This is a (Wo)mans world... - by Greg Penn
This is a (Wo)mans world...
The joys of being an oddity!
Apr 09, 2026
For those that might not already know… I am, for my sins, an ‘Influencer’ - and quite possibly the worlds least likely… It’s not a word I’m hugely comfortable with, and it certainly has some negative connotations, usually from people with dubious morals looking to make a quick buck (and I reference the Louis Theroux documentary ‘Manosphere’ later in this article but that’s a good example of it referring to people I’m certainly uncomfortable being aligned with!)… but the one most people know. Content creator is a better term but one less understood - but whatever you want to call me, Instagram is in the main, amongst other things (being an author, substack, managing some other businesses socials etc.), how I earn my living!
It’s certainly not ever something I thought would happen - indeed when I first set my Instagram account up, nearly 10 years ago now, I’m not sure influencing was much of a thing beyond people already celebrities and love island types, and especially not when it came to the home sector… so I, like I think a lot of Instagrammers - especially ones that have been around a while like me, sort of stumbled into becoming an influencer slowly and organically over a number of years!
And inadvertently, I chose a sector in which I am a bit unusual!
My first ever (and one of the few I’ve been to) Instagram event… about 8 or so years ago I think, organised by Amy Wilson and Katie Woods (Of ‘come down to the woods' in her last, beautiful home! Of the 100 or so Instagram types, I was hilariously, the only chap - and look what a horrible time I’m having haha…
The rest of this post is for paid subscribers only - thank you so much for subscribing either way and apologies there might not have been quite so many free posts as I’d hoped - life has been busy and I hope, understandably, paid posts get priority, but there’s lots more planned soon I promise including an article on Admirals floorplans I’ve been working on which I think will go down well!