Blending her South and North Goan roots, Dwena De Melo (@_d.w.e.n’s) began content creation in 2017 with café snapshots. What started as a fun hobby soon grew into a full-fledged passion. Alongside her engineering career, she built a vibrant digital presence rooted in food, fashion, and fitness. From self-taught lessons to brand partnerships and a fitness sponsorship, Dwena's story is one of consistency, authenticity, and creative resilience in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Dwena studied at Fatima Convent and graduated in Electronics & Telecommunication from Don Bosco Fatorda in 2022. She worked at Siemens for two years as a procurement engineer.
Page origins
My journey as a content creator started casually in 2017—just posting café visits with my best friend using pocket money. Reels weren’t a thing back then; it was all photos and captions. Over time, it became a hobby I truly enjoyed. In 2020, my first collaboration with Angry Sardar in Anjuna changed the game. I began pitching to restaurants and brands, slowly building a portfolio to showcase my style and work ethic. Since then, I’ve reviewed over 90 eateries and worked with fashion and fitness brands. Today, the page features food reviews, fashion content, and fitness inspiration.
Creative inspiration
What truly inspired me was my love for discovering new food and aesthetically curated café spaces! I’ve always been drawn to visual storytelling, and documenting these experiences came naturally. The joy of creating—whether through photography, writing captions, or editing—kept me going and casual posts turned into a passion project that people began to connect with, over time.
Content evolution
Initially, my content was mostly food-focused, planned around new cafés or dishes I wanted to try. Now, with fashion and fitness collaborations, my posts are shaped by the projects I take on. Some ideas are spontaneous, but most align with brand briefs, seasonal trends, and what genuinely resonates with my audience.
Staying authentic
I try to stay as authentic as possible by giving honest reviews—whether a café impressed me or not. I avoid blindly following trends or doing anything cringe-worthy just for views or follower spikes. Staying true to my voice and values matters more than chasing viral moments… I believe real growth comes from real content, not manufactured hype.
Challenges
Being based in South Goa comes with challenges. The market here isn’t as open to paying creators, so I often travel to North Goa for collaborations. In the beginning, content creation felt like a personal experiment, and it took a while for even my family to see its potential. Now, they’re some of my biggest supporters.
Crowded space
That said, the market is incredibly crowded today. Sometimes, it feels like follower count matters more than content quality. Mediocre work often gets collaborations simply because someone has 10k+ followers. So honestly, I’m still figuring out where this is all going—but I’m holding on to the part I love: creating.
Daily consistency
Consistency is the key. I try to keep my page as active as possible—whether it’s posting, engaging through stories, replying to messages, or checking insights. Staying in touch with my followers helps me understand what’s working and what needs to change. I’ve also started working on UGC (User-Generated Content) this year, which has opened new avenues for collaboration and growth.
Creative scanning
I follow creators whose aesthetics and content I genuinely admire. It keeps me inspired and helps me stay aware of what’s trending in terms of quality and creativity. I scroll a lot—especially for audio and reel ideas—and staying in touch with my audience helps me gauge what clicks.
Algorithm pressure
The pressure to stay constantly visible due to changing algorithms can be overwhelming. Some posts perform well, while others flop for no clear reason—it can mess with your head. I’ve learned not to take it personally. I try to post only when I have something meaningful to share. And when I need a break, I take one. Finding that balance is still a work in progress, but I remind myself: real life comes first.
Offline escape
Outside social media, I find peace in nature—tracking down hidden waterfalls and springs, spending time by the sea, or taking long drives through village roads and ghats. It’s incredibly calming. I also love working out at the gym—it gives me mental clarity and resets my energy. These small escapes help me stay grounded and inspired. I have also competed in a women's physique competition. I received a one-year fitness sponsorship with Ironbunker and have spent almost every weekend last year creating content.
Self-taught growth
Everything I’ve learned about brand building has been through trial and error—from pitching to brands and refining my editing style to figuring out pricing and understanding what resonates with my audience. Every collaboration, mistake, and win has taught me something valuable. That hands-on experience has shaped the creator I am today.
Future goals
Going forward, I’d love to expand more seriously into fashion and fitness while continuing food reviews, which will always be close to my heart. I want to work with bigger, value-aligned brands and eventually turn content creation into a full-time journey. I’m also toying with the idea of launching something of my own—a brand or product that reflects my style and story.
Advice for creators
If you’re looking to become a content creator, start with what you genuinely love. Don’t chase trends or followers—chase consistency and authenticity. You’ll face rejection, comparison, and burnout, but stay rooted in your voice. Put effort into building your own style, be patient, and remember: recognition takes time, but your uniqueness is what will set you apart.
Hard lessons
I’ve always believed in the quality of my work, but if I could go back, I’d be more selective about the opportunities I accepted. In the beginning, I said yes to everything—even unpaid gigs—just to get noticed. Over time, I’ve learned to value my time, set boundaries, and trust that the right brands will align naturally.
