by Sarah Aasif – Follow @SarahAasifD
BG Sarah Aasif sat down and talked to YouTube, beauty guru, Farah Dhukai and this is what she told us!
1. Tell us a little about yourself. It’s really hard for me to talk about myself because I’m actually really, really shy! I know right…you wouldn’t expect that, considering I make videos for the whole world to see. If I had to describe myself, I’d say I just love to make the most of life and enjoy the little things/pleasures life has to offer.
2. How did you get started with creating YouTube videos? It was really a mix of things that got me going. I was just browsing the internet one day and I came across one of Michelle Phan’s videos and I literally became OBSESSED with her (in a non-creepy way)! Making videos seemed like fun, so I thought I would give it a try. One of my biggest reasons for starting was because I am/was a super shy girl and the only way I could really get my personality to come out was when no one else was looking so I turned on my camera and tried to give it a go. It was actually a lot harder than I thought, but then I got comfortable with the camera and myself. The rest is history!
3. Was it difficult to get approval from your parents? Honestly, my parents are super cool and understanding so I just spoke to them about what I wanted to do. They had their reservations, like most parents, but once I assured them that I would never compromise my self-respect or the respect of my family they became comfortable with it. Of course, we all make mistakes and I’m growing as each day passes, but so far no complaints from my parents and they’re actually quite happy with it! They tell everyone they know about it.
4. What tips and advice would you give girls? Never ever stop believing in yourself! Unfortunately, there are a lot of things in this world that will try to bring us down and bring negativity, you really have to hold your head up high, be confident in yourself and push the negativity out with positive and you’ll see your life change.
5. What do you think has been the biggest obstacle with the career path you’ve chosen? I know it’s going to sound super cheesy, but I’ve been so blessed in the career path that I’ve chosen, so no major obstacles yet (thank god)! The only negative thing that has happened so far is that I’ve had distant relatives talk “crap” about me to different family members (you know how it can be in the Indian community), but I’ve never been one to really care about the gossip so it has never really bothered me. It actually further motivates me to hear gossip about myself.
6. What are your plans for the future? It’s crazy, I’ve never been the type of person that has thought about my future! I know it sounds like something crazy to say but I’ve always just kind of lived in the moment. So, honestly, I have no idea what the future holds for me!
7. How to you deal with the overwhelming response you get? Both- negative and positive? I would be lying if I said that the negative comments never get to me, but honestly the positive always outweighs the negative. If I focus on the negativity it won’t get me anywhere and I’ll just be sad. There is way more to life than just being sad about hurtful words. Instead, I focus on all the overwhelmingly sweet and positive comments I get think about how lucky I am to have so many people send such loving words my way. I talk about my comments all day everyday to my family and my husband. Everyone gets so sick of me but I’m just so in love with all the new friends I make everyday!
8. How do you know of all these amazing homemade beauty remedies? It started all thanks to my mom and grandma. They taught me a lot about our traditional Indian remedies. My grandma and I were inseparable, so her wisdom was passed down to me a lot. I became a homemade beauty remedy junkie/nerd and read up on so many natural ways to take care of yourself. My house looks like a witch’s house because of all the “potions” I’ve played with.
9. What is your ethnic background? I get asked this all the time, technically, I’m of Indian descent. My parents and their parents, and so on, were all born and raised in East Africa. My mom’s side is from Tanzania and my dad’s side is from Uganda. If you go further back in time, we originate from Kutch, India. So I like to say I’m East African-Indian.
10. Before being a YT Beauty Guru, what were your ambitions? I actually wanted to move to New York and work in a higher end Salon and build my hairdressing career. I really wanted to be a celebrity stylist.
Follow Dhukai on her YouTube channel for great tips and how-to videos!
