Byron Bay influencer hits back at ‘shameful’ Vanity Fair article

Byron Bay influencer Courtney Adamo finally hits back at ‘shameful’ magazine article that made international headlines when it slammed her and other ‘murfers’ for their picture perfect lives on Instagram

A Byron Bay Instagram influencer has hit back at a magazine article which shamed her and other ‘murfers’ – mums who surf.

Courtney Adamo was featured in the 2019 ‘The Coast of Utopia’ Vanity Fair article which pondered whether her picture perfect life was the real deal.

‘From the looks of Instagram, Courtney Adamo and the surfing mamas of Byron Bay are living the dream. Can it be real?’ the article questioned.

Not so perfect: Byron Bay Instagram influencer Courtney Adamo has hit back at a magazine article which shamed her and other ‘murfers’ – mums who surf.

One year on, the mum-of-five has spoken out about the disappointing article, claiming that she was unaware that it would be presented in a negative way.

‘It was pretty shameful of them to put an article up that set out to perpetuate this really nasty cycle of judgement of women. It’s not what the world needs,’ she told Stellar magazine.

Courtney boasts close to 280k followers on Instagram, where she features posts of her well-behaved children and sunny life in Byron Bay.

On Saturday, she explained that she’s received a lot of criticism over her posts in the past but admits that they don’t show the whole picture. 

Social media star: Courtney boasts close to 280k followers on Instagram, where she features posts of her well-behaved children and sunny life in Byron Bay

Social media star: Courtney boasts close to 280k followers on Instagram, where she features posts of her well-behaved children and sunny life in Byron Bay 

‘I understand the criticism that I only put up photos of a pretty house and well-dressed children, and everything looks sunny all the time,’ she said.

‘But I only think to get my phone out and take a photo when a moment is happy. I’m not thinking, “My kids are fighting or the dog just pooed on the floor in the kitchen, I’m going to take a photo of this.”‘

The entrepreneur went on to say that she is often ‘attacked’ for ‘looking perfect’, but she insists that she isn’t trying to pretend to be anything she is not.  

Family first: Courtney and Michael, share children Easton, 15, Quin, 13, Ivy, 11, Marlow, 7, and Wilkie, 3 (all pictured)

Family first: Courtney and Michael, share children Easton, 15, Quin, 13, Ivy, 11, Marlow, 7, and Wilkie, 3 (all pictured) 

‘I’m not trying to put out a falsely perfect image,’ she said. 

‘My life isn’t perfect. My kids drive me crazy. It’s not always easy, but I am really happy. I shouldn’t be punished for that.’ 

After spending 12 years in London in 2015 Courtney and her husband Michael decided to pack up the family and embark on an 18-month gap year. 

Criticised: The entrepreneur went on to say that she is often 'attacked' for 'looking perfect' on Instagram, but she insists that she isn't trying to pretend to be anything she is not. Pictured: Courtney and her daughter

Criticised: The entrepreneur went on to say that she is often ‘attacked’ for ‘looking perfect’ on Instagram, but she insists that she isn’t trying to pretend to be anything she is not. Pictured: Courtney and her daughter

The family eventually settled in their current hometown of Bangalow on the New South Wales north coast. 

She and Michael, share children Easton, 15, Quin, 13, Ivy, 11, Marlow, 7, and Wilkie, 3. 

Courtney founded the online parenting portal Babyccino back in the early 2000s and has since become an Instagram influencer. 

To read Courtney’s full interview, see Sunday’s issue of Stellar Magazine.

Extra: To read Courtney's full interview, see Sunday's issue of Stellar Magazine

Extra: To read Courtney’s full interview, see Sunday’s issue of Stellar Magazine