The Bachelor’s Bella Varelis returns to Instagram following a ‘social media detox’ – after being called out for using another Instagram influencer’s photo
She vanished from social media a week ago after being called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer’s photo.
But on Thursday, The Bachelor star Bella Varelis returned to Instagram following a ‘social media detox’.
‘Gave myself a small social media detox the last couple days and geez it gives you a lot of time to think,’ the 26-year-old wrote.
She’s back! The Bachelor’s Bella Varelis (pictured) returned to Instagram following a ‘social media detox’ on Thursday
‘I’ve never had a year that has been more of an emotional roller coaster than this year and scrolling through my camera roll today really put me through the motions,’ Bella continued.
‘I’m so proud of the human I am becoming, a woman who is unapologetically herself and who will stand her ground when it comes to knowing what she’s worth.’
She went on to say she’s ‘grateful for the love and support you all have given me and I just wish there was a way to give it back to every single one of you.’
Post: ‘Gave myself a small social media detox the last couple days and geez it gives you a lot of time to think. I’ve never had a year that has been more of an emotional roller coaster than this year,’ she wrote
It comes after Bella made headlines for the wrong reasons on Christmas when she was called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer’s photo.
The 26-year-old reposted Moscow-based Ekaterina Mezenova’s romantic photo to her own Instagram Stories, without crediting her.
While many believed it was a relationship announcement from the Bachelor runner-up, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck discovered on Thursday the image in fact belonged to Ekaterina and not Bella.
Called out: It comes after Bella made headlines for the wrong reasons on Christmas when she was called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer’s photo
Celeb Spellcheck shared a screen shot that showed Bella, who has a background in digital marketing, liking the social media star’s romantic image.
Followers of the Instagram account were quick to comment on the post, including one who wrote: ‘Wait omg she stole someone’s pic? Dead,’ while another said: ‘The second hand embarrassment I’m feeling rn.’
However, a fan defended Bella and wrote that she probably ‘liked the pic’ without knowing who it belonged to.
Bella told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that she posts ‘romantic ‘inspo’ photos on Instagram ‘all the time’.
Romantic: While many believed it was a relationship announcement from the Bachelor runner-up, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck discovered on Thursday the image in fact belonged to Moscow-based influencer Ekaterina Mezenova
‘This is just another cute photo I came across that I thought was a beautiful pic to use to finish off the question box I had been doing on my story,’ she said.
‘I don’t even know how this became a thing. I didn’t try to act like it was me at all, people just overdramatise, as per usual.
She explained: ‘I’ll usually write a cute quote over them but for this one I just thought it was cute and christmassy, that’s all! It doesn’t even look like me.’
Festive: Ekaterina’s image was actually of her and her husband in front of the Christmas tree from a festive photoshoot. Ekaterina is pictured with her husband and their son