In a time where social media often feels dominated by selfies and sales pitches, it’s refreshing to find someone using their platform to inspire, educate and lift others up. Even if you are not scrolling daily on Instagram or TikTok, you may have heard of local social media influencer, Renee Anderson, aka Wild Oregon Girl.
Anderson’s influence is not about glamour or trends – it’s about purpose. From raising awareness about conservation and environmental issues related to her beloved state, to championing mental and physical health and advocating for underserved communities, she uses her platform for good. For Anderson, being an influencer means more than sharing her life – it’s about shining a light on causes that matter and empowering others in her communities to make a difference.
A native Oregonian, Anderson was born in Portland but relocated to Sunriver in first grade. “My parents loved Sunriver, they were engaged in Sunriver and they wanted to raise me in a small town. My grandparents had a couple of businesses in Bend, so the move made sense,” Anderson says. She attended Three Rivers through middle school, then Bend High School. When Summit High School opened her sophomore year, Anderson transferred there and was in the first graduating class. “Along with the arts, theatre, speech and band, I lettered in academics 17 times. I was really into academics!”
After high school, Anderson got into college for theatre, but financially could not afford to go. Instead, she began working in the food and beverage industry, first in Sunriver, then in Portland, then on the coast. In 2008, as newlyweds, she and her husband moved back to Sunriver.
In 2011, while a stay-at-home mom, Anderson decided to focus on her art career. She began to paint and had her work displayed at locations around Bend. When her child entered first grade in 2014, Anderson began a personal blog project. “I started writing historical narratives of local hikes. I would research a location, hike it, photograph it and write about my experience. I wrote one per week for 54 weeks and . This blog is what I started posting later on Instagram. I also began curating for other Instagram accounts.”
As it often does, though, life threw Anderson several curve balls. After numerous extreme life stressors, Anderson experienced a serious mental health crisis at the end of 2016. Two separate episodes lead to ER visits and admission to Sage View Psychiatric Center in Bend. However, with no clear diagnosis or path forward, Anderson became her own mental health advocate, researching her condition, symptoms and where to find help.
In 2019, Anderson discovered Promises Five Palms in Ormond Beach, Florida. “This was the only facility in the country that offered a dual diagnosis rehabilitation. I knew what I was dealing with was serious, and I knew I was dealing with more than one issue. I was looking for a rehabilitation center that could support mental health and psychotic conditions and there are not many of those in the entire country.”
Anderson boarded a plane, beginning a journey toward health and wellness that would change the course of her life. At Promises Five Palms, she was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 with psychosis, which goes into schizophrenia when she experiences high levels of stress. “The 30-day program I went into is really unlike any other offered anywhere. It was a unique model for mental health care, but I believe in it because it changed my life. It gave me the skills and the space to be able to heal. I am still internalizing and processing what I learned there.”
Early on, amid her mental health struggles, Anderson shut down her Instagram accounts. “I didn’t want to say or do anything that would jeopardize that work.” But, my psychiatrist at Five Palms said, ‘you have talents to share, you have a voice, you have a gift for writing and that’s why you are here… you need to use that,’ so I opened all of my social media accounts on the plane ride home.”
Anderson is passionate about her recovery, her continued mental and physical health – and how she utilizes her social media platforms. “I learned a lot about how to use social media in a healthy way, setting boundaries – like time limits, how you interact with others – I have a mission statement and a written code of ethics that states what I want to do with my media, and these are the behaviors that I follow. I don’t consume negative things, I create more than I consume… like if I am scrolling too much, I tell myself, ‘No, you need to go make something, you need to be contributing, not consuming.’ And, I have posted just about every single day since I got off the plane.”
Wild Oregon Girl, Anderson’s Instagram page, went viral in 2021 with a reel (or video) featuring Smith Rock. Currently Wild Oregon Girl has about 137,000 followers and between four and seven million impressions, or views, per month. That first viral reel had over one million views within two days and gained Anderson almost 10,000 followers in one weekend.
Anderson has never tried to hide her mental health struggles. Social media is not just a stage for her – it’s a tool to help others and make a difference in her community. Her honesty, authenticity and transparency, along with her vision of the world around her, is through the eyes of someone who values her place and connection to it all. Connection to the natural world has been paramount to Anderson’s healing journey, and to her continued health. This connection fuels her adventures, explorations and the creativity that makes Wild Oregon Girl resonate with others. Indeed, her path to healing seems to be inextricably linked to her viral success as a social media influencer.
“What motivates me is my family and my previous struggles. I want to keep moving forward and enjoy the life I have been given. I am passionate about being present, soaking up the time I have with my teenager, working on peace and mental health and being creative every day,” reflects Anderson. “Professionally, I am passionate about connecting people throughout the state and beyond, to inspire and grow each day and to be a resource for those in need.”
A large part of Anderson’s rehabilitation and continued focus on health and wellness is service to others. “Living outside yourself, that’s huge,” she notes. “I can sit in my storm in my head all day long, but as soon as I start to focus on someone else or something else, it takes me out of what I’m dealing with. Service to others is the best therapy.”
Her career as a social media influencer carries a great deal of responsibility in Anderson’s mind. “I feel that it is my responsibility to ethically represent all Oregonians. To take care of our natural lands and to be a good steward. I want to support inclusive spaces for all and to always lead with empathy and kindness for others and our shared spaces.”
Anderson’s Wild Oregon Girl platform has led to a host of professional opportunities. She has recently been hired by some larger travel agencies, like Travel Oregon, Discover Klamath and Travel Southern Oregon doing media tours. She also has eleven charities that she works with, and she just signed on with the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, which she admits is one of her favorite projects. “I am also going to be working with Medicaid this year, to do enrollment for mental health services and to help bring awareness of available services to the community.”
In the end, Anderson’s mission is simple: to do good. She strives to make every day the best it can be, pursuing her passions with a heartfelt commitment to serving others. Through her creativity and artistic perspective, she not only inspires her audience to see the world in new and beautiful ways but also offers hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that life’s challenges can become stepping stones to creating a meaningful and lasting impact.
Wild Oregon Girl Tips for Health & Wellness
Slow down. Get outdoors. Meditate. Practice gentle movement. Journal. Exercise. Drink water and hot tea. Get rest and sleep. Take things off your plate. Forgive yourself. Go for a walk. Connect with nature and animals. Do something nice for yourself. Cook a meal. Watch a comfort show. Connect with family and friends. Eat nourishing foods. Service to others. Connect with professional resources and your community. Take a bath. Organize your space. Soak up the sun. Listen to music. Create something.
@WildOregonGirl
“I feel that it is my responsibility to ethically represent all Oregonians. To take care of our natural lands and to be a good steward."
— Renee Anderson, aka Wild Oregon Girl
"I have a mission statement and a written code of ethics that states what I want to do with my media, and these are the behaviors that I follow."
— Renee Anderson, aka Wild Oregon Girl