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Lindsay Arnold Cusick gave a glimpse into her day filled with motherly duties, but her jewelry was the center of the stage. The former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ professional dancer posted a video representing the day of picking kids up and dropping them off, running errands, and having the family’s favorite snack, Kodiak Cakes trail bars, all together; snacking, however, was not the only attention grabber of the day. The healthy, lifestyle-on-the-go aspect was overwhelmed soon by a luxurious handbag that got a lot of comments and changed the whole discussion.
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Lindsay Arnold Cusick could be seen in the video preparing snacks, dancing with her toddler, and rushing to the post office. She tells that it is the protein-rich bars that keep her and her two daughters happy and occupied. “These Kodiak Trailbars are my everyday choice for me and the girls,” she states in the video. “They are ideal for busy days.” But, even though the loyalty to the snack brand was evident, the interest of most viewers was not in the food but in the stylish brown bag that she had draped over her shoulder during her shopping.
Almost immediately after the video aired, the comments were buzzing and the price tag was the major topic of discussion. One follower unhesitatingly named the bag and its jaw-dropping price in the comment: “It’s the $4,200 Miu Miu Adventure Nappa bag, people. You’re welcome.” This single comment set the tone for the rest of the discussions. The shift in focus was so rapid it turned from snack time to high fashion. A consumer who probably was not even a bit impressed by the branding replied to this comment with a laugh, saying, “lmao nobody cares about the bars in the ad, just the $4k bag they can’t afford 😂”. This view was generally received as it highlighted the comic contrast between the down-to-earth mother-content and the luxe item.
There were many more similar comments that surfaced all at once, but they all gave the same message. “Love the bag. Please share link,” said one loyal fan. “I also love the bag. Please give us the link thank you,” asked another. There was such a demand that it created a common thread running throughout, with the viewers describing the handbag as “gorgeous,” “really cute,” and “🔥.” The piece that was meant to be nothing more than an accessory became the center of attraction, showing how one fashion choice can affect the discourse around a post.
What is more intriguing, some comments did manage to get back to the main subject of the post. One user labeled Lindsay Arnold Cusick “the sweetest mom,” and another complimented her daughter Sage’s dancing. Someone just proclaimed, “Gotta try those snack bars!! 😋”. Only one person in the crowd did not care for the snacks being from the partner brand, Kodiak Cakes, and that person was met with the response “Don’t feed your kids this processed bs ‘energy bars’. Just give them fruit and veggies and meat🙏🙏”. The snack brand partner also chimed in by saying that “a little snack is a necessity.”
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The eventual poster put Lindsay Arnold Cusick under the microscope and turned her into a case study scenario á la Jules Verne on the firm of audience engagement. The ex-‘Dancing with the Stars’ professional dancer wanted to show that no matter how real her life was as a mother, she still supported the product she used. Still, the audience’s attention was inescapably attracted to the high-end fashion item that was a representation of a very different side of her reality. The entire saga suggests that even within the most skillfully curated content, the audience will latch onto those details that resonate with them the most, whether it’s a healthy snack or a four-thousand-dollar handbag. The conversation shifted from the nutrition aspect on-the-go to the accessible luxury and the aspirational style. Lindsay’s fashion choices often become talking points, as seen in her recent staycation photos. She also recently celebrated an Allure Best of Beauty award for her sunscreen. Meanwhile, her former colleague Alan Bersten continues to share behind-the-scenes moments from the show.