10 Crohn’s Influencers You Should Know and Follow on TikTok and Instagram

Gone are the days of suffering in silence. With social media a constant presence beneath our fingers, connecting with those who share similar life experiences is easier than ever. Crohn’s and IBD influencers, in particular, have created a tight-knit community where no topic is off-limits and where honesty, humor, and hope shine through. Here are 10 Crohn’s influencers you should know and follow.

With over 80,000 followers on TikTok, Renee of Beautifully Broken, started her social accounts to walk herself through her ostomy surgery. For decades, she was never comfortable sharing her Crohn’s story; she felt isolated and alone. But soon, that all changed. “To share my experience on a public platform allowed me to heal both physically and mentally,” she said. Once she started sharing her journey, others began to reach out to tell Renee how much hearing her story helped them. As Renee beautifully put it, “No one should be alone.” Follow her on TikTok or on Instagram.

Natalie was diagnosed with Crohn’s the year Facebook launched. While she was used to being in the spotlight, having worked as a news anchor for 10 years, she kept silent about her chronic condition. “No one was sharing their health struggles publicly,” she explained. But in 2016, Natalie decided to launch her blog, Lights, Camera, Crohn’s, and shift her social media presence to advocate for those with IBD. A mom of three, a philanthropist, and a businesswoman, it’s important to Natalie to show both the struggles and all that’s possible while living with Crohn’s. “When I hear from young women who have hopes of being a mom … and count on me for guidance and advice, it reminds me how important my work is.” Natalie has posted new content daily, covering topics from IVF with Crohn’s to work-life balance. Follow her on Instagram and read her blog.

Meet Mr.ColitisCrohns, the TikTok star with more than 3 million followers and 36 million likes. With viral video after viral video, his honesty about life with Crohn’s cuts through all other social media clutter. On his TikTok, Mesha documents everything from finding love with a chronic illness to changing his ostomy bag with pride. He has one message for the haters: There’s no room for shame on his accounts or in his life. Follow him on TikTok and Instagram.

The founder of the Gut Instinct blog and Instagram, Lo Mills, shares her journey through not only Crohn’s but polycystic ovary syndrome as well. She was inspired to start her brand when she realized the only content she found on the disease felt depressing and clinical. “I knew that there must be other people out there like me who wanted to live their life with IBD, not just ‘exist,’” she explained. “And so, I decided to create a platform of my own that embraced the good with the bad but, most importantly, didn't take things too seriously.” She’s also the co-creator of the  Bad Gut Club on Instagram, which hosts the Bad Gut Fest. The virtual event unites “good people with bag guts,” for a program filled with talks ranging from diet with IBD to yoga for digestion. Check it out  here and follow Lo on Instagram.

“Hey, let’s be Chronies!” Paula Sojo’s TikTok bio reads. And she means it! The content creator speaks to the 115,000 people following her like they’re her best friends. Her topics range from practical (the best pants that fit her ostomy bag) to personal (she shares candidly about the loneliness and grief of living with a chronic illness). “Nothing is TMI here,” she said in a recent TikTok. And she holds true to her promise, as you’ll see from every video on her TikTok.

Alexa Federico of Girl In Healing is not only a content creator helping those navigate IBD, but she’s also a certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. While she posts about practical nutrition advice, it’s also important to her to help followers heal emotionally. “The longer I live with Crohn’s and connect with this population through my work, I understand more how much our pasts, belief systems, and current lifestyles impact our health,” she said. From breath work and affirmations to food recommendations, Alexa takes a holistic view of health when creating her content. She also runs another Instagram account -- Alexa In Writing -- where she shares her poetry, documenting her journey through chronic illness. Follow Alexa on Instagram.

Need a boost of Crohn’s and ostomy positivity? Sarah Odessa of I Sh*t My Shirt is your girl. With over 168,000 followers on TikTok, she brings a huge dose of humor and self-love to the internet. Through her socials, Sarah documents life after ostomy surgery, and her message is clear. An ileostomy bag will not hold her back -- not from loving herself or living her life. “If I can share my story and help just one person … feel a little less alone, then I know my message has had a purpose,” she said. Her positivity is infectious, as you can see from this viral video. Follow her on TikTok and Instagram.

Think humor and chronic illness don’t pair well together? Think again. Meet Richard Fattouh, the Gen-Z med student making the IBD community LOL -- literally. With more than 3.5 million likes on his TikTok, Richard found purpose in his ulcerative colitis diagnosis by creating a community for those affected by IBD, including those with Crohn’s disease. “I’m glad to be part of a generation that is brutally honest and that could turn ‘embarrassing’ moments and hard times into funny TikToks that others can relate to and that spread awareness about IBD,” he said. Ultimately, he hopes humor can help those experiencing IBD talk about their symptoms, feel less alone, and get the medical help they need. Follow him on TikTok.

Michelle Pickens of Crohnically Blonde on Instagram is a Momfluencer with a Crohn’s twist. With a blog by the same name, Michelle chronicles every step of new motherhood while managing her condition. It’s a helpful look inside what it’s like to juggle a career, motherhood, and chronic illness. With a heavy dose of #MomLife and lifestyle, too, Michelle’s Instagram is pure joy (and realness). “When I was first diagnosed with Crohn's it felt lonely. I relied on the strong people who shared their stories on social media to find people to relate to. When I became more comfortable with my diagnosis and my story, I wanted to be that guide for other people who were struggling,” she said. Follow her on Instagram.

Jamie Horrigan is not only a self-described Crohn’s warrior, but she’s also a resident physician too. On her Instagram, she focuses on nutrition and lifestyle advice to help those diagnosed with IBD manage their symptoms. Her blog, Naturally Sweetened, is filled to the brim with gluten-free, paleo, and AIP (autoimmune immune protocol) recipes, as well as tips for doctors who are currently trying to survive residency. Try her Decadent Paleo Chocolate Cake or follow her on IG.