Page Text: A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears)
So … I asked. It turns out the woman behind the photo, Andrea McClain, an Ohio-based part-time stock photographer, is actually no stranger to getting the Britney Spears Instagram boost. She said Spears has been posting her pictures for years, and she has no idea why. Further reporting—AKA scrolling through the depths of Spears’ very extensive Instagram history—puts the earliest post in April 2018, and I uncovered 14 different photos. Spears appears to be a longtime fan of McClain’s soft and romantic images. Many of these posts were from the #FreeBritney era, meaning they were often parsed by fans for secret clues Spears was asking for help leaving her conservatorship. Many of the pictures include flowers, tea cups, and keys. As one Spears fan wrote in a Christmas-y image of McClain’s that Spears posted in November 2019, “who TF is Andrea McClain tho?” Here’s your answer. Our conversation has been condensed and edited.
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Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Photography for me, for the last few years, has been mostly a hobby. I do try to make a little bit of money off of it. I sell through a stock image company called Arcangel. I’ve had a few book covers, greeting cards, stuff like that. I really enjoy still-lifes. They are my favorites. I used to do weddings—not my favorite. I sell some of my photography in a local store and craft shows. I’d like it to be more, but right now I’m not working. I used to be a preschool teacher. Last year, I lost my husband, so I’ve just been taking time for just me.
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How did you discover that Britney Spears had posted your photo?
She’s shared my photos before. The first time was a couple of years back. I can’t say exactly how many she’s shared, but it has been quite a few. On Monday, I got an Etsy message on my email, and it was Entertainment Tonight asking if they could use my photo for a segment. And I thought, “what happened?” I knew to go to my Instagram. “It’s probably Britney again.” My phone was blowing up.
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Have you gained a lot of followers since she posted?
I’d say over 2,000.
Is that typical of the response when Spears posts a photo of yours?
Yes, when she posts a photo of mine, my Instagram will blow up.
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