We’re betting on the people you’ll see in the following pages big time! Upstarts with smarts. Raw talent. You can’t ignore them. They adapted, created opportunities, and succeeded. Whether it was content creation, inventions, sport – these incredibly cool people truly are the next big thing. Team Femina brings you Gen Z sparks who we think will shine in 2022
Niharika NM, Content Creator
Niharika NM is as known for creating situational comedic content, as she is for her unique style in delivering it. She’s looking forward to being more disciplined in 2022, so look out!
Her inspiration to create comes from different situations and people, among them Hollywood actors Jim Carrey and Rowan Atkinson, and South actors Kanneganti Brahmanandam and Vadivelu. She admits she has a back-up, just in case. “If all else fails, I turn to my friends and family because they’re all absolute clowns,” she says. This is often reflected in her work, which references her parents who are “very traditional but also cool at the same time.”
The 24-year-old content creator took the Instagram community by storm in 2020 with her humorous and relatable Instagram reels. Her recent video Living Alone 101 went viral on Instagram and crossed 11 million views in 13 days. With over 2.5 million followers across all social media platforms and growing, she is one of the ‘elite bracket’ of 0.32 per cent of users who have this kind of reach (according to the Mention x Hubspot Instagram Engagement Report 2020). We expect her to spread more joy with her quirky content, nasal voice and impeccable South Indian accent in 2022. Don’t you also think so, macha?
So, if you want to just chill or have a few laughs, this award-winning engineer who is now pursuing her MBA in the USA is your best bet!
What are your learnings from 2021 to take on 2022?
My biggest learning in 2021 has been the fact that we’re all so much more resilient than we think we are. This past year has been extremely difficult for all of us, but we’re here and still fighting. I learned that I need to take care of myself first in order to be there for the people I love, especially when times get tough. Also, that it’s okay to reach out for help when I need it.
What next? What should we be looking forward to from you?
A lot more content, hopefully in various formats and on different platforms. I just want to finally be able to fully dive into creating content this year now that I’ve graduated. I finally get to give content creation my all and see where it takes me and I cannot be more excited about it.
What are your goals for 2022? How do you plan to achieve them?
I have one word for you: discipline. That is my goal. I just want to be able to be disciplined, follow a routine, make the most of my time and truly understand the value of time while putting it to the best possible use this year. I’m going to take baby steps and create systems and routines for myself that will slowly help me achieve my goal. Hopefully, I don’t come back next year and give the exact same answer to this question (laughs)!
What is that one new thing that you wish to incorporate in your life in the new year?
To be grateful more often. I think I find it really hard to pause and appreciate the things that I should be grateful for; instead I just tend to try and achieve or accomplish the next thing on my list. This year, however, I’m going to try and be more present and mindful instead of simply chasing the next thing.
What does success mean to you?
I read something about success once that stuck with me. It was along the lines of ‘success is a moving target’. I don’t think we’ll ever truly achieve success in our minds because, if we ever think we have already achieved success, we wouldn’t push ourselves to keep doing better.
Share one positive thought that keeps you going.
You can’t beat the person who never gives up. BE the person that never gives up.
One change you want to see in your industry in 2022...
On a global scale, when I’m around creators from different countries, I’m sick and tired of being treated like I’m less than them because I’m not white. I’m also incredibly tired of having to prove myself over and over again every time I walk into a room because I’m a woman or/and because I’m brown. I can’t believe I’m even saying this. There are many other changes I want to see in the industry, but I hope we can start somewhere.
Images courtesy: Niharika NM
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