EXCLUSIVE Influencer who was brutally mocked for swimming in SEWAGE hits out at critics: 'I loved it'

Daily Mail​

6 days ago

An influencer who was brutally mocked for swimming in sewage has hit out at critics as she insisted that it has actually improved her skin.
Michelle Sky Hayward, 33, from Cape Town, South Africa, recently left people all across the globe disgusted when she posted a video of herself splashing around in what she now believes was poop.
In the video, she appeared confused as she went for her morning dip and noticed the water was murkier and foamier than usual.
Even so, she continued on with her swim, getting the mysterious brown foam all over her body, hair, and face - and even accidentally swallowing some at one point.
Afterwards, horrified viewers rushed to the comment section to warn her that what she was swimming in was likely sewage.
Now, she has spoken exclusively about the ordeal with the Daily Mail, and she insisted that while she was 'horrified' by the realization, she hasn't had any negative side affects.
She explained that it hasn't made her sick at all, in fact, she thinks it's been beneficial for her skin.
'It didn't make me sick at all which is great. I've been feeling really good ever since which I am very grateful for because I know a lot of people were worried,' she shared.
Michelle Sky Hayward, 33, from South Africa, left people all across the globe disgusted when she posted a video of herself splashing around in what she now believes was poop
'Some people pointed out that my skin has been glowing ever since, so who knows, maybe it was beneficial to my skin.'
While chatting with the Daily Mail, Michelle explained that she swims at that beach at least once a week and had never seen foam like that in it before - but she didn't think much of it.
She added that she was in the water for roughly 15 minutes.
'I loved the foam because it made me think of a bubble bath. It also seemed to make the water warmer so I didn't get too cold at first,' she explained.
'I had no idea what it was, I thought it was just because of the stormy weather and big waves nearby.'
The social media star added, 'I didn't notice an unusual smell about it but it did definitely taste more salty than usual.'
After she posted the clip to her Instagram, she said she was 'horrified' to see all the comments about it possibly being sewage.
'The comments pointed out that there had been a sewerage spill in the area and I know that that does sometimes happen at our beaches,' she continued.
But in the end, she said she's not too concerned.
'All in all I'm not too upset because in the end I had a great time in the ocean and no one really knows for sure what it was,' she concluded.
One comment from Michelle's original video read, 'The situation in Cape Town - the city has sewage treatment plants, but it still discharges part of the effluents into the ocean, especially in coastal areas like Green Point, Camps Bay, and Hout Bay.
'These discharges are often only primary-treated sewage or even raw sewage, depending on the area and the system's capacity.
'The historical justification was that ocean currents would dilute the waste, which is now heavily questioned by environmentalists and local researchers.'
'It's all over her face,' someone else wrote with some throwing up emojis.
'I'm not kidding, I almost puked,' another user announced.
Many others shared their disgust while some slammed her for not figuring out what it was.
In a follow-up video shared to her Instagram, Michelle addressed some of the negative comments.
'No, I did not get sick. If anything, it even boosted my immune system because I've been feeling great ever since, so who knows,' she said.
'I didn't actually smell anything, it just smelled like the normal ocean smell. I did notice that the water was super murky and it's very clear in that spot [usually], there was also a lot of foam that I hadn't seen before.
'But guys, honestly, I love the foam. I loved it, I felt like I was in a bubble bath, it was so cool. I literally felt like a mermaid in a bubble bath. I was having so much fun.
'The water felt a bit warmer than usual so I was having the time of my life, it was amazing. I actually had no idea [it was sewage].'