Chasing the horizon: The glow-up trap and the space in between | Ann Elpa | TEDxTorontoMetU

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In an era of endless scrolling, filters, and ever-changing algorithms, how do you know when you're enough? Drawing from her experiences as a digital storyteller, former beauty pageant queen, and eating disorder survivor, Ann Marie Elpa explores how social media has transformed self-improvement into performance. Through personal storytelling, she examines the rise of glow-up culture, the pressures of online validation, and why what many of us are truly searching for isn't perfection, but authentic community. In an era of ever-changing social media algorithms, how do we know we're enough? Digital storyteller and former beauty pageant queen Ann Marie Elpa shares her journey of overcoming an eating disorder while exploring why so many young people struggle with isolation, insecurity, and body image. Based in Toronto, Ann Marie is a social media strategist, freelance journalist, and content creator whose work has appeared in CBC, Business Insider, The Globe and Mail, and The Toronto Star. She writes about Asian identity, pop culture, and lifestyle, and has partnered with brands including CeraVe, Sephora Collection, Bumble, and #OOTDBeauty. Crowned Miss Asia Ontario 2023, she advocates for young women through mentorship and talks on confidence and body image. Her talk challenges "glow-up culture," arguing that what many people seek isn't transformation, but authentic community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx