Balancing a full-time teaching job with a growing presence on social media, Nidhi Anand Amonkar has built a distant space for herself as a content creator while nurturing young artists in the classroom. A Fine Art graduate from the Goa College of Art, Nidhi is known for her ‘Desi’ aesthetic and curly hair content, she has grown into a versatile creator who explores food, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle — all with her signature realness and charm.
A small moment that
changed everything
A comment in 2021 changed everything from zero to one. The motivation to post about hair care, as I have curly hair, made me share tips on how to maintain it. Those videos started getting attention, and soon beauty brands approached me for promotions.
One day, while standing outside a restaurant in Panaji, a man walked up to me and asked, ‘Are you an influencer?’ That moment really stuck with me. When I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My friends told me maybe it was a sign to just go for it. That night, I made my Instagram account public — and that small step became the beginning of my social media journey.
Challenges
As a woman you are mostly told not to explore many fields. As at that time this field was new and not many were encouraged to do so. As a woman travelling to different locations and putting hours in creating something appealing to the public is an exciting challenge. So shout out to all women in this field. One challenge is, time management, as I have a full-time job and I treat content creation like another full-time role. I usually focus on creating content after finishing my work duties.
Another challenge is burnout. Sometimes ideas just don’t come, and I don’t feel inspired to create. During such times, it becomes difficult to stay consistent.
Content category
I started by posting about hair care and everyday life updates — what I was doing, what I liked, and so on. Back then, I focused on fashion and beauty. Later, I began receiving offers to review restaurants, so I started making food-related content too. Eventually, I began creating travel and stay experience videos.
Basically, I create content around whatever I’m doing or collaborating on. I’ve also started exploring acting and posting related content occasionally. I practise Bharatanatyam as well, but I don’t post about it.
More than just curls
My content has evolved far beyond just curly hair. Today, my work spans food, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle — all tied together through my love for storytelling and my signature Desi girl aesthetic. I have also begun exploring acting, something that deeply excites me. I have featured in a few ad films and acted in a short film for the Goa State Film Festival, which won first place in the 48-hour film challenge.
Brand collaboration experience
Local brands are usually supportive and appreciate our work as creators. Most of my collaborations have been smooth and positive. I believe in trying a product properly before giving an honest review, and that takes time.
However, working with brands and social media agencies is interesting yet challenging. Some brands value and pay accordingly others don’t. That shouldn't happen to any content creator as because, we, as content creators, put our heart and soul in creating something creative for the brands and business and that comes up with the price.
It's a collaborative process where both the parties go hand-in-hand to deliver the best output. When I collaborate, I like to hear out the expectations and the story behind creating the output we desire.
Self-taught
Everything I know, I learnt on my own — through experimenting and watching YouTube videos. That’s how I learnt to shoot, edit, and write captions. When brands need more professional work, I get the videos shot and edited accordingly.
Future plans
I plan to continue creating content while working as a teacher. I’ve always had the urge to create since childhood. I also look forward to working in films and creating content around desi/traditional outfits. I don’t want to stop doing something I love.
Advice to newcomers
Be original and trust your journey! Every creator has their own pace, so don’t compare. Keep experimenting, keep showing up, stay consistent and remember — authenticity always wins in the long run. And don't forget to enjoy the journey.
