Influencer Buys a 'Self-Engagement Ring'

By Rachael O'Connor

Life and Trends Reporter

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A popular online influencer has sparked debate by taking self-care to a whole new level as she purchased herself an engagement ring.

Dubbed the "self-engagement" ring, influencer Pokimane—who rose to fame on gaming streaming platform Twitch, and is now among the most-followed person on the platform—has sparked a major conversation as users argued whether the move was empowering or, as one person put it, "sad."

In a video to her TikTok account @pokimane on November 25, already viewed more than 340,000 times, she declared she had "bought an engagement ring for myself."

She explained that, while she did hope to get engaged some day, commenters in a previous video encouraged her not to wait for a ring that she loved, and simply to buy it for herself, and so she decided to do so.

She said she had found a ring that she "fell in love with," and while at first it seemed like "way too much to get for myself," she had come around to the idea.

"The person that you are 'engaged' to the most in your entire lifetime is your damn self," she said, before showing off a sparkling serpent Bvlgari ring, joking she was "proposing to myself."

Then, slipping it onto her finger, she asked: "Will I be with me for the rest of my life? Well, yes, I have no choice."

Her video had a huge reaction, with hundreds of comments flooding in—and the debate began.

One user said they thought it was "kinda sad," while another used the red flag emoji, used as a warning within relationships, and one asked: "Is everything OK?"

But plenty loved the idea, one describing it as "women empowerment," and another calling it "an amazing idea, even for women who are in a relationship or married. Promising that you'll take care of yourself is HUGE. Self-care is the BEST care."

And as one person put it: "You know what you're right. I'm gonna get myself one too bc what the hell."

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Acts of self-care can help your mental and physical health. According to a medically-revised report from Very Well Mind, this includes physical self-care like exercise and getting enough sleep; mental self-care like enjoying hobbies and spending time in nature; emotional self-care like expressing your feelings; social self-care like spending time with people you love, and spiritual self-care, like engaging in religion or finding your purpose.

While "buying yourself an engagement ring" isn't on the list, some jewelers argue there are plenty of reasons to buy a diamond ring for yourself, without waiting for an engagement.

A report from All Diamond argues that it enhances outfits and offers versatility to your wardrobe, and could represent celebrating a personal milestone as a symbol of self-love and confidence.

Who is Pokimane?

Pokimane, real name Imane Anys, is a Moroccan-Canadian influencer who rose to fame on Twitch and YouTube.

She began her streaming career on Twitch in 2013, and by 2017 was among the top 100 most-followed people on the platform, later being awarded the title of Best Twitch Streamer of the year.

Other awards include the Forbes 30 Under 30 for games, and the Legacy Award for the 2021 Streamer Awards, and a Kids' Choice Awards nomination.

Pokimane has expanded to business ventures and acting, previously appearing in 2021 film Free Guy, and in the music videos for songs "Inferno" and "What Are You Waiting For."

While she has millions of followers on multiple platforms, including TikTok (7.3 million), Instagram (6.1 million) and YouTube (6.6 million), her biggest following is on Twitch, where she has 9.4 million followers.

Newsweek has contacted Pokimane for comment on this story.

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