F E AT U R E
BECOMING THE BEST: LADY VAPER
Meet Claire, Vapouround’s 2017
Vaper of the Year
There are few awards in this game
as big as Vapouround’s Vaper of
the Year, a unique accolade that
highlights the work of exceptional
individuals in a playing field made
mostly of brands.
The winner for 2017 is Claire Stephanie
Ellis, founder of Lady Vaper, a thriving
online community of devoted vapers
sharing 24/7 to help each other find
the perfect vape. But that’s not all. She’s an
ordinary woman who does extraordinary things.
For millions of people, vaping has proved the only way out of
smoking and the havoc it wreaks on the body. Claire suffers from
fibromyalgia, a condition which causes long-term chronic pain and
fatigue. Getting off cigarettes was more than just preference, it
was vital for her health.
“I started vaping partially because I was a smoker, but also because of
my condition. Doctors usually offer things like morphine. I’m a mother
and an activist, I do campaigning for prison reform. I also do work for
the Children’s Burns Trust. I need to be mobile, comfortable and
active. Not sedated.”
Claire soon found a better alternative.
“Things changed when one doctor suggested CBD. The first I tried
was from a company called Harmony. The effects were immediate
and positive.”
Claire soon took her newfound enthusiasm for vaping online,
partaking in numerous groups. There she did her utmost to contribute,
standing out among members and being made an admin. Inevitably,
she ended up leading her own group, and her moniker – Lady
72 ISSUE 11 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE
Vaper, stuck.
There are countless stories of
vaping saving smokers from
potential disaster. Lady Vaper’s
members keep this in mind; they
are a vibrant and passionate group,
devoted to helping others.
“We work hard to welcome people
into the group and help them get a better
vape. There are 80-150 active posts per day.”
Lady Vaper also has an Instagram page with
over 1,400 followers. Claire’s become a respected
authority on online group management and growth, commended
for being easy to work with. People seek out her help to increase
followers. Claire doesn’t just know how to manage the group, but
how to grow it. A generous spirit with a well-practiced philanthropic
edge, Claire does this for good causes, such as the aforementioned
Children’s Burns Trust. Lady Vaper hosts numerous events, such
as raffles, open competitions, and even charity vape nights – in
which members come together for cloud competitions and buy
merchandise with the funds going to people in need. Claire was
honoured to be recognised for her work at the Vapouround Awards
– the shock still hasn’t quite set in.
“I’m still in awe at how big it’s become, and so quickly! I’m just an
ordinary vaper, I’m no businesswoman.”
Claire proved it isn’t always about being a bigshot. She used the
growing popularity and visibility of vaping to save not only her own
health, but that of others. She truly deserves her place as Vaper
of the Year.