Claire Abbott Disappearance: What Happened to Instagram Model?

While most people struggle to become famous on social media platforms, this type of notoriety seemed to come naturally for the Canadian teenager Claire Abbott. After innocently posting a bikini picture of herself on Facebook, Abbott was shocked to find that it had gone viral. Thus began the genesis of Claire Abbott’s skyrocketing—albeit short-lived—social media career. Joining Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, Abbott found that she was able to rack up lots of hits and likes for doing what came easily to her—posting photos of her life.

A Passion for Sharing Her Lifestyle

As Abbott continued to attract the world to her doorstep, she suddenly realized that people were interested in how she lived her life. Indeed, it may have been this kind of interest that spurred Claire to share so much of herself with her followers. From her travel interests to her fashion choices, the social media maven was an open book to those who followed her on Instagram and all the other platforms. And although it’s not rare for newly minted social media stars to develop interests in other pursuits—many become interested in pursuing acting—it is rare for these “instafamous” types to display a serious amount of talent. Claire Abbott happened to be the exception.

A Talent for Music and Some Personal Struggles

Claire’s obvious talent for music became clear when she posted videos of herself singing. In “Skinny Love”, Abbott can be seen casually strumming a ukulele and belting out a tune. In the video, her voice is both strong and wistful, reminiscent of a young Jewel or Sarah McLachlan. Her single “Fighter”, featuring Phlex, was also very popular with fans.

However, even with all of her gifts and good fortune, it has been reported that Claire Abbott also revealed she suffered from some mental health issues. With anxiety, severe depression and a bipolar diagnosis, Claire’s numerous problems would have posed a significant threat to anyone, let alone a celebrity. As we’ve seen so many times in the past, an astounding amount of success in a very short period of time can really do a number on people.

For someone who was already struggling with debilitating mental health issues, it’s not hard to imagine that all of the extra attention must have thrown Claire for a loop. After all, she had never really sought out fame; it just arrived on her doorstep.

Claire’s Followers Explode in Numbers

While others often struggle to rack up followers, Claire was able to dominate every social media platform she used. It is estimated that her Facebook followers numbered around 30,000, while she boasted about 300,000 followers on Instagram.

When she started doing covers on her YouTube channel, her popularity on that platform surged as well. It seemed that Claire truly had the golden touch when it came to social media, impressing her fans and followers every time she posted anything. While other “instafamous” people tend to change their personal style once they gain access to followers—and money—Claire did not. She remained refreshingly down-to-earth and fun, a girl next door with great talent.

Questionable Acquaintances

In 2015, photos emerged of Abbott and other internet personality—Dan Bilzerian. Bilzerian’s Instagram had exploded for different reasons than Claire’s had. Out of nowhere, the now 38-year-old seemed to have taken over social media as a new Hugh Hefner type. Although he claimed to have been self-sufficient at first, it eventually came out that Bilzerian’s father had set him up with a trust fund.

With this money, Bilzerian travels the world and has his picture taken with multiple women. His issues with drugs led him to two heart attacks before he even hit his early 30s. When Claire’s followers saw her photographed with Bilzerian, many became concerned about the young social media star and budding musician.

The Turn That No One Saw Coming

In early 2017, Claire’s followers were shocked to find that her accounts had suddenly gone dark. Without a peep, the internet celebrity had disappeared. After fans started panicking about what had happened to their favorite Instagram starlet, a brief statement was released. Abbott expressed that she had never held a desire to be a model and that, from now on, she would be focusing solely on her music career.

Of course, this didn’t do much to stop the rumor mill, with many believing that the young woman had passed away. This theory, however, seems highly unlikely. It is easy to locate death records and, by now, surely someone would have come forward if something had happened to Claire. At this point, the theory that makes the most sense is the one that Abbot prefers to be left alone for the time being.

She wants to meet the world on her own terms and not have to deal with some of the creepy disadvantages of being “instafamous”.

The Aftermath

Although people will inevitably speculate about Claire’s whereabouts until she returns to public life in some fashion, her old photos and videos still circulate on the internet. In fact, some scammers have even used Abbott’s old pictures to catfish unsuspecting marks on dating websites. Many of them do not even realize what has happened until after they send money off to far-flung countries.

Meanwhile, we can assume that the real Claire Abbott is somewhere in Canada, enjoying her life and working on her music. Indeed, if she were to make a comeback, it seems as if she would set the internet ablaze. In the midst of her absence, she’s only made her fans and followers miss her even more. While she used to post photos and videos regularly, there is now a void.

These days, with so many people forging their connections through social media, a lot of Instagram users believe that they share a kinship with the people they follow. And since social media starlets like Claire allow fans into their lives, it’s not hard to see how they could become attached. If she is setting the stage for a triumphant return, she will have a built-in fanbase.