This profile of reality TV star Amanda Batula is part of Street Meet, FLEETSTREET’s series, where we meet up with trailblazers and thought leaders to deliver unique insight and inspiration into issues we all care about.
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I shouldn’t be shocked that Amanda Batula is so forthcoming about pretty much everything – her love life, relationship issues, her mental health. She’s a reality star (yup, nine seasons on Summer House, a Bravo series that follows a group of New Yorkers as they escape the city every weekend to party, work, and navigate messy relationships in the Hamptons). Plus, she’s an entrepreneur and also a legit influencer (with 1 million followers across multiple platforms). She is used to putting it all out there.
But I was honoured she was so frank when I met her at the restaurant Little Owl in New York City’s Greenwich Village, for the launch of Celsius’ new Spritz Vibe flavours (available in Canada on October 6th). She’s one of the faces of the brand, in addition to Tyler Cameron, Lexi Wood and Brooks Nader.
Wearing a matching sparkly, sheer black top and pants, with her hair perfectly curled and her makeup glowing, she’s as nice as she looks. I found a moment to meet with her and introduce myself (and the awesomeness that is FLEETSTREET). And we got to chatting. I thought I would get some fun tips about self-care. But here’s what happened.
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Amanda Batula gets real about her mental health
Amanda speaks candidly about how her life changed since she started taking anti-anxiety meds. “My favourite antidepressant is Prozac,” she joked. But it’s funny because it’s true. She added, “I was trying so hard to fight [the need for a prescription], but once I started medication, I was like, ‘wow, this is what normal feels like.‘ We don’t need to lose any more people to mental health struggles.”
She admitted to me that she used to feel ashamed by her struggle with anxiety, but opening up has changed everything. “It’s OK to ask for help, and medication has truly been life-changing for me,” she shared.
I’m sure being in the spotlight is hard enough, so finding balance in life is essential. Amanda knows how to do just that. By being open about her mental health while also celebrating life’s simple joys, she proves that vulnerability and happiness can coexist.
RHOSLC’s Angie Katsanevas plays rapid-fire questions
Amanda’s favourite things
Between brand collabs, TV appearances and her personal life, Amanda has plenty that keep her smiling. Here are her top five loves:
- Her dogs. Amanda lights up when talking about her pups, Reece and Ryder, who are never far from her. She even swiped through her camera roll and showed me a few snaps of her two dogs.
- Self-care rituals. That means, “Finding me-time, and ignoring the outside noise,” she told me. That might mean binge-watching TV or zoning out with a game on her phone.
- Celsius. Naturally, her go-to energizer. Her partnership with Celsius is a natural extension of her lifestyle, she says. “I only collaborate with brands that truly fit my lifestyle. Celsius is a beverage I already drank, and there are so many flavours I’m genuinely excited about.” She gushed about being part of the limited-edition Vibe collection: “The Vibe flavours are my favourite. They taste so good.” The limited-time flavours are coming to Canada in October.
- Going for walks – Especially with her dogs. Amanda has said her pups were a lifeline during hard times. She told E! News: “My dogs helped me get through some of the darkest moments of my life.” Getting outside and walking them remains a grounding ritual.
- Her electric toothbrush. A healthy addition to her list, proving that even the little routines matter. She tells me that she has been using a Sonicare brush for years.