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Inês Filipe Gomes

Inês F. Gomes (born August 26, 1998) is a Portuguese researcher and social media personality. She gained recognition for her unique blend of aesthetics and candid discussions on social media. Gomes completed her Bachelor's degree in Biology and Master's degree in Biochemistry and Biomedicine at the University of Lisbon. She has made notable contributions to the field of computational biochemistry. Despite facing personal challenges, Gomes has maintained a strong connection with her followers, prioritizing genuine interactions over monetization. Her career has been marked by a commitment to authenticity and a refusal to shy away from discussing the pressures of life.

1. Early life and education:

Inês Filipe Gomes was born on August 26, 1998, in Lisbon, Portugal. From a young age, she faced significant health challenges that required her to spend considerable time in hospitals and doctors' offices. Despite these obstacles, Gomes demonstrated an impressive ability to consume and understand information quickly. This allowed her not only to keep up with her peers academically but also to excel in her studies.

Gomes's strong personality and academic focus set her apart from her peers, leading to a somewhat isolated childhood and adolescence. However, she found success in various academic contests, showcasing her talents in fields ranging from poetry to mathematics. She also participated in athletics, winning medals in long jump and high jump events.

In 2017, Gomes completed her high school education, distinguishing herself as the top student in the mathematics final exam at her school. Following high school, she pursued a Bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Lisbon. Although she was more proficient in mathematics, Gomes chose to study biology to broaden her scientific knowledge and explore various disciplines, including biology, physics, and chemistry.

During her bachelor's program, Gomes developed a keen interest in the field of antimicrobial resistance in patients with cystic fibrosis. This interest culminated in a final project in this area, which she completed in 2020.

Gomes then pursued a Master's degree in Biochemistry. Initially, she enrolled in a microbiology program but switched to biochemistry to fill gaps in her knowledge of chemistry. During her master's program, she was introduced to computational biochemistry, a field that allowed her to combine her love for mathematics with biological topics. Despite facing personal challenges that caused her to miss a semester, Gomes completed her Master's degree in January 2024. Even before finishing her Master's, she published an article in the Journal of Chemical Physics.

2. Career: 2.1. Research:

During her Bachelor's degree, Gomes developed a keen interest in the field of antimicrobial resistance in patients with cystic fibrosis. This interest culminated in a final project in this area, which she completed in 2020. This project laid the foundation for her future research endeavors and marked the beginning of her research career.

Inês Gomes's research interests lie primarily in the theoretical approach to biological questions. This interest was sparked during her Master's degree in Biochemistry, where she was introduced to computational biochemistry. This field allowed her to provide a unique perspective on biological research.

Even before completing her Master's, Gomes made a significant contribution to her field by publishing an article in the Journal of Chemical Physics. The article provided a theoretical outlook on the kinetic mechanisms of action of deep eutectic solvents in the preservation of globular proteins. While there are several articles highlighting deep eutectic solvents's ability to preserve the structure of biomolecules, very few attempts have been made so far to explain the mechanisms. Gomes's article filled this gap in the literature.

Gomes's research career is still in its early stages and the interest lies in her unique approach to biological research.

2.2. Social Media Inês began her journey as a social media personality on Tumblr in 2013 with her blog "Passionate Lite Soul". Initially, she posted lighthearted content, but in 2015, she shifted to darker and sarcastic themes surrounding depression and anxiety. This shift resonated with many followers, leading to a surge in her popularity.

In 2016, Gomes expanded her social media presence to Instagram. Her unique blend of aesthetics, combined with candid discussions about the pressures of academic life, quickly gained traction. She was praised for not romanticizing college life and for being open about the darker sides of pursuing an academically challenging degree.

One of the defining aspects of Gomes's social media career is her refusal to monetize her presence through brand deals. She has stated that she wants her account to be driven by genuine connections with her followers, not by financial incentives. This approach has been well-received by her followers.

However, Gomes's social media activity decreased significantly in 2020 due to personal reasons, leading to some backlash from her followers. In February 2023, she deactivated all her social media accounts. She remained low-key for several months, only to reactivate her Instagram account in August of the same year. She made her first post in December 2023, on the anniversary of the "pink theme", a popular aesthetic on her account.

3. Controversies

3.1. Snapchat Story: In 2016, Gomes faced backlash for a Snapchat story that was deemed insensitive to people who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. The story featured a caption where she complained about having long hair during the summer. Critics argued that this was insensitive to individuals undergoing chemotherapy, a treatment that often results in hair loss.

3.2. Aesthetically Messy: Gomes's biggest controversy involved a fan account, Aesthetically Messy (AM). Initially, AM started as a fan account dedicated to Gomes, but it quickly became a source of discomfort for her due to their intrusive behavior. AM would track down who Gomes interacted with and constantly speculated about her personal life, including her relationships and location. The situation escalated when AM started speculating about Gomes's close friend, Alyanna, leading to homophobic rants. Gomes unfollowed AM and publicly spoke against the account. AM has since shifted their content from supportive to critical.