In the Press: This Is Local London
In a world where online comparison and social pressure often dominate young people’s lives, The Kind Girl Community is a refreshing reminder that kindness and connection still matter.
What began as a small idea during lockdown has now grown into a nationwide network of girls supporting each other through friendship, empathy, and empowerment.
The community, which goes under @officialwegotyouboo, has gained an incredible following of over 92.5k people, with its founder, Lydia Leyland, inspiring over 14.2k followers on her personal platform.
Together, they’ve created a safe space where young women can find friendship, confidence, and kindness — both online and offline.
Lydia shared how the project began with a simple yet heartfelt mission — to help young women make genuine friends and feel supported during difficult times.
“I started The Kind Girl Community because I knew how hard it can be to make genuine friends as an adult — especially after moving somewhere new or going through a big life change,” she explained.
“I just wanted to create a space where girls could meet like-minded friends and feel supported, without judgement or pressure.
It began as a tiny WhatsApp group during lockdown and just exploded from there.
We now have thousands of amazing girls all across the UK, meeting up, going on trips, and forming real friendships that last a lifetime.
It’s honestly grown through kindness and word of mouth — girls telling other girls, ‘You have to join this!’”
Her story reflects how powerful small acts of kindness can be when shared.
In a time where loneliness and digital isolation affect so many, The Kind Girl Community shows that real connection can grow even from a single message of support.
This is more important than ever, because according to the Office for National Statistics, one in ten children aged 10–15 say they feel lonely “often or always,” affecting over 300,000 young people in the UK.
Social media can make this worse — over 40% of teens report that it makes them feel worse about themselves, often due to constant comparison.
Many young people also say they struggle to make genuine friends offline, a problem that intensified during lockdown.
Surrounded by screens but still feeling isolated, today’s teens need spaces that remind them what true connection feels like.
When asked about how to stay confident and kind online, Lydia offered heartfelt advice:
“Remember that social media is a highlight reel, not real life.
Everyone has days they don’t post about — messy rooms, bad moods, insecurities — everyone.
Try to follow accounts that make you feel inspired or comforted, not ones that make you compare.
And be gentle with yourself!
The way you speak to yourself matters, even in your head.
If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself.”
Her message is simple but powerful — kindness begins with how we treat ourselves.
Of course, no journey is without challenges.
Lydia admitted that building a positive online community hasn’t always been easy.
“Definitely,” she said when asked if she’s faced negativity.
“When you’re putting something positive into the world, there will always be moments where people don’t understand it or try to pull it down.
But I’ve learned to focus on the girls who do get it — the ones forming friendships, travelling together, and telling me how much the community has changed their lives.
That’s what keeps me going every single time.”
When asked how spreading kindness online can make a real difference offline, she shared a message that captures the spirit of her movement:
“Kindness is contagious — when you send one kind message or comment, it can change someone’s whole day.
They might go on to do the same for someone else.
That’s how real change starts — one small act at a time.”
What makes Lydia’s story so significant is that she turned a personal struggle into a movement that helps thousands of others.
Instead of letting isolation define her, she used empathy to create connection.
The Kind Girl Community proves that social media doesn’t have to be toxic or competitive — it can be used to build real friendships and spread positivity.
Her initiative represents the best of what the digital world could be: kind, supportive, and empowering.
At a time when young people are facing loneliness, anxiety, and pressure to fit in, The Kind Girl Community stands out as a beacon of hope.
It shows that kindness isn’t just a word or a hashtag — it’s a chain reaction.
And sometimes, it only takes one kind girl to start it.
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