Ahhhh I've been wanting to post on here for such a long. I knew/know her IRL (and some of her family/wider circle) and so I am so glad to find that people are seeing through her BS!
I know some of the reasons why she is "like this" - the shopping/validation seeking/copying other more successful YTers etc. Her family is actually really nice and not superficial in that kinda way at all - lovely sisters etc and they are all prettytalented/successful/happy in their own lane kinda people, so not like the stereotype of an "extra" family doing stuff just for the gram. If that makes sense? Her wider family has more money and so they are bit flashy but not like filming themselves every moment flashy, just doing nice stuff and going to nice places.
She's had some issues growing up - dad was abusive to mum, mum was single for most of their child hood. Typical lack of money stuff as she had 4 girls. there is also a religion element as well as I remember being told she/her sisters/mum etc were Jehovahs witnesses for a long time so they didnt have birthdays, christmas at all, no presents or anything and so was their family- so now they kinda go big or go home in that. Her mum had the typical single mum, not enough money thing going on, they lived in council flats/houses for a while before they moved to Brighton. Their family is not from Brighton originally they just came for a fresh start kinda thing. She was so nice at school when she was younger etc, like primary & secondary age. Really sweet and lovely. As she got older its almost like she became aware that she was your typically pretty "look much older than she is" kinda girl. Age 13 looking like 17, when her makeup and clothes were really nice and not overdone, you know. Just the kind of girl you'd be like "wow look at her can I use you in my photography project" kinda pretty? The girl next door type that everyone liked and all the boys liked.
Then her dad died a few years ago and her mum married someone else, her sisters started having kids/running stuff and she was kinda just left with a pretty face and no real skill? like one sister is a really successful nail artist, another one can do hair, so maybe she was just left with a pretty face and the typical "if zoella can do it why cant I" Brighton girl approach to earning money on YT/instagram.
She doesnt like hang out with her school friends anymore, there was a whole big circle of us and its like minus her now. I think every now and then she will go for a meal with her like closet 1/2 but most of her interactions are with Bradley, his family, her sisters. And YT "Friends" which we all know arent real
So yeah I think thats about it for now, hopefully some of that explains the "cosy shopping obsessed" deal she seems to have going on.