My idea of success is being a positive influence in someone's life and being able to help people even if it is marginally. I find nothing more fulfilling than coming home to a DM thanking me for something I recommended, taught, or shared.
Consequently, I believe in influencing peoples’ lives in a lasting way, and not superficially. I want them to remember me when they switch off their phones or even if it is 30 years from now. It could be when they are cooking one of my recipes, using a product I recommended or even just a mindset tip I once shared. At the end of the day, all I want to do is have a positive impact on everyone around me.
I have many mantras so it is a little hard to stick to one but currently, my mantra to live by would be to live your life one day at a time because that’s all you have the energy for.
Tell us about your background and journey.
My name is Fatima Sajjad, better known online as Wabisabifami. I live in Islamabad, Pakistan. I'm currently in my final year of Biomedical Sciences. I was born on a magical, sunny day in Kashmir, and it’s been a whirlwind ride since.
I am extremely passionate about food, health, and wellness. In my free time, you would catch me lifting weights, perfecting a yoga asana, scouring vegetable and plant bazaars, trying out exotic healthy recipes, reading books, papers, articles related to the health and wellness industry, and binge-watching anime. I’m also a part-time social media manager for numerous companies.
From a very young age, I was heavily inspired by the health and wellness world and my favorite hobby was watching beauty gurus on youtube, reading every article, post, and magazine regarding health, beauty, and wellness. Since I was quite young, there were not many tips I could implement but I was always sharing everything with my friends and family.
A little known fact about me is that I used to write articles for various magazines back when I was very young, and one of my first articles to be published at the age of 11 was titled “How to be perfect-becoming the best version of yourself”, which is an excellent representation of the entire purpose behind starting my Instagram page (@wabisabifami).
I was delving deep into skincare, healthy recipes, DIY masks, green juices, and more. Once I entered the world of social media, I shifted from writing magazine articles to posting on Instagram. This is when my page came into existence and it all came really seamlessly to me. As a matter of fact, I realized that back then, Pakistan didn’t have many Instagram blogs that made an effort to post both helpful and aesthetic pictures and stories. I wanted to bridge this gap by designing my page to be both visually appealing as well as information-dense.
What led you to start your page on Instagram, and what is it about?
I am extremely passionate about food, health, and wellness. In my free time, you would catch me lifting weights, perfecting a yoga asana, scouring vegetable and plant bazaars, trying out exotic healthy recipes, reading books, papers, articles related to the health and wellness industry, and binge-watching anime. I’m also a part-time social media manager for numerous companies.
From a very young age, I was heavily inspired by the health and wellness world and my favorite hobby was watching beauty gurus on youtube, reading every article, post, and magazine regarding health, beauty, and wellness. Since I was quite young, there were not many tips I could implement but I was always sharing everything with my friends and family.
A little known fact about me is that I used to write articles for various magazines back when I was very young, and one of my first articles to be published at the age of 11 was titled “How to be perfect-becoming the best version of yourself”, which is an excellent representation of the entire purpose behind starting my Instagram page (@wabisabifami).
I was delving deep into skincare, healthy recipes, DIY masks, green juices, and more. Once I entered the world of social media, I shifted from writing magazine articles to posting on Instagram. This is when my page came into existence and it all came really seamlessly to me. As a matter of fact, I realized that back then, Pakistan didn’t have many Instagram blogs that made an effort to post both helpful and aesthetic pictures and stories. I wanted to bridge this gap by designing my page to be both visually appealing as well as information-dense.
What led you to start your page on Instagram, and what is it about?
My Instagram handle "Wabisabifami", is a gentle reminder of the magic of just being alive, the power of thoughts, belief, and gratitude, the beauty in romanticizing your life and living it aesthetically and just as you dreamt of it.
It is derived from the Japanese concept, which literally means finding beauty within imperfections and appreciating the natural flow of life.
My page is about everything close to my heart and a reflection of who I am. You could find me talking about something deep and complex as "How to heal your inner child, combat limiting beliefs, and manifest your dream life” on one day and something as simple as a DIY hair mask recipe on another. Whatever knowledge I have, I just put it out there, hoping it helps anyone who resonates with it. I am also known for my brutally honest reviews on high-end skincare and make-up products which is hard to find in this industry since every other post is sponsored and scripted. (Even when it seems like it isn’t).
My followers are like my family and I want to be approachable and constantly in touch with them, taking insight and replying to their questions, helping them solve whatever issues they're facing. Many would reach out to me and find a friend. I suppose in this sense, you could call me the relatable girl next door.
I haven't been consistent with my page throughout these years and initially, I was just a young girl finding my way through the world and now I realize through my online friends and connections, I’ve grown into the person I’ve always meant to become. That is, someone who helps people gain confidence and learn who they want to become. My main aim is to encourage everyone to be the best possible version of themselves, believe in a world of endless possibilities, and spread as much positivity in this harsh, superficial world we live in.
It is derived from the Japanese concept, which literally means finding beauty within imperfections and appreciating the natural flow of life.
My page is about everything close to my heart and a reflection of who I am. You could find me talking about something deep and complex as "How to heal your inner child, combat limiting beliefs, and manifest your dream life” on one day and something as simple as a DIY hair mask recipe on another. Whatever knowledge I have, I just put it out there, hoping it helps anyone who resonates with it. I am also known for my brutally honest reviews on high-end skincare and make-up products which is hard to find in this industry since every other post is sponsored and scripted. (Even when it seems like it isn’t).
My followers are like my family and I want to be approachable and constantly in touch with them, taking insight and replying to their questions, helping them solve whatever issues they're facing. Many would reach out to me and find a friend. I suppose in this sense, you could call me the relatable girl next door.
I haven't been consistent with my page throughout these years and initially, I was just a young girl finding my way through the world and now I realize through my online friends and connections, I’ve grown into the person I’ve always meant to become. That is, someone who helps people gain confidence and learn who they want to become. My main aim is to encourage everyone to be the best possible version of themselves, believe in a world of endless possibilities, and spread as much positivity in this harsh, superficial world we live in.
How would you distinguish the term blogger from an influencer?
The terms blogger and influencer have blended and have hazy meanings in today’s world, both being interchangeable and overlapping. Many bloggers have expanded to become influencers and vice versa. However, bloggers' main form of content is articles, while influencers are less confined to any certain form of media.
When I first started, I found having a full-time blog highly demanding and hard to keep up with, so I decided to keep it simple and used Instagram as a platform.
Nevertheless, I still do believe they are so easily confused because bloggers have always influenced their audiences and influencers have also branched out to blog. Blogging isn’t limited to any website anymore and is an outlet of expression on nearly all platforms now.
Is it financially sustainable to be an influencer today?
With journalistic integrity, I believe it is nearly impossible to be both honest and financially stable in an influencer’s world. That being said, I don’t believe influencing is a full-time job, partly due to this and also the consistent waxing and waning of followers and so-called “hype”.
Influencers and content-creators in Pakistan are only just now being recognized nationally and internationally for their work. This industry has a long way to go and will probably be a stable source of income for future generations but currently is not.
When I first started, I found having a full-time blog highly demanding and hard to keep up with, so I decided to keep it simple and used Instagram as a platform.
Nevertheless, I still do believe they are so easily confused because bloggers have always influenced their audiences and influencers have also branched out to blog. Blogging isn’t limited to any website anymore and is an outlet of expression on nearly all platforms now.
Is it financially sustainable to be an influencer today?
With journalistic integrity, I believe it is nearly impossible to be both honest and financially stable in an influencer’s world. That being said, I don’t believe influencing is a full-time job, partly due to this and also the consistent waxing and waning of followers and so-called “hype”.
Influencers and content-creators in Pakistan are only just now being recognized nationally and internationally for their work. This industry has a long way to go and will probably be a stable source of income for future generations but currently is not.
What is your idea of success or your mantra in life?
My idea of success is being a positive influence in someone's life and being able to help people even if it is marginally. I find nothing more fulfilling than coming home to a DM thanking me for something I recommended, taught, or shared. Consequently, I believe in influencing peoples’ lives in a lasting way, and not superficially. I want them to remember me when they switch off their phones or even if it is 30 years from now. It could be when they are cooking one of my recipes, using a product I recommended or even just a mindset tip I once shared. At the end of the day, all I want to do is have a positive impact on everyone around me.
I have many mantras so it is a little hard to stick to one but currently, my mantra to live by would be to live your life one day at a time because that’s all you have the energy for.
In this fast-paced world of high achievers, where everyone is trying to one-up each other, we tend to overwork ourselves and eventually burn out. There is nothing impressive about overworking, undersleeping, and having no days off.
We tend to underestimate the power of fractional changes. If you snap out of the all-or-nothing mindset and focus on 1% every day, you would be at 100% in 100 days or sooner. Just focus on the step in front of you and not the whole staircase.
My idea of success is being a positive influence in someone's life and being able to help people even if it is marginally. I find nothing more fulfilling than coming home to a DM thanking me for something I recommended, taught, or shared. Consequently, I believe in influencing peoples’ lives in a lasting way, and not superficially. I want them to remember me when they switch off their phones or even if it is 30 years from now. It could be when they are cooking one of my recipes, using a product I recommended or even just a mindset tip I once shared. At the end of the day, all I want to do is have a positive impact on everyone around me.
I have many mantras so it is a little hard to stick to one but currently, my mantra to live by would be to live your life one day at a time because that’s all you have the energy for.
In this fast-paced world of high achievers, where everyone is trying to one-up each other, we tend to overwork ourselves and eventually burn out. There is nothing impressive about overworking, undersleeping, and having no days off.
We tend to underestimate the power of fractional changes. If you snap out of the all-or-nothing mindset and focus on 1% every day, you would be at 100% in 100 days or sooner. Just focus on the step in front of you and not the whole staircase.
Despite all its perks, social media can also be extremely toxic and unhealthy so you would often find me catching more breaks than I should be taking.
Which is your favorite book, and why?
My all-time favorite book is “You are a badass” by Jen Sincero. It’s not only a book I can reread a million times, but is also the one I go back to every time I feel unaligned and all over the place. This is one of those books that inspired me to get out of a slump and live my life in the way I want. I have read almost every self-help book out there and this book summarizes all of them in the most fun and engaging way. Another really good book I recently read is " Atomic Habits" by James Clear.
Interviewed by - Saba Parveen
Interviewed by - Saba Parveen
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