Kylan Darnell, a University of Alabama senior and Zeta Tau Alpha member, has announced she is taking a "step back" from recruitment and posting about the sorority rush craze that has become a social media phenomenon. Darnell, the reigning Miss Ohio Teen USA, has spent the past three years providing an inside look at sorority life, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the "Bama Rush" phenomenon. However, the former Miss Ohio Teen USA says joining a sorority helped her find community and confidence far from home.
The Rise of "Bama Rush" and Darnell's Role
The University of Alabama sorority rush, particularly the "Bama RushTok" trend, has drawn significant attention, making it a top recruitment school in the country. Darnell's unique perspective as an outsider from Ohio, far from the traditional Southern sorority scene, contributed to her popularity. She admitted arriving at the University of Alabama with little understanding of rush. Her initial, casual clips went viral even before she finished orientation, catapulting her into influencer status.
"I had no idea my life would turn into what it has," she said. "I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to post on social media. I didn’t know it was frowned upon. I had no idea about the backlash, or the positivity, that would come with it."
The Dark Side of Rush: Psychological Warfare
Brandis Bradley, a sorority coach, described the recruitment process as "psychological warfare," emphasizing the emotional toll it takes on young women. Seventeen sororities welcomed new members on the University of Alabama Panhellenic Association Bid Day Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. New members of Zeta Tau Alpha run to their house after opening their bids in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
"It's emotional boot camp," Bradley told PEOPLE. "And their frontal lobes aren't even fully developed."
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Darnell's Decision: Prioritizing Mental Health
Despite enjoying her sorority experience, Darnell acknowledged the challenges of navigating college life under constant scrutiny. She described the journey as "fun" and "something I wouldn’t trade," but admitted it hasn’t been easy.
"It’s also been really hard to navigate college while being under a microscope," Darnell previously told Fox News Digital. "There was a point in my life that my personality was sorority, but I've grown, and it's not really like that anymore."
Darnell's decision to step back is rooted in a need to protect her mental health.
"I personally feel that if I was to post this year and to promote it (rush), then I would be doing those girls an injustice," Darnell explained. "Now I'm not saying don't rush. I loved it. But I'm just saying that I'm in a mental health spot where I've been struggling. I can't go online this year and I won't lie to you guys about it. I've just not been enjoying it. I've not been having fun."
Support poured in from followers, praising her integrity and self-awareness.
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Sister's Perspective: Izzy Darnell's Experience with Rush
Izzy Darnell, Kylan's sister, also shared her experience with sorority recruitment. Inspired by another micro-influencer, Izzy initially intended to fully participate and document her experience. However, she ultimately chose to drop out.
"I never wanted to do it," Izzy told the magazine. "My sister said: 'Try it. And if you don't like it, drop it.' I ended up hating it and dropping it."
Izzy's participation was primarily an experiment to ease into campus life.
Navigating Life in the Spotlight
Both Kylan and Izzy experienced the challenges of living under the constant watch of social media. Izzy shared that she initially intended to fully participate in recruitment, inspired by another micro-influencer who had previously tried to document her experience. According to Izzy, this influencer’s attempt had "ruined it for the rest of us that do social media." Having gained a large following online, Izzy said she felt uneasy under constant scrutiny during recruitment.
"I grew up in a tiny farm town in Ohio, where no one really cared who I was," she explained. "Now there are a lot of people around taking pictures on campus all the time, anywhere, and everywhere. I bought a moped, so people can’t take pictures of me while I’m riding that."
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She also expressed concern over the intentions behind these photos.
"When people are taking a picture, I don’t know if they’re being nice about it or if they’re sending it in a group chat to be mean; that’s where my worry came in," she said. "Girls would be nice to me during rush, but they’re weird now, once they’ve already got their picture."
Choosing a Different Path
Izzy remains unfazed by stepping away from sorority life. She noted that many students at the University of Alabama do not participate in Greek life.
"There are actually a ton of girls who do not do Greek life," she said of students at the University of Alabama. "It's very uncommon, but there are a few of us. It's the girls who really don't need to depend on anybody to survive. The girls who can walk in front of a crowd with no one beside them. The confident ones. I don't have to have another girl to get up and go to the bathroom with me. I can do that myself."
Izzy also noted that staying out of sororities gives her more freedom to focus on her growing online presence.
Kylan's Future Plans and Message to Followers
Kylan emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health and taking breaks when needed.
“I'm somebody that wants it to be a positive experience for everybody involved,” Kylan explained to E! News in an exclusive interview. “I truly believe that rush is supposed to be fun. I was somebody that my freshman through junior year, once I got into my sorority, I lived for my sorority. “Certain stuff that was being commented about my sister and about my own sorority-the negative things-I didn't want anything to do with that,” she explained, “because people are so sure on the internet. They will see one thing and then they run a mile with it, and it's not even true. I just didn't want to be the cause of that."
“We put ourselves out there so much and it's okay to take a mental health day. And I did receive a lot of positive comments when I decided to do that. “I think it's really important because I know that young girls look up to me and follow me,” Kylan added.
She may return for Sisterhood Round or Bid Day, but remains a Zeta and is excited for her senior year.
The Broader Conversation: Mental Health Advocacy
Kylan Darnell's decision to prioritize her mental health aligns with a growing trend of public figures speaking openly about their struggles. The influencer isn’t the only star who has gotten candid about their mental health journeys.
Other celebrities have also shared their experiences with mental health, including:
- Prince Harry: The Duke of Sussex helped break down the stigma around seeking help for mental health.
- Taraji P. Henson: The Empire star has been open about her struggles with depression and advocates for seeking professional help.
- Lili Reinhart: The Riverdale actress shared her struggles with anxiety and depression during middle school and emphasized the importance of seeking help.
- Zendaya: Back in 2013, Zendaya wrote on her now-defunct app that she struggled with anxiety after an appearance on Ellen where her mic went out.
These stories highlight the importance of open conversations about mental health and seeking help when needed.
Lakeisha Shurn's Weight Loss Journey: A Parallel Narrative of Self-Improvement
While Kylan Darnell's story focuses on mental well-being, the journey of Lakeisha Shurn offers a parallel narrative of self-improvement and taking control of one's life. Determined to improve her life and regain control of her body, 348 pound Lakeisha Shurn joined in on the #giveit100 challenge.
Shurn, who weighed 348 pounds, embarked on a 100-day challenge to lose weight and improve her self-esteem. She uploaded a video every day for 100 days of her working out and her commentary on her weight loss journey.
"I have low self-esteem, I am going through depression, and I want to change all of that. Next hundred days I will be on the journey of losing weight and finding myself," says Shurn at the beginning of the video.
Despite facing mental and physical challenges, Lakeisha persevered, going to the gym every day. After 100 days, she lost eighteen pounds and two pant-sizes. Lakeisha proves that you don’t need a fancy trainer, expensive juices, or special supplements to lose weight -- it all comes down to believing in yourself.