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AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 18: Anna O’Brien attends Clarins & V Magazine Golden Hour Celebration During F1 Weekend in Austin, TX at Waller Creek Boathouse on October 18, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Presley Ann\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Presley Ann\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
A popular Austin-based fashion and fitness influencer is hanging up her online hat for the \u201cquieter, more private life\u201d she wants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Anna O\u2019Brien, who started the Glitter and Lazers YouTube channel and fitness page, VikingPrincessLifts, announced to her over 1 million\u00a0Instagram followers that she would be \u201cstepping away\u201d from the account.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t an easy decision, but I know it\u2019s the right one. A lot has changed, and I\u2019m just not the same person I was when I started this journey,\u201d O\u2019Brien wrote on her Glitter and Lazers Instagram account. \u201cI\u2019ve never really enjoyed being well-known, and that part of this career has always been hard for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n She said that the \u201cdiscomfort\u201d was \u201ctotally worth it,\u201d but now that she was getting older, she realized she could not have the \u201cquieter, more private life\u201d she wanted if she were a creator.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am so thankful for the love and support you\u2019ve shown me over the years,\u201d O\u2019Brien addressed her followers in the two-page goodbye post. \u201cHonestly, saying goodbye is hardest because of that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Why Anna O’Brien moved to Austin<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien started her social media presence while working for a software company, according to a 2022 interview with\u00a0TheNetline<\/a>. She said she never thought it would evolve into something she could pursue full-time.\u00a0<\/p>\n When she decided to leave her job and become a full-time content creator, she moved out of New York to Texas, citing the cost of living in the Lone Star State.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI was priced out in New York. I will be very real about that. I moved to Austin because it still has a little bit of that big city culture, great food scene, great bars, good concerts, good music, but it\u2019s a lot cheaper\u2026,\u201d O\u2019Brien told TheNetline<\/a>. \u201cIt may not make sense for me forever. I might find myself back in New York. I miss it a lot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien\u2019s home base is still Austin, according to her social media accounts. In her goodbye post, she noted that she was \u201cexcited for [her] next chapter away from the spotlight,\u201d but did not indicate if she would relocate or stay in Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 23: Anna O\u2019Brien attends Clarins and Kathleen Jennings Double Serum Light Launch Garden Party on February 23, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern\/Getty Images for Clarins)<\/p>\n Rick Kern\/Getty Images for Clarins<\/p>\n Inside Anna O’Brien’s online world<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien built a following on her fashion and lifestyle YouTube channel, which she described as covering \u201cplus size fashion, world travel and interior design with a punch of personality and a dose of humor.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Viewers could find themselves watching plus-size fashion hauls, home decor tips, interior decorating ideas, how-tos, DIY tips, lookbooks, vacation inspiration, outfit inspiration and a \u201cwhole lot of real talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n @glitterandlazers<\/a> \ud83c\udf89\u2728 The wait is over! \u2728\ud83c\udf89 Click the link in my bio to shop now! Our exclusive Holiday Knitwear Collection in partnership with @JollidaysOfficial has officially launched! Get ready to sleigh this season in sassy sweaters, cozy cardigans, and standout statement tops perfect for any Christmas party or festive gathering! Whether you’re all about comfort or making a bold statement, our collection has plenty of casual holiday looks to keep you stylish and warm. From matching Christmas pajamas to fun, festive pullovers, our collection has everything you need for a chic and comfy holiday season! Don’t miss out on these limited-edition styles designed to make your holidays a little more magical. Shop now by clicking the link in my bio and make your Christmas extra cozy! #HolidayKnitwear<\/a> #HolidayCardigans<\/a> #ChristmasPajamas<\/a> #HolidayStyle<\/a> \u266c original sound – Glitterandlazers<\/a> <\/p>\n O\u2019Brien\u2019s channel boasts 2.33 million subscribers, her second-most followed social media page, just behind her Glitter and Lazers TikTok page, which has 8.3 million followers.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Hundreds of thousands of followers from her other social media networks followed her over to her fitness page, VikingPrincessLifts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n On the page, O\u2019Brien says she is a \u201cstrongwoman in training,\u201d writing that the gym \u201cshould be fun,\u201d and she\u2019s \u201clifting heavy with a touch of color.\u00a0<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien has been candid about her health struggles, both mental and physical, during her time on the internet.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n