Dubai's favorite bloggers

There is so much more to a bloggers life than just their Instagram page. Did a Q&A round with some of the most inspirational bloggers in Dubai. Found out so much about their daily life, their aspirations, struggles and the reason why they started their microblogging and their blog to begin with!

Naomi D’souza | Lifestyle Blogger
@naomidsouza | www.naomidsouza.com

What is the strangest question people have asked you about blogging
” If I put a monkey in front of you and slice his head in half, would you eat and drink the juice of his brain?”
Your go to place to eat
May sound to cliché – but Chilis or Mallah
One thing you could change about your blog right now
Better Insightful content
What camera do you use?
Canon 70D
Do you see blogging as a trend for readers reach a saturation point in the near future?
Any new platforms you predict that will be trending soon? I feel the sooner a trend rises, the sooner it may depreciate. The ‘blogger trend’ boomed out of nowhere, especially in the UAE and you need no degree or diploma to become one. If there are 100’s of bloggers in the market doing the same thing, everyday 24 x 7, the trend will collapse soon or just reach a saturation point. When I was in high school, photographers and DJ’s used to pop out of nowhere, after years the trend finally came to an end. Now it’s just bloggers.
What is the best advice you have ever received and the best advice you have to give? My mom’s always told me to “never be satisfied by what you achieve in life”. She always plans my next game plan the day my previous one was achieved. I think that’s made me who I am today! She is never satisfied. Ugh! haha!

Nikita Phulwani | Plus Size Fashion Blogger
@niggiphulwani | www.niggiphulwani.com

How do you stay current with what’s new or in style at the moment?
I follow plus size bloggers and accounts. Also, I don’t only take inspiration from plus size models. I follow a lot of fashion accounts and models and celebrities and fashion publications.
How do you retain your followers and get them to interact?
I upload something every day! I think it is so important to be consistent. I talk to them through my captions but I don’t bore them with really long ones. Say things that are relatable
How do you avoid awkward poses while shooting?
I laugh them out! As a big girl I cannot do a lot of poses thinner girls can. I do them anyway but I never upload those awkward photos
How do you manage your time with work and blogging?
It gets tough I won’t lie. But if you are really passionate about it you will find the time too. I definitely get those 30 minutes out in the day to create my post caption etc – I don’t upload my blog as often but my IG is a must!
What is the best advice you have ever received and the best advice you have to give?
Best advice is to stay true to yourself. Be who you are cuz people can see it when you are trying to be someone else. You do you! and that is the best advice I have to give. It works for me and I am sure it will work for others too

Nihara Hareesh | Lifestyle and travel Blogger
@lifestyleglossary | www.lifestyleglossary.com

What is your biggest challenge as a blogger?
The humongous pressure of ” Keeping Up With The Trends” time and time again. Always follow your niche and do not crack under pressure. And this I learnt the hard way. I have always wanted to cover lifestyle but last year I found myself filling my feed with food porn just because everyone else did the same. It made me miserable. Its always important to do something you are passionate about. Mine was Lifestyle and Travel. So I started focusing on it and its safe to say “Lifestyle Glossary” is exactly what its supposed to be now
Where else do you look for blog inspiration?
Helen Owen and Zack Kalter. They are lifestyle bloggers who constantly inspire me to create beautiful content.
What advice would you give fellow Dubai bloggers that have helped you?
I started my blog three years ago and a lot has changed since then. But some base principles remain the same
– Do not blog for the freebies. Blog because you are passionate about it
– Do not blindly follow the trends
– Be honest with your opinion
– Take a digital detox once in a while
– Quality over Quantity always
What would you reverse about your blog, if you could?
Nothing. Whatever I have done with my blog over the years have led me to the person I am today. “Lifestyle Glossary” is the best thing that has ever happened to me
What is the best advice you have ever received and the best advice you have to give?
My best friend once told me – ” What sets you apart from the other bloggers is your individuality. Never ever lose that!”
Until that moment I never realized how important that was. This created a deep impact in the way I blogged. I would definitely advise the same for others irrespective of whether you are a blogger or not.

Gbemi Giva | Fitness Blogger
@dubaifitfoodie | www.dubaifitfoodie.com

What inspired you to get fit?
Well, to be entirely honest I just kind of fell into it. I’ve been active throughout my life and I have a background in athletics. I competed in 100m sprints through out high school and university. I’ve also dabbled a bit with basketball ( I wasn’t very good) and I’ve also always danced. Then I started dubaifitfoodie.com and it gave me, even more, motivation to move and be fit. The human body is amazing and I feel very privileged to have a body that moves and works. It’s great.
Do you look up to anyone in the fitness industry? Why?
I don’t have a particular role model, but some of my favorite athletes are Serena Williams, the professional tennis player, and Brooke Ence, a Crossfit athlete. What I love about both of them is their unapologetic approach to being who they are in fitness. It’s okay to be strong. It okay to be a girl. Its okay to be a strong girl.
What’s your advice for someone new to fitness?
You have to find your ‘why’ and remind yourself every day because it WILL get tough and you’ll want to give up but if you remember why you’ll keep going.
What’s your favorite kind of workout and why?
I’ve recently transitioned into Crossfit, it’s tough but I love how dynamic it is. I’m not so great at gymnastics, but I enjoy weightlifting and I can tolerate cardio. It’s also an inspiring community to be a part of.
What is the best advice you have ever received and the best advice you have to give?
“Just be you, you’re enough” the best advice I have to give? “You have what it take, don’t sleep on yourself.”

Vilina Ahuja | Face and body make up artist
@vilinahujart

Who’s your favorite make up artist
When I was starting out, my favorite makeup artists were Jordan Hanz – a youtuber with the most phenomenal face painting and creative makeup skills, Mario Dedivanovik (Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist) and Pat McGrath, who is the ultimate high fashion & creative makeup artist.
How did you get into makeup/ face art and at what age?
I think I was always pretty decent at makeup and used to face paint at kid’s parties since I was 16 (2010). I attended a short makeup workshop in 2014 and that only increased my desire to become a makeup artist myself and when I started watching Jordan Hanz in 2015, I began trying to replicate her Halloween face and body paints and started my own Instagram account.
How do you keep yourself motivated to put up a video every day and experiment after work timings?
Fortunately for me, I work in the construction industry and deal with different shapes, colors and designs every day, inspiration is always around me. You don’t need to be kept motivated when you love what you do. Art is an outlet for me and always was. I forget stress, sadness or anything that’s troubling me when I indulge myself in my art completely. I don’t have much of a social life, so the time most people of my age spend out partying, I spend painting myself or others (and probably enjoy more)
I cannot put up a video every day no matter how hard I try! I tried to put up different looks every day last year but that would mean almost no sleep and neglect almost everything else that a normal 20 something-year-old should be doing in her daily life. This year, I focused on trying to get at least 2-3 looks up every week, but putting up 20 looks in the month of Halloween meant I started my first Halloween look in late August! I ensure I don’t spend more than 1.5 hours on my makeup looks so that I get enough sleep and enough time to edit my photos/ videos.
Do you see yourself taking this forward as a full-time gig?
I think one of the main reasons I started my Instagram account and getting into this particular form of art so seriously was because I was tired of the monotony of a 22-year-old’s life. We wake up, eat, go to work, come back and eat and sleep. I changed that and now believe I have two jobs because Instagram is most definitely a job, and does give me work in the makeup department IRL too. I don’t think I want to give up on being an engineer anytime soon, because it gives me stability and keeps my mind working, which in turn gives me the creativity to remain an artist. What the far future has in store, no one can say.
Who are the people who keep you inspired?
I’d like to be cute and say My mom is my biggest inspiration but she’s not very artistic so.. she does support me by buying me little things I need and dealing with my silly life routine.
I think right now some of my followers and some incredible artists I follow have become not only my greatest source of Inspiration but Motivation too. I know there have been people following me since years now, and they’re always full of ideas for me… it’s incredible when people you’ve never met care about you and your growth so much (hashtag blessed)