About
Syd Wilder
The Girl behind 'Girl Insta-rupted'
Syd Wilder is a Los Angeles based comedian, actress, producer, writer, director and social media influencer. (Syd hates the word “influencer.”)
Syd grew up in the trailer parks and country clubs of Marietta, GA. As a child she was the quintessential fat kid with high cholesterol and a boy’s haircut. You would never know it know it now, but as a kid Syd was often mistaken for a boy (photographic evidence can be found in the photos section). When Syd was ten years old, she watched the movie, “Miss Congeniality” and was inspired to put down the basketball and prove to everyone she was a girl. After winning first runner up out of two people in a local beauty pageant, she realized she needed to grow her hair out and figure out another dream.
As a teenager, Syd started writing songs to cope with being bullied and eventually started a country music career while living in Georgia. After Syd’s mom made the painful decision to have Syd turn down a record deal in Nashville, she decided to shift gears again. This time Syd caught the acting bug, and after graduating from high school early, (she was a home school weirdo) Syd received a scholarship to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles.
At the age of sixteen, Syd and her family relocated to the City of Angels with Mommy and Daddy issues. Syd immersed herself in the comedy world by studying at The Groundlings, UCB and Second City. Syd is a proud graduate of the Second City writing program. Syd performed stand up comedy off and on for several years and officially retired in 2019. Her last show was at the Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia.
Syd is an ambitious self-generator who's written, produced, directed and starred in over 40 original sketches as well as creating several original characters. Syd’s online comedy content has garnered over 60 million views across various digital platforms, which include: Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Elite Daily, College Humor, Nerdist, Cosmopolitan, Funny or Die and other news outlets.
Syd’s original web series, “Fab Life Teresa XO” won a Hollywood Comedy Shorts award. This same series was also screened at the prestigious Holly Shorts Festival and competed with Jane Lynch’s series “Dropping The Soap.”
Syd has appeared on Tosh.0 (Comedy Central), Men at Work (TBS), The Tonight Show (NBC) and has done several feature films including, “This Is The End” and the smash digital hit, “Laid In America,” released by Universal. Syd’s modeling has been featured in Maxim, FHM, and Sports Illustrated. She was named “Ask Men’s Top 99 Crush List” in 2016, and Playboy’s “Top 10 Hottest YouTuber’s” in 2015. She’s also frequently asked by her family members to post photos wearing more clothing, which she’s actively working on.
Syd continues to create online content and original characters for her social media platforms. She is starting to break into the voice over industry and really enjoys hosting, writing, dancing and creating her podcast. Syd works diligently to drive home the message of how important it is to openly discuss your mental health, in order to help those who are struggling with trauma, addiction, abuse and mental illnesses.
Syd is proud to be a product of a fuck-ton of therapy, self-work and prayers. She does not view herself as damaged but very “experienced.” She’s determined to use her authentic and unconventional life stories and advice to help others transform their heartbreak into healing.
Q & A
DO YOU ENJOY BEING AN INFLUENCER?
I am not a very “public” person as I prefer to be more private, but I’ve have to fake it for the sake of social media. Frankly, I’m more interested in art and creating stories that are inspiring but I know social media is a part of my business right now. The biggest issue I have with social media is how I’ve been pigeonholed into just only being viewed as “the sexy Instagram model.”Contrary to popular belief, I have a sea of depth within my soul and it’s been hard for people to grasp this because of my “sexy persona.” I never wanted to be a “sexy Instagram influencer.” I didn’t move all the way from Georgia at 16 to go to drama school and spend countless hours rolling around on the ground doing breathing exercises, while reciting Shakespeare sonnets to become an “Influencer.” That aspect of social media can be extremely frustrating when I don’t get taken seriously as an artist.So for me social media has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START A PODCAST?
I love talking to people and learning about what makes them who they are. I am a people person and I find humans endlessly fascinating. I always wanted to start a podcast and in 2018 I decided to put dreams into action, after representing myself throughout my grueling three year divorce battle. I was stressed beyond belief, but I made a promise to myself that I would not allow the hell I was going through to take away another day of my life. I started creating episodes of Girl Insta-rupted in May of 2018. I released the first episode on my birthday (September 26th) as a present to myself. The release was also timed in support of Suicide Prevention Month.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THE FIRST EPISODE?
I was ready to share some heavy stories after taking the time to work on myself and overcoming a lot of my trauma’s. I wanted to share my deeply personal stories in the hopes of helping others struggling with their mental health. I also wanted to inspire others to find the courage to leave a toxic relationship.
On the first episode of Girl Insta-rupted, “Sex Symbol in a Psych Ward,” I interviewed my therapist Dr. Danielle Delaney, who in 2016 helped save my life after a failed suicide attempt. We discuss a variety of trauma’s that led me to hitting my rock bottom, including the loss of my Stepfather to suicide on 9/17/12. *The name Girl Insta-rupted was inspired by this experience.
I also recorded a “Re-birth-a-versary” series where I candidly discuss my struggles of overcoming domestic violence, rape, how I dealt with the death of my best friend, beating cervical cancer, coping with infidelity, the divorce process and how I found my will to continue to live amongst the most unlikely people in a psych ward. (Episodes 33, 34 and 35.)
WHAT TOPICS CAN WE EXPECT TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT?
I started my podcast to candidly discuss mental health issues that most people aren’t comfortable talking about. Each guest brings a different vibe to the show but the core of the “Girl Insta-rupted” brand is self-love, sanity, sex, show business and the soul. Yes, I talk about sex, sexuality and sexual health (sex affects your mental health). As someone who’s been horrifically cheated on, survived cervical cancer and lived in LA for over a decade, I have a pretty open mind and interesting point of view about sex and a lot of other topics. Now that I’m single and dating, I’ve found a lot of my dates aren’t too thrilled about me talking about my sex life, but I can’t help where my interests lie. However, I have decided to take a break from talking about my dating life. So other than my current dating life, no topics are out of bounds to talk about on my podcast.
WHAT’S ON YOUR PATREON?
My Patreon account has exclusive pictures, videos, and podcasts. On the Patreon podcast episodes, I ask my guests the wildest questions and you’d be surprised who answers them and who passes!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
God and my mom. Having faith no matter how unconventional my life has truly saved me. Growing up with a strong single mom taught me invaluable lessons and the unconditional love from my mother has made a huge impact in my healing process.
WHAT INSPIRATIONAL ADVICE DO YOU WANT TO GIVE TO GIRL INSTA-RUPTED LISTENERS?
Healing is not a linear experience and it’s a full time job trying to rebuild yourself after trauma and tragedy. We’ve all been in a bad place and we don’t have to stay there. You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward, you just need to start moving. Be proud of yourself for trying to build yourself back together and accept where you’re at in the process because it is a PROCESS. I am NOT a therapist or a counselor so please view my GET HELP section to find a professional that’s right for you.
ARE YOU THAT BITCH THAT LIKES QUOTES?
Guilty! Oversharing is my caring! Below are some of my favorite quotes and if you have a favorite email it to Syd@GirlInstarupted.com and I’ll post it on my Girl Insta-rupted Instagram story.
SHARING STORIES QUOTES:
If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive.
SCAR TISSUES:
Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on.”
- Henry Rollins
GET BACK UP:
It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.
FRESH START:
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."—Carl Bard
THE FUTURE:
“If you want to succeed in your life, remember this phrase: That past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months; the last sixteen years; or the last fifty years of life, doesn’t mean anything… All that matters is: What are you going to do, right now?” -Anthony Robbins
EMPOWERED BY THEIR BROKEN:
I WANT THOSE OF US LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS TO SHARE WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT OURSELVES, INSTEAD OF REFLECTING ON WHAT MAKES US LESSER THAN OTHERS. I WANT EVERY PERSON OUT THERE TO WAKE UP AND FEEL EMPOWERED BY YOUR BROKEN.
TOUGHER THAN THE TUFF TIMES:
How do we get through the tuff times? By believing in ourselves enough and occupying ourselves enough, developing ourselves enough so we can tolerate the discomfort between now and our next triumph.- Dr. Laura Schlessinger
LIFE:
Life is about f**king, f**ing it up and f**king it back –
Syd Wilder
LIFE:
To live is to suffer. To survive is to find meaning in the suffering. - Victor E Frankel
BE MEANINGFUL:
Stop blaming men or society or anything else for your personal disappointments. Decide to become more meaningful to yourself and others. Then go take on every day of your life.
WILD WOMEN QUOTE:
Wild woman are an unexplainable spark of life. They ooze freedom and seek awareness, they belong to nobody but themselves yet give a piece of who they are to everyone they meet. If you have met one, hold on to her, she'll allow you into her chaos but she'll also show you her magic.
Nikki Rowe
TRUTH:
“This above all: to thine own self be true” – William Shakespeare
BE YOU:
“You can’t dance to every record and not everything is going to be your jam.” –Angela Bassett
BE DIFFERENT, BE YOU:
They laugh at me because I’m different, I laugh at them because they’re all the same.
Kurt Cobain
STRENGTH:
NOTHING CAN DIM THE SATISFACTION OF KNOWING WE DID NOT SURRENDER FROM OUR OWN PRIVATE SICKNESS WHETHER PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL.
STRENGTH:
“I can be changed by what happened to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
Maya Angelou
STRENGTH:
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.
Philippians 4:13
FORGIVENESS:
The Lord Forgives and so should YOU.