‘It is all we can afford': Influencer's Kmart discovery divides

News.com.au

26-05-2025

Aussie influencer Sopha Dopha's claim that people have been gatekeeping how affordable Kmart clothes are has sparked a heated conversation about privilege.
The 21-year-old, who goes by the name Sopha Dopha online but whose real name is Sophia Begg, has over a million followers online. She has sparked debate by sharing she had no idea Kmart sold such affordable and cute clothes.
'Why did no one tell me that Kmart clothes eat? Why are we all gatekeeping?' She asked.
The influencer explained that when she was in Kmart buying homeware, she made what she thought was a shock discovery – the budget retail chain sells affordable and cute clothing.
The influencer was so inspired, she then decided to share this discovery with her followers.
She did a haul video showing off what she'd bought, including the 'cutest bag' she'd ever seen for $22.
'This would cost like $100 dollars everywhere else,' she said.
In the two-minute video the influencer shared that she'd bought tops, jumpers, pants and even a bag and seemed delighted that it only cost her $150.
But Ms Begg's haul shock divided her followers, with some finding the fact that she'd only just discovered Kmart clothing a sign of her privilege.
'Our tax bracket differences are showing,' one follower remarked.
'How? I just didn't realise they had cute clothes,' Ms Begg wrote back.
Another Aussie jumped in and said that Ms Begg's shock that Kmart sold affordable clothing came across as 'clueless to the current money situation in the country.'
'Normal living Australians who aren't rich know that Kmart has good clothes,' someone else said.
'Literally, no one was gatekeeping. I thought this was common knowledge,' someone else said, and Ms Begg replied, 'What?'
When another jumped in and said Ms Begg must be living in a 'little bubble' to not realise Kmart had been slaying for years.
'Girl, relax,' Ms Begg replied.
Later, she explained she knew Kmart was 'bomb' but didn't know it was a great source for trendy clothes.
'Tell me you're an influencer who has the privilege to not have to consider Kmart for their clothes without telling me,' another said.
'No babe, you're just rich. We all buying Kmart,' one noted.
'Gatekeeping? No it's all we can afford,' someone else said.
'Babe everyone has been talking about it,' another said.
Other Aussies, however, claimed the backlash stemmed from people 'jealous' of the influencer, and another argued that she shouldn't be 'shamed' for being rich.
'I wouldn't know what Kmart sold if I was an influencer and had brands send me free shit either,' another argued.
'You've got to be kidding me! This is amazing,' someone else said.
'All the comments saying, 'It's all we can afford,' and 'we aren't all rich like you', stop. It's giving jealousy. She worked hard for where she is. Let the girl enjoy her Kmart clothes,' one slammed.
'Leave the poor girl alone,' another demanded.