Amish Influencer Breaks Tradition with Online Success

The Amish are known as “plain people,” religious Christians who prioritize tradition over change. They typically dress modestly and avoid using modern technology like cars, computers, or phones. Lovina Hershberger Zook, however, decided to leave the Amish community and step into the digital world as a social media influencer.

Meet Lovina Hershberger Zook

At 23, Lovina Hershberger Zook has gathered six million followers by sharing recipes and stories about the Amish. Hailing from one of the most traditional Amish subgroups, she grew up speaking “Pennsylvania Dutch,” a German dialect. Having left the faith five years ago, she still embraces many traditions at home, like making and wearing her own dresses.

Her online presence revolves around cooking Amish dishes, ranging from classic recipes to innovative twists like coffee soup. This dish combines hot milk, instant coffee, sugar, and saltine crackers. She enjoys it with cottage cheese and meat.

In her repertoire, the “Amish cheeseburger,” a grilled cheese sandwich, delights her audience. One recipe includes homemade bread with butter and cheese, grilled in a cast-iron pan until golden and gooey. Zook finds humor in her culinary discovery: “I’ve only had an Amish cheeseburger; I’ve never had a grilled cheese!”

The Transition to Modern Life

Zook’s story is one of adjusting to unfamiliar traditions. Raised without technology, she didn’t know what a laptop was before buying one after leaving the community. She had to understand words and concepts that were foreign to her.

When asked how she would have reacted to potential fame in her Amish upbringing, she laughed. “I didn’t know what social media was,” she admitted. Her online journey began with cultural discussions. Her most popular video, showing Amish women’s hair styling techniques, boasts over 50 million TikTok views.

Life Within Amish Norms

Growing up Amish meant living without electricity, makeup, or dancing. “We just live our life,” Zook explained. “I know there are people with electricity, but that’s wrong.” Her obedience led to harsh rules and consequences, such as being told she’d go to Hell if she left the Amish.

As one of 13 siblings, Zook followed familial footsteps. Her older brother left before her. After eighth grade, she became a schoolteacher, enjoying the role despite earning $12 a day while traveling by horse-and-buggy.

Her father urged her to leave teaching due to low pay, directing her to work at a sawmill. Her mother’s critique of her church attire was the last straw, catalyzing her departure from the Amish. She secretly prepared for weeks, oiling door hinges for a quiet escape.

A New Life Ahead

Though Zook escaped Amish rules, she respects the lifestyle and misses her family. “My siblings, especially,” she expressed. Living beyond Amish constraints meant learning “English” ways. Staying with her brother, she adjusted to modern life and now drives.

Zook supports herself through social media and runs a self-published cookbook business. She’s married to Eli, who also left the Amish community. She believes she’s living God’s intended life, and she and Eli await their first child next month.

In future plans, Zook envisions a garden, farm, Amish restaurant, and market. Her aspirations reflect a bright outlook. “My life just seems to get better and better every day.”