The Vegan Brand of Yoga Girl
For many years, Rachel Brathen built her influential 'Yoga Girl' brand largely around principles of ethical veganism, mindful living, and animal welfare. Her online platforms, books, and retreats often highlighted a plant-based diet as a central component of her overall philosophy. She co-founded an animal rescue in Aruba and her public persona was deeply intertwined with the positive attributes of a vegan lifestyle. Many of her followers were introduced to veganism through her content, seeing her as a shining example of its benefits. This strong, public identification with the movement would later amplify the shock and backlash when her dietary decisions changed.
The Journey Away From Veganism
Brathen detailed her decision to leave veganism in a podcast episode titled "I Am No Longer Vegan: The Full Story," released in October 2022. The transition, she explained, was not a sudden one but a gradual process spurred by declining health after her pregnancy. Despite eating what she believed was a healthy vegan diet of whole, organic foods, she felt sick, constantly run down, and exhausted. She also mentioned a struggle with mold toxicity and feeling like her body was unable to fight off infections.
One of the main catalysts for the change, according to Brathen, was feeling confined by the strict label of "vegan." She described her mindset as becoming dogmatic and stressful, centered on what she couldn't eat rather than nourishing her body. This led her to seek a more intuitive and free-spirited approach to food. A highly controversial part of her story involved a spiritual "sign" from the universe involving an egg that led her to reintroduce animal products into her diet. She began with eggs and bone broth before eventually incorporating chicken.
The Health Issues Cited
Brathen and other influencers who have left veganism often point to specific health concerns. While a well-planned vegan diet can be very healthy, it can be challenging for some individuals to sustain long-term without deficiencies or other issues.
- Chronic Fatigue: A common complaint from former vegans, citing low energy levels that persisted despite proper caloric intake.
- Frequent Illness: Brathen mentioned recurrent infections and shingles, which she interpreted as her body's inability to thrive on the plant-based diet alone.
- Mental and Emotional Strain: The pressure to maintain a strict dietary identity and the obsession with food choices led to stress and restricted freedom.
- Processed Food Overload: Brathen acknowledged consuming too many heavily processed vegan alternatives, which she initially mistook for healthy food.
Public Backlash and the Wider Influencer Trend
Brathen's announcement received a significant amount of criticism and backlash, particularly from the vegan community. Followers felt betrayed, arguing that she had profited from her vegan image and then easily dismissed it. Critics pointed out the hypocrisy of building a brand on a principle she later abandoned, and that her 'intuitive' rationale dismissed the ethical components of veganism.
This controversy is part of a broader trend of wellness influencers leaving veganism. Other public figures have made similar announcements, citing health struggles, weight fluctuations, and burnout from the restrictive lifestyle. This pattern raises questions about the long-term sustainability of very strict diets promoted on social media and the accountability of influencers who build their platform on specific lifestyle choices. The debate around her decision highlights the strong link between diet and identity in modern culture, where changing one's eating habits can be perceived as a betrayal of a community.
Yoga Girl's Diet: Vegan vs. Omnivore
| Aspect | Vegan Diet (Past) | Omnivore Diet (Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Whole foods, plant-based, raw vegan initially. | Intuitive eating, listening to the body's needs. |
| Animal Products | Strictly excluded all meat, dairy, and eggs. | Reintroduced eggs, bone broth, and meat. |
| Rationale | Ethical concerns, animal welfare, and perceived health benefits. | Health issues, overcoming restrictions, and ancestral connections. |
| Mental State | Described as dogmatic, stressful, and restrictive over time. | Reported feeling more freedom, joy, and less food obsession. |
| Community Reaction | Generally positive, aligned with her brand. | Significant backlash and controversy. |
Conclusion
Rachel Brathen's journey reflects a larger conversation about the intersection of personal health, online branding, and the complexities of dietary choices. While her decision to incorporate animal products for health and intuitive reasons was a personal one, the fallout demonstrates the intense scrutiny influencers face when their personal evolution clashes with their public persona. Her story serves as a case study on the pressures of maintaining a public identity tied to specific lifestyle choices and the evolving nature of wellness trends. Ultimately, she chose to listen to her body's perceived needs over the expectations of her followers, a move that alienated some but aligns with her newer focus on freedom and intuition.
Further reading: You can learn more about her diet shift and the broader context of influencer accountability on Substack: What we can learn about diet and identity from Yoga Girl's ...
