A woman has revealed the reality of living the #VanLife on TikTok, sharing the unglamorous moments that make up her day-to-day existence. Hanna Louise Poole, a 26-year-old from Cornwall, England, has been documenting her adventures on the social media platform since 2020, while traveling around Europe. In March 2022, she took the leap and started living and road-tripping full-time in a van.
Unlike many others who participate in the #VanLife trend on social media, Hanna doesn’t shy away from showing the less photogenic aspects of living on the road. A recent TikTok video shows her goofing off in a parking lot, eating candy and skateboarding while wearing a baggy t-shirt. In another video, she demonstrates how she shaves her legs outdoors using a plastic water basin.
Hanna captions her videos with hashtags like ‘#offgridliving’, ‘#dirtbag’, and ‘#feralgirlaesthetic’. She aims to provide a more realistic portrayal of van life, highlighting the messy and challenging aspects that are often left out of the curated social media posts. In one video from December 2020, she shares the reality of her van’s cabin, cluttered with her belongings that have fallen out of boxes while driving.
Hanna also embraces the ‘feral girl aesthetic’ and isn’t afraid to show her less polished moments. She shares videos of herself clinging to rocks during hikes, struggling to figure out the electrical setup in her van, and dealing with windy weather that dramatically whips her hair around.
Through her TikTok videos, Hanna aims to challenge the idealized image of #VanLife and provide a more honest portrayal of the lifestyle. She wants to connect with others who can relate to the gritty realities of living on the road and foster a sense of community among fellow van dwellers.
“This is the way I live,” Hanna writes in one of her captions, embracing her unconventional lifestyle and encouraging others to embrace their own unique experiences.