Selection Stories
As you might already know, nutrition is one of my favorite topics. I try to eat better—at least most of the time. And yes, I often fail. But that doesn’t stop me from enjoying conversations about food and nutrition.
In the past, I’ve had a chat on this topic too (I’ll drop the link at the end). Today, my search led me to someone who’s actually studying BS in Diet and Nutrition—and has some really thoughtful views on food.
Meet Nimra Aftab, a 23-year-old from Pakistan. She believes that food is not our enemy, and that it can be both tasty and healthy at the same time.
Let’s read the full conversation and take away something good from it.
Q1) What did you want to create in the beginning… and what did your audience turn you into?
Deepali: In the beginning, I wanted to create videos about how passengers behave on board—especially the rude ones who make a crew member’s life difficult for no reason. I wanted to show what cabin crew actually go through on certain flights, the “Karens” on board… basically, I wanted passengers to realize their own behavior.
But the kind of support I received from my audience was completely unexpected. It pushed me to create more content. Now, I want to share different parts of my life—not just one theme. No aesthetic pressure, no high-fi setup—just real, normal life as it happens.
Q2) You’ve grown from 0 to around 7K followers — how difficult was that journey, and what did you learn from it?
Deepali: First of all—congratulations to everyone for my 7K! 🫣😂
One of my passenger reels went viral—it got millions of views, thousands of likes, comments, and shares. That’s when everything changed. Suddenly, people started flowing in.
I’ve learned that consistency is key. You never know what people will connect with, so just keep creating. I still have a lot to learn.
The hardest part? Haters and trolls. That was shocking. It came with a wave of emotions and was honestly tough to deal with.
Q3) What do you tell yourself on days when the views just don’t come?
Deepali: “All is well, all is well.”
And then sometimes I overthink—did I post at the wrong time? Why is there no engagement? But I try to calm myself down.
Q4) How did you feel when you got your first collaboration?
Deepali: I was on cloud nine. I never expected it.
I even told Roozan, the owner of Desk & Trail Collective, “I don’t even have that many followers, I’m just an ordinary person.” And he said, “Relax, I’m ordinary too.”
The fact that he appreciated my content—it meant a lot. It was overwhelming in the best way.
Q5) If someone is new to content creation, what advice would you give them?
Deepali: Just post it. Don’t think—just do it.
Don’t overthink whether your background is perfect, your clothes are aesthetic, or your setup looks good. The people who are meant to like you will like you anyway.
Q6) Do you ever feel like shutting down your social media and living freely, without thinking about creating content all the time?
Deepali: Right now, this feels like the only path. Everyone is working hard and earning—I want to do that too. I want to grow.
Q7) How much water do you consciously drink every day?
Deepali: I’m basically a camel 😂
I start my morning with a big mug of clove and fennel water. After that… maybe 2–3 mugs the whole day.
Q8) Can you tell us more about your string portrait art? For those who don’t know, can you explain it in simple terms?
Deepali: I started string art during lockdown. I saw an artist on YouTube and thought—okay, I’ll try this too.
I took a wooden board, hammered around 250 nails into it, and then wrapped thread around those nails at least 4,500 times. And that’s how the artwork is created.
Q9) How did this journey start for you?
Deepali: Content creation? All thanks to my friend Ankur. He motivated me a lot—and basically pushed me into it.
He also taught me editing. And once I started… I got addicted. After that, there was no stopping.
Q10) What have you learned from this journey?
Deepali: I’ve stopped thinking about “what will people say.”
Also, I’ve realized that many people watch you—but won’t like, comment, share, or follow. Not everyone will support you or want to see you grow.
And that’s okay. I know you’re watching—and that’s enough for me. It gives me a strange kind of satisfaction.
Q11) Do you hesitate to put a price on your artwork?
Deepali: Not at all.
There are hours of labor, effort, going to the market, hammering 250 nails, wrapping thread 4,500 times. It’s my hard work.
Don’t take it lightly—this is my right.
Q12) What does success mean to you — numbers, recognition, or inner satisfaction?
Deepali: Recognition.
Being able to connect with people, to be heard, to be seen—that’s success for me.
Q13) What is life according to you?
Deepali: Life? I’ve cried enough trying to understand it.
It’s a mix of happiness and sadness. You never know what’s coming next.
———–Thank You———