From athletics tracks and beauty pageants to Instagram reels and brand collaborations, Aishwarya Prabhu Gaonkar (@stunning_since_1998) has worn many hats with ease. Hailing from Kodar village, she is a model, content creator, influencer, and lecturer whose journey began during the pandemic with fashion, dance, and travel videos. Today, she is the Luxury Lifestyle Influencer of the Year 2025 and Fashion Blogger of the Year 2025, has represented Goa as a state-level athlete, featured in music albums and short films, and collaborated with more than 50 brands including Myntra, Flipkart, Vivo, and Airtel.
The start
I began making content during the pandemic. At first, I posted fashion and dance videos simply because I enjoyed it, not expecting to gain so many followers. Gradually, my content grew to include food, travel, and lifestyle. What started as a hobby turned into something much bigger.
Online success
With the growing audience, I was able to earn revenue through brand deals. So far, I have worked with more than 50 brands. Interestingly, I didn’t have to approach them—most brands reached out to me after seeing my content. This journey has been very fulfilling.
Challenges
In the beginning, it was difficult to balance social media with my job and personal life. I worked as an accountant for three years and had only one day off in the week, which I spent creating content. It was exhausting, as I also had to spend several hours daily on my page. To keep my audience engaged, I tried to post at least five times a week.
Time Management
Currently, I am pursuing a B.Ed, which gives me some flexibility. But I still need to plan my schedule carefully to balance studies, content creation, and personal life.
Apart from my main page, I started two more accounts—one for cooking (@theflavourfuljourney26) and another about my cats (@fluffy_buki). The cat page has done especially well, with some viral videos. I am still experimenting with the cooking page, but I hope to build it further.
Learning curves
One challenge I faced was dealing with criticism and unsolicited opinions online. At first, it was discouraging to see negative comments, but over time I realised that constructive feedback can actually help me grow. Now, instead of focusing on criticism, I use it to refine my work and stay motivated. This shift has made me stronger and more confident as a creator.
Future plans
I plan to continue creating content alongside my professional career. For me, social media is a passion rather than just a job. I want to keep making content that people find helpful and enjoyable, without focusing only on numbers.
Advice to newcomers
Many young creators follow trends blindly, but I believe you should add your own unique touch. For example, if you make dance videos, try to show your personal style instead of copying others. If you want to start a cooking channel, bring something original to it. This will make your content stand out and last longer, instead of fading quickly when trends change.
