MUMBAI: Sone Kanwar is synonymous with her blog GlossyPolish. The influencer started pursuing her passion for blogging in 2016 with minimal savings. She quit a well-paying corporate job and let go of a possible civil-services stint to follow her dreams. She wanted to be independent and engage in activities that would add value to people’s lives. While she started several ventures, some of them tanked, along with her savings. For almost two years, she earned nothing. But, like they say, hard work pays off. Now, she is loved by the masses. She has built a strong community of women that are like one big virtual family. Her relationship with her audience is inspiring. From making no money to partnering with brands like Google, Sone has come a long way. Let’s take a look at her journey.
From being a newcomer to becoming someone with a strong community presence, how has the journey been?
It feels sublime. I am extremely grateful and humbled by the love and support I have received from my audience. The journey has been and still is, an experience of a lifetime. Through all the successes and the failures, one learns, grows, and looks forward to a better tomorrow. This is not something I had planned on doing, but now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So if it was not planned, how did your blogging journey start?
Like they say, ‘Life happens when you are busy making other plans’. Something like that happened. I reached a point in my life where I realized that I wanted to start something of my own. I did not have sizeable capital, but given the fact that I was good at sharing my experiences, I thought blogging would be the best choice, especially given the low entry barrier. Well, I was in for a surprise. I wanted to dip my toes into something and test the waters, but I was pulled right in. Blogging is addictive!
You are an inspiration to many girls in India. What is it about you that makes them fans? What about your content motivates them?
I think the primary reason is that ‘I am them’. There is nothing that I do or say, that cannot be emulated by any other girl. I am the quintessential girl next door who shares her opinions candidly and in a manner that my audience can relate to. It is like having an ongoing conversation with them on a daily basis.
We have seen you answer their questions on life choices, relationships, beauty, and so on. Do you think that is your USP?
I guess so. Like I said, it is like having a conversation with them. I answer my audience’s questions on my Instagram without revealing their identity. Rather than talking to one friend, I am engaging with lakhs, but the premise is similar. The Q&A segment is very close to my heart. I have screwed up so many times in life that I feel blessed to have the opportunity to prevent others from making similar mistakes.
India has a strong focus on skin tones and skin color. This makes many young girls feel insecure. Your advice to them?
This is very unfortunate. Beauty has nothing to do with anyone’s skin color or any other physical aspect. My message to anyone who is going through this insecurity is, ‘It’s not fair what you are subjected to. But at the same time, you need to take responsibility for self-love and your mental health.’
‘It is particularly important to understand that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. If someone projects that they don’t find you beautiful, the problem is with them and not with you. Don’t let anyone define the parameters for your beauty, your success, and your life. All you can do is explain to the sensible, ignore the bull-headed, and educate where you hold sway.’
What do you have to tell women who think they are not beautiful enough?
Perfection is a myth. And thank God for that! The most put-together and well-groomed woman can look dull in front of a simple, lively one.
It is not about how anyone looks; it always boils down to how someone feels. So if anyone feels they are not beautiful enough, they need to change their self-image. Pick a pen and paper and write everything you find amazing in yourself. Read it daily for a month, and trust me, you will love the change!
In the past, Indian women have won many global beauty pageants. In recent times, that has been challenging. Why and when do you see this trend returning?
Beauty pageants are competitions. Anyone who has won, did because they were the best among the girls competing, be it Sushmita, Aishwarya, Lara, Priyanka, or any of the other queens. As soon as someone from India competes and emerges as the best among that year’s participants, it will happen again
You worked with TV veteran Sriti Jha for ITC’s social campaign. How was your experience?
I feel so honored to be a part of this campaign. The message is so on point, and the execution has been beautiful! Sriti is a seasoned professional, and just an association with her name is a huge achievement for me. Everyone from the PR team,the brand, and the creative team have been gems! I couldn’t have done this without their guidance and support.
You partnered with Google for their mobile device, Pixel. How was the association? What do brands like Google gain from your strong following and community?
Google is an amazing brand, and their products are known to be of excellent quality. This association has been equally fruitful for me. All the images on my Turkey trip were shot on the Pixel, and I absolutely loved the quality and the vibrancy of the photos. From the audience perspective, when a non-photographer clicks amazing pictures, people become interested .They aspire to be able to do the same. People are rather good at judging things. When a product or service recommendation comes from someone who has earned their trust, they know they would not be misled. Nothing sells better than a proof of utility and quality, and that is what happened here.
Any advice to our readers on creating their own blogs? How should they go about it?
Just go for it! It takes time and persistence, but the journey itself is fun. Don’t get deterred by obstacles. Each person who is successful now has gone through their version of limitations, but they have persevered and made it big. So can you!
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