“Respecting women should not be conditional.”
This was the sentiment expressed by some Filipinos amid online discussions about content creator LANS and debates over how women should present themselves in a certain way to gain engagement.
LANS, also known as Louise Anne Nagal, is a veterinary medicine student who has gained online attention for her content style, which several viewers describe as both informative and engaging.
She is known for her signature introduction, “This is Lans,” followed by “This is Laaansss, at sa araw na ‘to…”
The content creator has drawn attention online for her approach to creating videos. Former EB Babe Molly Baylon also praised LANS, saying she does not resort to “shock value or controversy to get people to watch.”
“You know what she reminds me of? ‘Sineskwela’ — my favorite TV show when I was younger,” Molly wrote on Facebook.
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“As a mom, I hope to see more content like this from kids her age. Content that sparks curiosity, encourages learning, and shows children that they can be known for their minds, talents, and character,” she added.
Others, however, drew comparisons with other female content creators, with some praising LANS for her “wholesome” image in contrast to those they said rely on showing more skin to gain engagement.
“Binabansagan ngayon ang social media personality na si Lans bilang kauna-unahang babaeng sumikat sa internet nang hindi nagpapakita ng osus o kung ano mang malaswang parte ng katawan, sayaw o nagthi-thirst trap sa internet,” a content creator wrote.
Such a perspective did not sit well with other online users, who pointed out that all women, regardless of the type of content they create, deserve respect.
“Ang weird lang na si LANS mismo ang proof na women can succeed through their own choices, intelligence, and agency, pero ginagamit siya ng iba para sabihin kung anong klaseng babae lang ang ‘worthy’ of respect,” a Facebook page wrote.
“If you genuinely admire her, dapat ma-realize mo rin na women should have the freedom to choose what they want and still be treated with respect, not be compared to other women,” the page added.
“Hindi naman kasi reward ang respeto para lang sa mga babaeng pasok sa isang specific mold. Hindi kailangang educational creator, academically accomplished, modest, o madaling hangaan ang isang babae para tratuhin nang may dignidad,” it further said.
“Huwag sana nating gawing conditional ang respeto,” the page added.
Content creator and former basketball player Mikee Reyes,known online as “Tito Mikee,” also weighed in on the discussion, saying the issue lies with “perverts,” not women themselves.
“Sabi ko na ang problema wala naman sa babae, nasa mga maniyakis na nakatingin. Dami niyo pa eme tungkol sa ibang content creator,” he wrote.
What LANS says
LANS also appealed to her supporters to refrain from comparing content creators, emphasizing that each has different niches that should not be pitted against one other.
“Nakakataba man po ng puso ang mga good reviews sa contents natin, sana po ay iwasan natin ang pagco-compare [or] mang-bash sa iba pong content creators,” she wrote on Facebook on Sunday, June 21.
“Iba-iba po kasi ang niche natin, mapa-lifestyle man ‘yan, skits, pranks, sports, educational, motivational [or] inspirational, at marami pa pong iba. May kanya-kanya pong pagkakakilanlan ang bawat isa at pinaghirapan po nila ‘yon,” LANS added.
“At sumusuporta rin po ako sa iba’t ibang content creators natin, as long as wala kaming natatapakang tao. Sa totoo lang po, hindi po talaga madali ang umisip ng content, mag-shoot, mag-edit, at mas mahirap pong naiku-kumpara. Kung hindi po dahil sa kanila, baka wala rin po siguro ako dito ngayon,” she continued.
The content creator reiterated her stance in another post, saying she does not consider her rising popularity an achievement if it comes at the expense of other women.
“Maging ako po mismo ay hindi rin nakaligtas sa pambabastos, tapos sasabihin ng iba ‘yan sa ibang babae? Wala rin pong sense. Hindi ko po ma-consider na achievement ‘yung pagtaas ng followers kung may mga kababaihan naman pong ibinababa para lang may maitaas,” LANS wrote on Tuesday, June 23.
“Women do not have to fit one image to deserve respect. Hindi kailangang educational creator ka, mahinhin, conservative, o tahimik para masabing ‘worthy’ kang respetuhin. A woman can be confident, expressive, feminine, strong, matalino, creative, o simply comfortable being herself by posting photos, dressing a certain way, or expressing themselves (ourselves) online,” she added.
The content creator also said that women should not be judged based on their outfits, adding that respect should not be determined by clothing alone.
“The way we dress is never an invitation for disrespect. Hindi babae, hindi ang aming kasuotan, ang dapat pinapabago para itrato nang maayos. Ang pag-iisip po ninyo sana ang ayusin,” she said.
LANS has around 4.3 million followers on Facebook. Her page description reads: “Your daily dose of inspiration, lifestyle, and personal growth.”
