NOURISHING homemade recipes, whether that’s a hearty soup or a salad, are always better than ordering a takeaway.
But for many cash-strapped parents – who also don’t have the luxury of time – that simply isn’t an option.
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The viral TikTok influencer Nara Smith, however, isn’t one of them.
Based in Texas, the US, the 22-year-old mum of three under three has become an internet sensation thanks to her elaborate cooking, donned in haute couture no less.
The South African and German model can whip up practically anything, including cereal, her very take on the cult favourite Oreo cookies, Coca-Cola – and even bubblegum. Yes, bubblegum.
She keeps her astronomical 9.4million viewers captivated with her healthy recipes – which also saw her prepare cheese toasties with homemade cheese – as well as her signature airy hushed voice.
But always dressed in bedazzling outfits, such as cocktail dresses and feathery garments fit for the red carpet, the star has also faced backlash for her content.
Earlier this summer, as the world was enjoying glorious weather and sunshine, Nara and her partner, Lucky Blue Smith, were called ”unhinged” for putting together a DIY sunscreen.
The recipe called for coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil – a concoction that even dermatologists warned to steer clear of.
Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, a board-certified skin expert, branded the homemade sunscreen a “terrible idea” when speaking to Glamour.
“But these may be an SPF 2 or 3, not SPF 30, which is what I recommend my patients use — and ideally one with a mineral component like titanium or zinc.”
However, it’s not just the skincare recipes that have caused concern amongst experts – as one guru, Kirsty Ketley, reckons Nara is also setting unrealistic parenting expectations for mums and dads alike.
Married to one of the top male models in the industry – who’s walked the runway of Chanel, Fendi, and Tom Ford to name a few – means Nara and the 26-year-old star have access to a nanny and other luxuries.
Although the 22-year-old – whose tots are named Rumble Honey Smith, Slim Easy Smith and Whimsy Lou – claimed the recently-hired nanny only works part-time, this still is a luxury many cash-strapped households cannot afford.
On average, if you want to hire a full-time nanny, parents are looking at forking out around £38k/year – which is higher than the average household income, sitting at £35,000, according to data.
”She has a team behind her of home help, nannies, which is out of reach for many parents and could make her unrelatable,” said the mum-of-two.
Teenagers idolising parenting
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There is another problematic aspect with Nara’s content – although her life may look beautiful from numerous aspects, it belies the oftentimes stressful, messy and frustrating side of parenting.
Young – and easily influenced – women and teens may absorb Nara’s content and idolise the domestic element of what being a parent is really like.
”While there are many parents who will see Nara’s content and happily watch or just scroll on by, there may be others who take it at face value.
”Teenagers and younger women may see this way of portraying parenting as something to aspire to, and worryingly think this is how it should be.”
Kirsty, who regularly shares tips and tricks on her Instagram page and website, added that for the majority being a mum and dad will be a far cry from what the influencer so often shares.
”Not everyone will have Nara’s privilege, or experience and most certainly won’t experience parenting in the same way.”
‘Trad wife’ serving hubby
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The internet sensation, who tied the knot with Lucky in 2020, is arguably one of the most talked about social media content creators of 2024.
But although there’s genuine respect and awe in the comments section, Nara has also faced accusations that she supports the idea of wives serving their husbands and children, while the male is the main breadwinner of the family.
On Reddit, for instance, there are numerous theories about Nara and Lucky, with some branding her a ”toxic trad wife” who’s desperate to revert people to the 1950s when women were, indeed, mainly in the kitchen.
There have also been opinions which see the South African/German model labelled ”a fake trad wife” who is out here trolling and doing it all for the sake of millions of clicks.
However, the controversial influencer recently hit back at the critics and explained she simply enjoyed whipping up meals for her brood.
”I wasn’t aware that finding joy in cooking for my husband and kids would automatically mean that I just slave away in the kitchen,” she told TikTok users.
Despite being associated with the label, Nara claimed that reality is far from the stay-at-home stereotype her content might suggest.
“You don’t see me getting on a plane, hopping to New York, modelling, coming back – all while I have a newborn – paying bills, filming content, getting my kids dressed,” she said, as reported by Mamaia.
”Being put into a certain box, just because people think that I’m slaving away, is so weird to me.
”I’m a working mum who gets to go about her day in a very different way than [someone with] a normal nine-to-five job would.”
What is a trad wife?
A trad wife (short for traditional wife) is a woman who chooses to take on an ultra traditional role in marriage, meaning she makes dinner and looks pretty whilst her husband goes to work.
The trend takes inspiration from the idea of a 1950s housewife.
Many ‘trad wives’ choose to dress in the style of clothing popular in this period (think floral dresses and frumpy cardigans).
Additionally, the values considered important to trad wives are similar to strict Christian values.
Trad wives believed they were not forced into this way of life, and that it was their purpose to be homemakers.
The trend, which has garnered attention on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, glamorises a time gone by with little acknowledgement of the economic challenges facing families and mothers today.
‘TikTok is not the place to be’
Despite the controversy surrounding the viral TikTok star – whose also been criticised for the ”unhinged” names the couple have given the kids – Kirsty thinks ”people shouldn’t read too much into her posts on TikTok”.
”If mums feel inferior and not good enough, then TikTok is not the place for them to be.
”Nara is a great example of ‘what you see is not always what you get’ on social media and her posts should be taken with a pinch of salt.
”They almost come across as a parody of what was once deemed on social media as the ‘perfect mum life’ and watching her videos feels like reading a New Adult contemporary book – easy to digest and hard to put down and takes you away to an imaginary world and life.”
The mum-of-two, who’s also come across her content, said: ”It’s easy to see how she has gained so many followers, as her videos are made in a way which feels calming and entices you in”.
”The smooth voice, slow-paced. Dangerous for your screen time usage though!”
While Nara’s lifestyle may indeed be ”unrelatable” for so many, ”this shouldn’t be frowned upon as it’s a reality for many others”, Kirsty reminded.
Nara, as controversial as she may be, uses TikTok as a way to rake in – just like any other influencer on the platform ”and her actual day-to-day reality of being a mum and a wife, is likely not so glam and together.”
”You have to keep in mind that social media only ever shows snippets and often the best bits of someone’s life.
”Her homemade recipes, however. should be followed with caution – advice I would say on anything shared on social media.
”Sun cream, for instance, should be tested and certified safe to use and to make your own is dangerous.”