If you spent any time on the "wellness" side of YouTube or Instagram over the last few years, you definitely saw her. Bella Ma, better known to millions as the Steak and Butter Gal, became the poster child for a lifestyle that seemed, frankly, impossible to most people. She wasn't just eating meat. She was eating cold sticks of butter like they were Snickers bars. She was glowing. She had energy. She claimed her long-term struggle with eating disorders and PCOS had vanished because she ditched plants entirely.
Then things changed.
People started noticing subtle shifts in her content. The "carnivore" label started to feel a bit tight. In the world of extreme dieting, even a small pivot can feel like a betrayal to a hardcore fanbase. So, what happened to Steak and Butter Gal isn't just a story about one influencer changing her lunch order; it’s a case study in the high-pressure world of biohacking and what happens when your body demands something your "brand" doesn't allow.
The Carnivore Honeymoon Phase
Bella’s rise was meteoric because she was relatable. She didn't come from a background of elite athletics. She was a classically trained pianist—a Juilliard graduate—who felt like her body was failing her. She spent years as a vegan, a path many "ex-vegans" follow before landing in the carnivore camp.
She wasn't just selling a diet. She was selling a miracle.
For about five years, Bella stuck to the script. Beef, salt, water, and that signature butter. It worked. Or at least, it worked for a while. Her skin cleared up. Her cycle returned. This is what's often called the "elimination diet effect." When you remove processed sugars, seed oils, and inflammatory triggers, you feel like a superhero. But the human body is a complex, adaptive machine. It doesn't stay in one state forever.
Why the Pivot Was Inevitable
Honestly, the carnivore community can be a bit of a cult. If you're "99% carnivore," some followers treat you like you’re eating poison. But Bella started experiencing the reality of long-term restriction.
Health isn't a static destination. It’s a moving target.
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She began to realize that while the carnivore diet saved her from her previous health issues, the rigidity of it was becoming a new kind of prison. She started talking more about "ancestral living" rather than just "meat eating." This distinction is huge. Ancestral living allows for seasonality. It allows for the idea that maybe, just maybe, humans are supposed to eat more than just a ribeye.
What Happened to Steak and Butter Gal and the "Animal-Based" Shift
The biggest change came when Bella started incorporating fruit and honey. To the average person, eating an orange isn't a scandal. In the carnivore world? It’s an uprising.
She moved toward the "Animal-Based" framework popularized by Dr. Paul Saladino. This approach prioritizes meat and organs but recognizes that certain plants—specifically non-toxic fruits—can be beneficial for metabolic health and athletic performance.
She didn't quit meat. She just stopped being a zealot.
She’s been very open about the fact that her hormones needed more support. For many women, long-term, zero-carb ketosis can eventually lead to thyroid issues or a rise in cortisol. Adding in "clean" carbohydrates like raw honey or organic berries was her way of listening to her bio-feedback.
Dealing with the Backlash
You've got to feel for her a little bit. When your entire identity, your handle, and your income are tied to two specific food groups, changing your mind is expensive.
She lost followers. She gained critics. People accused her of "grifting" or being "weak." But if you watch her recent videos, she looks... well, she looks healthy. She’s leaner, but in a way that looks functional rather than depleted. She’s been focusing heavily on the "Steak and Butter Gang," which is her private community. It’s moved away from being a "meat-only" club and more into a general wellness space where people discuss fasting, sunlight, and raw dairy.
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The Juilliard Connection and the New Focus
A lot of people forget that Bella is a world-class musician.
Recently, she’s integrated her past more into her present. She’s not just "the girl who eats butter" anymore. She’s a woman who uses music, sunlight, and a meat-centric diet to manage a high-performance life. She’s also leaned heavily into the "homesteading" vibe. She talks about the quality of the soil, the importance of raw milk, and getting away from the "Big Food" ecosystem.
It's a more holistic approach.
She’s also been traveling a lot, which naturally challenges a strict diet. It’s hard to find high-quality, grass-fed tallow in a random airport in Europe. She’s shown a level of flexibility that her 2019 self probably would have been terrified of. And honestly? That’s probably the most "human" thing she’s ever done.
Is She Still "Steak and Butter Gal"?
Technically, yes. The name stays because it’s a massive brand. But the philosophy has evolved.
If you go to her YouTube channel today, you’ll see content about:
- Eating raw eggs (she’s a big fan).
- The benefits of raw dairy and why pasteurization might be the problem, not the milk itself.
- How to stay fit without spending three hours in a gym.
- Managing "food freedom" after years of eating disorders.
The last point is the most important. Bella has been incredibly transparent about her history with binge eating and restriction. For her, the "carnivore" tag was a way to stop the constant noise of "what should I eat?" by making the choice incredibly simple. Now that she’s healed, she’s reintroducing complexity.
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It’s growth. It’s not a "failure" of the diet; it’s the natural progression of a healing journey.
Lessons from Bella's Evolution
We can learn a lot from the trajectory of her career. First, never get too attached to a dietary label. Your body at 25 is not your body at 35. Second, "de-transitioning" from an extreme diet doesn't mean the diet was a lie. It just means it was a tool for a specific season of life.
She used carnivore to fix her gut and her relationship with food. Once fixed, she didn't need the "cast" anymore. She started walking on her own.
How to Apply This to Your Own Health
If you’ve been following her and feeling confused about your own path, here’s the reality: there is no one-size-fits-all.
- Listen to your hunger. If you’re on carnivore and you’re dreaming of blueberries every night, your body is probably asking for antioxidants or Vitamin C. Listen to it.
- Track your labs. Don't just go by how you feel. Check your inflammatory markers. Check your hormones. Bella did this, and it guided her shift.
- Ignore the purists. The internet loves a tribal war. You don't owe "Team Meat" or "Team Plant" anything. You owe your own biology the best fuel possible.
- Focus on quality. One thing Bella never changed was her insistence on high-quality, local, ancestral foods. Whether it’s a steak or a piece of fruit, if it’s covered in chemicals, it’s not helping you.
Bella Ma is still very much active. She hasn't disappeared. She hasn't "quit." She’s just growing up in public, and in the world of social media, that’s a brave thing to do. She’s still the Steak and Butter Gal, just with a side of honey and a lot more perspective.
Next Steps for Your Health Journey
Stop looking for a "forever" diet and start looking for a "right now" protocol. If you are struggling with autoimmune issues, a strict elimination diet like the original carnivore approach might be a godsend for 30 to 90 days. However, you should always have an exit strategy or a plan for reintroduction. Monitor your energy levels and sleep quality weekly. If you find your progress stalling after months of success, consider a "metabolic reset" by incorporating small amounts of seasonal, organic fruits or raw honey to see how your insulin sensitivity responds. Total restriction is a tool, not a lifestyle. Use it to heal, then find your own balance.