be spaces where people feel welcomed, inspired and understood. You can find Mad About Herself on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, as well as across all the usual social media platforms.