10 Questions with social influencer Sophie La Touche   

Limerick native Sophie La Touche is a social media influencer who teaches her followers about body positivity, the importance of loving themselves, and most importantly, to stay strong no matter what life throws at you. Sophie was diagnosed with Lyme’s Disease a couple of years ago and more recently the disorder fibromyalgia, which she believes has made her stronger as a person. Sophie creates a very inspirational and positive social media platform thanks to all her life experiences. Sophie La Touche

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

We chatted with this amazing woman about her life and podcast.  

What was your childhood like and where did you grow up?   

I grew up in Raheen until I started my first year in Castletroy College, so my teen years were in Castletroy. My childhood was diverse, I spent half my time with my dad and sisters and half my time with my mom and brother. I spent a lot of time in my aunts’ house with my cousins who are my best friends.   

How did you come to work at SpinSouthWest and what is it like?  

I started working in Spin as their social media manager, I love my job and have learned so much in a short space of time about the value and business model of media. I also have had so many opportunities to do courses through my job. So far, I have done a course in journalism, podcasting and social media for radio.    

I’m lucky to have gotten my job at a time that’s been hard on people. I never officially announced I was with them until now. I didn’t feel like it was right as so many people had lost their jobs.   

When did you begin podcasting and what was your inspiration behind it? What type of content does your podcast cover?   

Sophies message to her followers is to love yourself

I launched my podcast on national podcast day in September 2019. I had two main mentors behind me helping me, one was This Boy Knows (Adam) and Shane Mc Carthy who has been a long-standing friend and mentor.   

I had been so sick in 2019 that my podcast saved me. I dropped out of college because I was so sick with Lyme and I needed a project to work on. I never expected in a million years to have over 100k hits, I just wanted to do something to distract me from the illness.   

My content on the podcast is not for the faint-hearted, it covers taboo subjects. The things people don’t speak about. We cover topics such as suicide to sugar daddies, the travelling community, kink and spirituality vs religion.   

All of my guests are inspirational to me and it’s not about the number of followers they have or how I will benefit.   

I want to be Oprah, I don’t mind admitting that. You can call me. S-Oprah   

What do you love and dislike about being a social influencer? What is your overall message on social media?   

I want to be real. When I find myself wanting to delete a story or a vulnerable post, I realise they are things I want to and need to share. Because it’s real. And if I can be brave enough to share my illness or anxious moments, it permits others to feel normal. I want to encourage people to do good for themselves and to others around them and my main message is to love yourself no matter how much money you have, what you look like, how you think.  

Tattle life and online forums are the downsides to social media but to be honest, I have so many people in the industry that get the same happen to them and we support each other through it.  

Where do you see yourself in five years?   

My 5-year plan – I would love to make a living out of my podcast, travelling and sharing people’s stories from around the world. That’s my dream.   

I just turned 30 and had a mini quarter-life crisis where I felt pressure to find a husband, get a house, and push out some babies. However, I had an amazing follower contact me, she is a money coach and she grilled me and wanted to know my ‘why’ why did I think I wanted this and quite honestly it was because of societal pressure. Instead, I have a savings plan in place to hopefully travel back to Australia and live out my dream. ️  

What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?   

My degree in Marketing. Someone once told me, once you have that piece of paper, nobody can ever take it away. My greatest accomplishment above all was overcoming my illness and pushing through the darkest days.   

Have you faced any struggles along the way?   

I haven’t had it easy. I have a scar worth 60 stitches on my face. I was bitten by a dog at the age of two and bullied

Sophie has a scar on her face after being bitten by a dog at the age of two

badly in school, they used to call me scarface. I got Lyme disease and was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and I am still going through all of the implications that come with that. I genuinely believe that your struggles only make you stronger and more empathic so I wouldn’t take any of them back.   

What advice would you give to your younger self?   

I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m glad of all the good and bad decisions I have made. If I was to give someone younger than me advice, I would say follow your heart and don’t conform to any box people put you in. Be authentically yourself.  

Have you any exciting upcoming projects?   

I have my podcast series kicking off again this summer and I got my first paid sponsorship from Angel Times in Limerick which I am over the moon about.  

And lastly, what do you love about Limerick?   

I love the people of Limerick the most. They are so friendly and supportive. I also love the riverwalk. For a little creep to see who about but the views are lovely too.