Social anxiety has become a quiet companion for many young adults. It lingers in the hesitation before walking into a room, in the mental rehearsal of what to say to a stranger, in the relief of cancelling plans and retreating back into your own comfort space. It doesn’t always look like panic or avoidance. Sometimes it looks like wanting a deeper connection but not knowing how to step toward it.
We live in a world where connection is constant, yet face-to-face interaction can be daunting and often unbearable.
It’s within this context that Go&Glow was created. Not as a rejection of online socialisationising, but as a response to what it can’t provide. The community was founded by Alexa Manganiello, providing a beautiful space for women to form friendships outside of the online world.
In 2023, Alexa decided to challenge her social anxiety and started a small walking group, saying, “It felt like a low-pressure, approachable way to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people.” Instead of a handful of women showing up, like Alexa had expected, hundreds of women joined for the walk. This was a realisation that felt both comforting and surprising for Alexa: “So many women shared similar experiences and feelings, and that not only made me feel less isolated, but also inspired me to create more spaces where women could show up for themselves.”
The response to that first walking group speaks to something larger than a single community event as it reflects a moment in time. Today adulthood is unfolding under a different kind of spotlight, one that is shaped by social media, economic uncertainty, and a culture that places relentless emphasis on visibility and self-presentation. For many young women in particular, growing up online has meant learning to be observed before learning to feel at ease. Social spaces can be evaluative rather than organic. Showing up somewhere new, and alone, becomes an act of courage.
“A community rooted not in perfection or performance, but in presence.”
When I attended one of Go&Glow’s book club nights, I began to understand why the response has been so strong. The evening was intentionally low-pressure, and for £10 per ticket, a coffee and pastry were included. That month’s discussion centred on Wuthering Heights, with a short quiz and conversation starters to help ease everyone in. I felt I could speak when I felt ready, or simply listen without feeling invisible. The atmosphere was warm and considerate, structured enough to provide guidance but relaxed enough to feel natural. By the end of the evening, I walked away having made new friends, and with a small but noticeable increase in confidence.
Several of the women there told me they had tried other social groups before, but stated that Go&Glow is the community that they come back to the most. They described Alexa’s community as being more intentional and carefully planned out, keeping their true motivations and goals in mind throughout every event.
Experiences like these are the foundation of Go&Glow. A community rooted not in perfection or performance, but in presence. Alexa is acutely aware of how many spaces that promise friendship, yet never quite go beyond the screen. From the beginning, she was determined that Go&Glow wouldn’t become another digital holding space: “I wanted it to feel like a starting point, somewhere women could connect digitally, but more importantly, find regular opportunities to come together offline. That’s why I focus so heavily on organising a variety of events every week, so there’s always something for everyone.”
Go&Glow’s calendar is intentionally broad and gently paced, offering everything from colouring-in nights and book clubs to wellness workshops, run clubs, and after-work socialising evenings. Some events invite conversation, while others allow for quiet participation. All of them are designed with the same intention: to remove pressure and make showing up feel possible.
The emphasis on real world connection feels especially vital in an online culture that so often prioritises polish over honesty. As Alexa puts it, “so much of our lives online can feel curated and performative. We’re often sharing highlight reels rather than everyday experiences, which can make connection feel surface-level.”
At Go&Glow events, that veneer tends to fall away, and what’s left is a space for women to make meaningful connections:
“I get to meet people face-to-face and have genuinely honest and sometimes even healing conversations.”
For many women that attend the events, Go&Glow has become a space to gently confront social anxiety rather than be defined by it. Alexa says a large number of attendees join specifically to build confidence, often arriving alone:
“The fact that they’ve felt safe enough to attend an event, sometimes even coming alone, is one of the most rewarding things for me.”
Creating this safe space and welcoming environment for socialising was what Go&Glow was built on. Introversion isn’t something to overcome in Alexa’s community, but rather something to be respected. No one is obliged or pressured to talk to other people during the events, simply being around good company and taking part in the activities quietly are more than welcome.
Alexa currently runs every aspect of the community herself. From managing the social media pages and planning events, to personally hosting each one. Looking ahead, she hopes to grow the community with the same care it was built on: “I’d love to grow a small team of women who are just as passionate about the mission as I am.” But the heart of Go&Glow will remain unchanged:
“The goal is simply to grow the community in a way that still feels intentional, supportive, and true to what Go&Glow stands for.”
This is perhaps what makes a community like Go&Glow resonate so deeply for those with social anxiety. Not only the inclusiveness, but the low-pressure, gentleness of it. It is a reminder that connection doesn’t have to be loud in order to be meaningful. Sometimes it simply begins with showing up.
