You Might Be The "Inventing Anna" In Your Friend Group, Here's Why
After binge-watching Inventing Anna, I thought to myself, In what ways am I like Anna Delvey (portrayed by Julia Garner)?
It was a scary thought.
For context, the love-to-hate con artist Anna Delvey (real name Anna Sorokin) fooled New York's elite into believing she was a German heiress. She mimicked all the worst traits of the rich and famous.
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What if I break down all the reasons why someone might actually be the Inventing Anna of their friend group? It takes a strong-willed, confident person to take a good, hard look at yourself and face the truth.
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If I'm going to get to the bottom of this, I'm not going down alone. You might be the Anna Delvey in your friend group, like it or not. Humor me, and let's unpack the reasons why together.
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1.You're super connected.
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Anna Delvey knew everyone in New York, from the evil "Pharma Bro" to the "Fyre Fest guy." Likewise, your little black book is packed full of the biggest names. You know everyone, including your ex who only talks about crypto, the neighbor who is a mommy influencer, and the cute shift lead at the Starbucks in the bank.
2.You borrowed your best friend's outfit and never gave it back.
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Netflix Anna's wardrobe was something new, something borrowed, and something stolen from her Manhattan socialite friend Nora Radford. In your world, it's not like the outfits you borrow fit your friends now that they have gained so much weight. Everyone knows they were headed to a better home when you took 15 outfits over one week.
3.Your intimate relationships are tragic love stories.
Anna didn't have the best love life because someone wasn't being sincere in the end. You know, it's not easy being a lot to handle. People can't handle all you have to offer. It may look like your relationship ended in shambles to the public. We know the real tragedy is you wasted your time on another loser.
4.You make friends with everybody.
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Anna racked up friends, colleagues, and targets like they were Pokémon cards. By the same token, nobody is too big or too small to join your circle. Cops handing you the 25th parking ticket and the judge screaming at you all want the same thing — to be your bestie.
5.You over-promise and under-deliver.
Anna Sorokin was a master of embellishing the truth. Nobody is sure of what they really want, so it's in your best interest to promise the bare minimum. When you barely skate by with minimal results, the world is utterly impressed. When you're basically royalty, your time and energy are precious.
6.You never miss a fashion moment.
Anna had a fashion stylist for her court dates. You know there's a chance a paparazzo could accidentally snap you in a picture standing behind Donatella Versace's second assistant in line at The Container Store. You must always be on because the world is a stage, and you're the main performer.
7.You're avoiding therapy.
Anna was absolutely dealing with some level of delusion. It would take an entire directory for licensed therapists to crack your complex intellect. Nobody will cash you outside a psychiatrist's office unless it's an episode of Dr. Phil launching your problematic rap career.
8.You never leave your friends alone.
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Anna was overstaying her welcome every chance she got. Fortunately, it's a shame how often your friends and admirers have to force themselves away from you after sleeping on their couch for 3–5 months for free. They needn't worry. You'll always be 10 missed phone calls, 5 voicemails, and 2 unread emails away.
9.Your friends are success stories because they're your friends.
After surviving a $62,000 debt, Anna's former pal Rachel DeLoache was on the come-up. The second you bless anybody with a friend request, they see an increase in their likability. Convince them to spend their life savings on a destination trip of your choice, and they'll rise to the top. Your friends are famous by proxy, and they owe all their winnings to you.
10.You borrowed obscene money from your family, friends, and credit unions.
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In Anna's case, she borrowed a little too much with no intention to pay it back. For you, it always starts out as a simple loan, but big visions and even bigger dreams cost money. A few maxed credit cards, a foreclosed house, two repossessed cars, and a mobster chasing you down are worth the trouble.
11.You're the most generous person you know.
Anna Sorokin was always willing to pay if her credit card actually worked. You don't worry about waiting until birthdays or Christmas to give an extravagant gift to your admirers. Placing them in your debt in the early stages secures a long-lasting, loyal friendship.
12.You're always the topic of conversation.
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Imagine lying to the world and getting news coverage and a Netflix deal? Similarly, the world can't keep your name out of its mouth. It's always, "OMG, I can't believe," or, "Did you hear?" Everyone is obsessed with you, and they just want to be you, or they're in love and want to be with you.
13.You can cry your way out of any situation.
Every time Anna was almost exposed, she broke down in tears. You're something like an empath. This is the way you were designed. Suppose others can tap into your high-level emotional intelligence and understand that you're a decent person deep down. In that case, you won't get in the way of the synergy, and all is forgiven.
14.You have big dreams and bigger ideas.
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The Anna Delvey Foundation would sound like a fantastic idea if it wasn't a complete scam. People need to know that you're taking steps to build an empire and be the ultimate change you want to see. Nobody understands how much work and how busy you are, a very intelligent business person and innovator.
15.Your wardrobe is outside your tax bracket.
Anna clearly didn't have the money to be decked out in designer wear every day. You know it costs money to look this good. It's more important to visit your local fashion house daily, more so than a doctor. A $2,000 handbag a day keeps the "broke-ass" away. Shopping is a vital part of your diet.
16.You know how to take control of the narrative.
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Anna's celebrity fitness instructor Kacy Duke was a great motivator for reclaiming your time. The road to the top is paved with a lot of haters. If you let them speak for you, your name will be tarnished. Take control of the story, and tell your truth even if it may sound unbelievable to almost everyone, including your parents.
17.There's always time for an Instagram photo op.
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Anna and her friends had a very strong social media presence. With a filter, a carefully curated caption, and a quirky hashtag, life's better. A night out with the girls can't be complete without standing pigeon-toed with one hand on the hip and holding a peace sign with the other.
18.You have a big mouth and need to put your foot in it.
Anna was never one to hold her tongue. Somebody has to say it. We can't have our associates and friends out here looking foolish. Some people will say it's a little harsh, and others will call you a bully. At the end of the day, when they're done crying, they will appreciate your brutal honesty.
19.You can't tell the difference between your ride-or-dies or your enemies.
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It didn't take much convincing for Anna's old associates to spill the tea. There's a fine line between love and hate and an even finer line between your friends and enemies. With this knowledge, your mains could betray you at any given movement, so you treat them all equally.
20.You always walk on the bright side to a major fault.
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At the end of the day, Anna Sorokin doesn't think she really did anything wrong. The world's on fire, and it's easy to point the finger at the misunderstood people as the problem. If everyone lived with more confidence, it wouldn't be such a sad story all the time.
If you can relate to anything on this list, maybe you're not like Inventing Anna at all. You could be worse!
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