The Bizarre Battle Of The Instagram Etiquette Influencers

by Stephanie Maida · February 24, 2021

    As the possibility of interacting with people again looms in the (hopefully) not-so-distant future, plenty among us probably need to brush up on their social skills. I mean, I can't be the only one who's afraid I'm going to try to "mute" someone I'm speaking to IRL... or forget how to hold a fork in public.

    Luckily, there's Myka Meier, the in-house etiquette coach of the fanciest of fancy places, the Plaza Hotel. The British-American author and founder of Beaumont Etiquette school prides herself on polishing her pupils to perfection. From the proper way to dine, wine, and even remove your mask at the table, Meier extends her Buckingham Palace-worthy tips to her over 160,000 followers on Instagram, ensuring that everyone is up-to-date on their manners.

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    A post shared by Myka Meier (@mykameier)

    But while she's focused on upholding the utmost propriety, a not-so-sneaky copycat has emerged in her midst. 

    Over the past few months, it was brought to Meier's attention that a Turkish influencer and fellow etiquette coach, Farno Rezaei, was recreating her content practically blow-by-blow, in some cases even going so far as to copy her outfits. Talk about a faux pas!

    On the Instagram page for her own, Istanbul-based etiquette school, Fars School of Etiquette, Rezai has accumulated over 280,000 followers by posting nearly identical video clips demonstrating the same Dos and Don'ts as Meier. 

    Classy as ever, Meier has taken the situation in stride, telling the Daily Mail, "It is baffling and slightly funny when I post and only hours later it is reproduced without acknowledging where it came from. Good etiquette is about being kind and respectful, so it’s just ironic."

    We suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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    A post shared by Myka Meier (@mykameier)
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    A post shared by Farno Rezaei - Farsse (@farsse.co)
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    A post shared by Myka Meier (@mykameier)
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    A post shared by Farno Rezaei - Farsse (@farsse.co)
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    A post shared by Myka Meier (@mykameier)
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    A post shared by Farno Rezaei - Farsse (@farsse.co)