In this episode of Reality TV Intellectuals, Genevieve and Pip turn their attention to Molly-Mae: Behind It All, the documentary-reality series that promises unprecedented access to one of the UK’s most successful influencer-turned-entrepreneurs.

Framed as an intimate look at work, ambition and vulnerability, the show raises bigger questions about self-branding, the girl boss aesthetic and using children in media.

We’re joined by Tinca Lukan, who brings an academic lens to the evolution of influencer aesthetics and explores how women present themselves as “girl boss” figures on social media. She explains what cultural ideas and practices underpin this girl boss identity and how it operates within contemporary digital culture with reference to Molly specifically.

So whether you’re fascinated by influencer culture, interested in how fashion aesthetics line up with societal changes, or just here for the Molly-Mae discourse, this episode digs into what Behind It All tells us about success and feminism in the social media age.

Tinca Lukan and Marni Appleton’s article: Unveiling the girl boss sexual contract: A multimodal discourse analysis of female influencers in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Slovenia. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 28(3), 721-738. 2025

Check out Molly-Mae: Behind It All: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Season-2-Part-1/dp/B0FQXCYYSV

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Music produced by White Hot.