FANS are becoming increasingly concerned for the well-being of a top Instagram influencer who vanished from social media over a year ago.
Jessica Stein, 38, is an Australian social media star credited with being one of the first bloggers to monetise their online presence with sponsored posts.
The mother-of-one has not posted any content since January last year, leaving her loyal fans desperate for answers.
Stein grew a substantial following after beginning her blog ‘Tuula Vintage’ in 2010, sharing travel and fashion posts of her across the globe in designer fits.
She had previously worked with huge brands such as Land Rover and Vitamix, where she honed her influencing abilities.
Prior to her digital departure, Stein had dedicated her Instagram account to updating followers on her three-year-old daughter Rumi’s battle with a chromosome disorder.
Rumi suffers from Mosaic Trisomy 2 with Maternal Uni Parental Disomy, an extremely rare disorder that has only been diagnosed 10 times.
Stein regularly boasted to her 2.1 million Instagram followers about the toddler, who she affectionally nicknames ‘Ru’, and her progress.
However, the social media star has not shared any posts of her beloved Ru since July 2019, when she enjoyed some much-needed rest bite with her family.
She explained how they had bumped into a family they knew from the hospital who had also opted for a getaway in the same place.
“It was surreal being able to get to know each other in the outside world, spontaneously popping champagne to celebrate our daughters.
“There is nothing more special than enjoying something so normal, and watching them finally able to meet and play together for the first time (both immunodeficient) despite having spent weeks living just rooms apart.”
Her Instagram bio describes herself as a: “Wanderer in a past life” and “Mum to the strongest, happiest human”.
After welcoming “little miracle” Rumi in 2017 with partner Patrick Cooper, fans noticed the 38-year-old had begun posting less frequently as she coped with her daughter’s condition.
Concern is continuing to grow for the family over a year since Stein’s last social media activity, as fans continue to search for clues.
“How is your daughter doing? I noticed you haven’t posted anything on Instagram in a long long time and I hope she and you are doing well,” one user commented.
Another added: “What happened to Jessica Stein of Vintage Tuula? I’m worried about her baby… I hope they’re both okay.”
“Hope you are ok, you’ve been missed sending you prayers you and your family,” one wrote.
But others defended her apparent radio silence, saying, “They are fine people. They’re being parents like you all should be doing. Let them be!”
Another weighed in: “Hmmm …I know it’s a personal choice to stop with social media and I bet you have a reason for it but just a little goodbye to your loyal followers would be nice. Hope you’re all well.”
In one of her last posts, from July 16, 2019, Stein explained: “We’ve somehow spent nearly 5 months living in hospital,” alongside a series of photos cuddling Rumi taken in New South Wales.
A five-month social media hiatus followed before Stein reappeared in January 2020, with a heartfelt appeal for help as her beloved home country was being destroyed by bushfires.
She added to the post, “I’m sorry I haven’t been sharing for months as I have been struggling with my health, and found that being online wasn’t the best place for me.”
Stein has been open with her followers about her past health problems, such as sharing her precarious pregnancy journey, which saw her experience complications as a result of being hit by a car as a teenager.
“I experienced multiple pelvic and internal injuries after being hit by a car at 16 with ongoing pain and limitations, and was warned of what might never come to be,” she wrote in her pregnancy announcement.
She told how she and her partner had been considering adoption, “just before this unexpected miracle happened.”
Stein’s water broke early at 20 weeks due to complications of her bladder injury from the crash.
“I don’t know the words to describe how hopeless I felt… not being able to control my own body, provide for my baby or see hope that we would make it through,” she told her followers.
The last few months were the “loneliest” of her life, despite her boyfriend being a “rock of support and positivity.”
A GoFundMe page by the name of ‘Our Little Warrior Rumi’ earned $235,804 in donations before it was disabled.
The couple set up the page in October 2017 to raise money for their little girl’s medical bills.
