Meet Jessa O’Brien, otherwise known as The Nude Blogger, formerly from Geelong, but now calling the Gold Coast her home.

Jessa O’Brien has a story like most of us when life deals us a shit card or two.

In my own words, she kinda said “fuck it“, and decided to relearn what life is apparently all about.

Jessa O’Brien, aged in her late 20’s and with the rest of her life ahead of her, lost her job in politics without notice at the end of 2014, endured a serious relationship breakup around the same time, and decided to travel the world, to reset her head, from what I’ve read of her story.

Even though finding herself wasn’t her original intention for travel, that’s what kinda happened on her seven month adventure trekking the globe solo, learning yoga, going vegan and visiting nudist communities among other interesting things she blogs about.

She came home to Australia hoping to spread her message via Instagram, launching The Nude Blogger, attracting 42,000 followers in around 10 months or so.

Thy shall not

Jessa O’Brien has been all over the news this month because Instagram took it upon themselves to take her offline, without a warning of any kind, for displaying nudity, which is against their Community Guidelines.

Never mind the Kardashian crew, with their endless tits and arse show, but that’s how social media rolls, with the good guys pissed about, while the narcissists are ignored to rule the show.

For those behind in the social media game of thrones, Instagram began life in 2010 as a photo sharing application, created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, amassing over 1,000,000 users in just one month of operation, and hitting 10,000,000 users in just under a year.

In April 2012, social media giant Facebook purchased Instagram for $1 billion, the highest price paid for a startup yet to make a profit since Google purchased YouTube for $1.65 billion in 2006.

When you pose a threat to the big guns of the world, as Facebook has become, they’ll either try to charm you with money, or copy your efforts.

Or once they get desperate, they’ll take you out.

Facebook has desperately tried to purchase Snapchat for similar reasons as well, but faced knock back after knock back, so Facebook just copies everything Snapchat excels at.

For what it’s worth, I don’t use Instagram (or Facebook any longer), even though I have an account registered, and I admit I wasn’t aware of Jessa O’Brien, her social media presence, or her blog until she hit the media spotlight this past month.

I just don’t have the time for all the narcissistic stuff that tends to fill newsfeeds on just about every social media service I’ve used to date.

But Jessa O’Brien caught my eye, and I took the time to look at her story, (and her great photos). 😀

While nudity is a prominent component of her message, there’s nothing sexual about her body positive stance, which is exactly what Jessa O’Brien aims to promote by shedding her clothes.

Her message is not entirely about nudity either, but rather than take my word for it, check out her website for yourself, and listen up, because she’s one intelligent girl with a good head on her shoulders hoping to bring positive change to our world.

The bare facts

Jessa O’Brien entered the world of blogging to spread her message, and her message is quite a simple one to understand,

I hope to cultivate kindness, understanding, compassion and tolerance. My genuine intrigue in these alternative lifestyles was really kick-started when I began frequenting nudist-friendly resorts.

Striking up ‘why, when, how-type’ conversations. Acquainting myself with the individuals that adopt these ‘unconventional’ lifestyles, listening to their stories, and learning about the lifestyle itself prompted me to seek to understand and learn more.

This person could be your neighbour. Your aunt. Your uncle. They are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. And just like everyone else, they too have dreams, interests, hobbies. They travel, they love, and they feel.

And so this blog aims to shed light on these lifestyles. To educate. To inform. To share the stories of these people in the hopes of spreading awareness. To broaden perspectives and change perceptions for the better.

Oh, you too!

My first ever social media ban came about for much the same reasons as Jessa O’Brien, for displaying nudity, although my effort was a little more tongue in cheek than her body positive nude postings that saw her booted from Instagram.

On June 23, 2013 (I remember the date, as it was also my 41st birthday), a supermoon was due to rise over Australian skies, and the Geelong Facebook Page I was operating at the time was long known for making mention of such events.

I slipped in a joke (I found it funny anyway, as did hundreds of others), and a twat in the community decided it was an opportunity to rub me and the Geelong Facebook Page out.

Jessa O’Brien was booted indefinitely from the word go, although she’s since created another Instagram account and continued her work.

I was banned briefly, many times over in the years to follow, and eventually booted from Facebook indefinitely earlier this year, for reasons I’ve yet to fully explain, mostly because the fallout is still before the courts to this day.

Social media bans aside, Jessa O’Brien and myself couldn’t be any more different if we tried.

She’s a vegan. I eat meat.

She’s happy to pose nude for photos. The last time I bared all for a complete stranger was for a prison officer earlier this year, as part of the process on receiving a visit from a friend on the outside.

Different, but also alike in many ways, and I’m blogging this article to support her stance, and I hope you get behind her as well.

We both got screwed over by powers above, while being decent folk, and only bothering those pretty much bringing their own problems onto themselves.

Antisocial media

Social media is full of antisocial arseholes and nefarious characters ready to shit all over your parade, but you’ll meet good people too.

But all it takes is one arsehole with a different view to unsettle the house of cards.

Confronted with kindness and goodwill, those who oppose or hope to leech off your hard work will attempt to distort your message at every opportunity.

Kinda like the Geelong Advertiser did by posting bullshit all over Jessa O’Brien’s quite innocent and glorious photo, suggesting a sexual aspect to an otherwise tasteful image of beauty.

Just like an immature schoolboy, drawing dicks all over another students project while their back is turned.

Something else caught my eye about Jessa O’Brien while browsing her website, being a standout quote she highlighted on her About Me page.

She refers to herself as a “no-bullshit type girl“, and as far as I can tell, that’s exactly what she is – the real deal, no bullshit, you get what you see kinda person the world needs,

So why the hell thank the Geelong Advertiser for their story when they pretty much brought the sexual aspect right onto the front page, just like Instagram did?

They’re not your friend, they’re part of the problem by sexualising photos aiming to promote self-love and a positive image of oneself, while also making a buck from Jessa O’Brien’s social media downfall, by hiding her story behind their Premium Article paywall in-joke.

Those who know me well know, and most would say, I’m a no-bullshit type guy, as blunt as the back of a knife.

So blunt in fact, I’m currently facing a swag of criminal charges, after being booted from social media myself, albeit for far different reasons than Jessa O’Brien, but blunt enough to begin this blog you’re reading now, to call the bullshit out.

It’s this blog that saw me charged, because I upset ‘the powers’ that aim to keep those promoting a sense of community and harmony out, while they spread fear and hate about town.

If you don’t believe me, you’re more than welcome to pop along to the courthouse to hear the truth for yourself.

Jessa O’Brien doesn’t need the help of the media. and she’s already proved that to herself by attracting over 42,000 people to her social media presence without a mention in any media whatsoever prior to her Instagram fallout.

Safety first

If nudity is her thing, go for it if it helps to spread the message, but just a bit of advice from an old battle scarred Geelong blogger with similar good intentions who saw it all before Jessa O’Brien arrived on the scene… leave your hat on girl, because one bump is sure to be the first of many to come when you put yourself out there in a world that seems to be heading in the opposite direction to your message of peace, harmony, tolerance, understanding and love.

And I suggest that hat be a good quality hardhat meeting strict safety standards, because you never know when the next harmful strike will come from above.

Love your work girl, but give them an inch, and they’ll take you for one serious mile ride to hell and back.

Be that no-bullshit girl 100%, and call the bastards out while spreading the love, ‘cos you don’t need them, but the world needs a lot more people just like Jessa O’Brien!

And thanks for being yourself… in a world full of copycats, the unique ones sure stand out!