If you scroll through recent comments on photos of Instagram influencer Yovana Mendoza Ayres (a.k.a Rawvana), you’ll see a lot of fish emojis.

They’ve been put there by former fans of the Vegan vlogger, who has 1.3million Instagram followers and more than three million subscribers to her Spanish and English language Youtube channels.

They’re unhappy you see, because Ayres committed the ultimate vegan sin.

She ate meat.

Ayres was captured on a video uploaded to YouTube by another vlogger and it’s pretty clear that she’s eating a plate of fish, well – pretty clear until she tries to hide it.

Whoops.

 

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A post shared by YOVANA MENDOZA AYRES (@rawvana) on Oct 4, 2018 at 7:18pm PDT

Rumours began, but Ayres remained quiet for a while before uploading a 33-minute video to her YouTube channel titled: “THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.”

In it, she takes viewers through her journey of veganism, the impacts this had on her health and why she recently had to abandon the diet.

“I was vegan – completely vegan for almost six years,” she said. “It’s been two months since I started incorporating eggs and fish in my diet.”

 

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????????WHY I WENT VEGAN… . It all started when I realized I was treating my temple with disrespect. Every day I smoked, drank and fueled myself with coffee instead of sleep. I knew it was time to change. One night I kneeled down beside my bed and asked God for forgiveness. I called out to my higher power for help because I knew I couldn’t do it alone. . I faced my truth, looked at my pain in the eyes and said yes to healing. I had the courage to take responsibility for my health and my choices. That day I went completely RAW, nourishing my body with love, water, sleep and plant based foods???? It was a transformation of body, mind and spirit. . Once I made that connection I realized that going Vegan includes more than My Health, it’s The Animals and The Planet! It’s all about Love. . Listen to your being, follow your heart and start living your best life!???? FAM! It’s Day 3 of the 21 Day Vegan WeightLoss CHALLENGE. ????????If you want to participate, Download the ebook TODAY (????Click the Link on my profile!) It’s perfect for beginners! ———————- ????????POR QUÉ ME HICE VEGANA… . Todo comenzó cuando me di cuenta de que estaba tratando a mi templo irrespetuosamente. Todos los días fumaba, tomaba y bebía café en lugar de dormir. Sabía que tenía que cambiar. Una noche me arrodillé junto a mi cama y le pedí a Dios por su perdón. Le pedí a mi poder mayor que me ayudara porque no lo podía hacer sola. . Enfrenté mi verdad, miré a mi dolor a los ojos y le dije Sí a la sanación. Tuve el coraje de tomar responsabilidad por mi salud y mis decisiones. Ese día me volví Crudivegana, nutriendo mi cuerpo con amor, agua, durmiendo bien y dándole alimentos basados en plantas ????Eso transformó mi mente, cuerpo y espíritu. . Una vez que hice esa conexión me di cuenta que el veganismo era más que mi propia salud, también se trata de otros seres vivos y nuestro planeta! Se trata de amor. . Escucha a tu ser interior, sigue tu corazón y empieza una vida más saludable!???? AMIGOS! Ya es el Día 3 del Reto de 21 Días Pierde Peso y Ámate???? Si quieres Participar en el Reto, Descarga el libro en línea HOY (????Enlace en mi Perfil!????) Es perfecto para principiantes!

A post shared by YOVANA MENDOZA AYRES (@rawvana) on Sep 5, 2018 at 7:40pm PDT

She decided to deviate from her raw vegan diet because her periods had become irregular and she was struggling with fatigue.

At first, she added back salt and cooked vegetables, but started eating eggs and fish two months ago after her doctor recommended it.

“That’s exactly why I hadn’t shared it with you,” she said in the video. “For me, it’s still an experiment.”

But most of Ayres’ followers are still pissed.

Her most recent Instagram post – a video of her making a baked potato – has received 16,000 comments in six days.

 

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A post shared by YOVANA MENDOZA AYRES (@rawvana) on Mar 13, 2019 at 9:33pm PDT

Throughout the sharp criticism and disappointment are the fish emojis.

Of course, there were some who criticised her choice to eat meat as they are morally opposed. But most comments were lamenting Ayres for presenting herself online as something she was not in real life, and profiting off it.

“Anyone who is in the spotlight has a responsibility, and you clearly only cared about money and fame. You used your channels for self-gain and potentially hurt and confused many people who were looking to better themselves and to save animals. You should donate the money that you stole since you made this choice to lie to your followers,” said one former follower.

“I’m not mad at the fact that you’re eating fish. I’m mad at the fact that you’re lying to all your followers and making money off of them claiming to be a raw vegan,” another wrote.

Ayres has been a vegan vlogger and Instagram influencer for years. In 2013 she began sharing vegan recipes and gift ideas on her English language YouTube channel and in 2014, documented her “25 day water fast” experience.