Nilu Thapa Talks Breaking Boundaries, Learning To Love Yourself & Diwali Celebrations

Empowerment
by HB Team |
Thu, 4 Nov 2021

To celebrate Diwali, the incredible Festival of Lights, we’re excited to introduce you guys to an amazing content creator from India to talk about everything Diwali, what it means to her, and how she practices self-love throughout the festivities.

Meet Nilu Thapa, AKA the inspiring content creator, @bighairloudmouth. Her Instagram page is a vision of color, style, fashion, beauty, and it truly gives us good vibes and so much inspo every time we look at it. Although Nilu seems born to create content, she started her professional journey very differently. Growing up in her hometown, Darjeeling, Nilu started her career as an electrical and electronics engineer but soon realized her true calling in fashion and beauty content. Now, based in Bangalore since 2012, you’ll find Nilu creating stunning fashion, beauty, travel, and lifestyle content for her social page, as well as working as a Creative Director for other brands.

Today, Nilu is taking over our Huda Beauty Instagram Stories to tell us everything about Diwali, what the celebration represents, and how she shows herself love during this time. We’re also diving in to talk to Nilu about her journey as a content creator in India, her challenges along the way, and all things Diwali.

Tell us about your journey as an influencer and why you started?

I started a blog called BIG hair LOUD mouth in 2012 in the form of a test website, as that was what I used to do at my previous workplace. However, I got really interested in the idea of journaling online as I used to constantly maintain a physical journal when I was in school. So, clubbing my interest in journaling and learning more about websites and SEO introduced me to the world of social media documentation, and there has been no looking back since then. However, what started as amateur posts with my self-shot daily OOTD, slowly evolved into an artistic interpretation of my moods and feelings, and thus BIG hair LOUD mouth, the content creator, came into being.

How do your culture and surroundings inform your work and the way you see the world?

The culture in India is so varied and diverse! I believe it gives me the freedom to experiment with whatever I want as I have so many choices in clothing, colors, patterns. I even have the freedom to experiment with the fusion-wear of clothing from different Indian cultures, which gives birth to something totally different altogether.

Were there any challenges along the way, and if so, how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge I faced when I started as a content creator was the inability of several to identify me as an Indian individual. I do agree that with my hair color, I may not really come off as the Indian woman many have a stereotype about, but I’m glad my appearance also makes people realize the diversity and the vastness of the country I come from.

And even in India, in the initial days when content creation/ blogging/ vlogging, in general influencing, as a career had just started, many could not identify themselves with me as I represent the minority community of India. Even if I post a tutorial on, let’s say, how to apply eyeshadow on hooded eyes, it wasn’t relatable to most of the girls in India as it didn’t apply to them. So it took me a very long time to try to be as much relatable as possible.


How do you show yourself love when you’re not creating content?

I suffer from a skin condition called Melasma, which is hyperpigmentation, and in the past, I’ve received comments that read I looked hideous without makeup, and it took me a long time to come to terms with feeling content with myself and what I was blessed with. After years of working hard to establish myself in this industry, I feel I now am in a position to reply back to such people and say that I’m more than my skin. And also to feel good about myself and love myself for everything I am, because I now finally realize I’m more than what I look like. So now I’m extremely comfortable with no makeup on because at one time I used it to mask my insecurity, but now I wear my makeup to express myself only.

What does self-love mean to you?

Protecting my peace by doing everything possible I can to take care of myself physically and mentally.

Diwali is such a special celebration – how do you show love to yourself during this time?

We have a festival called Dhanteras, a day of fortune that heralds the beginning of Diwali. I always gift myself a piece of jewelry on that day, every year and now, it’s become a ritual! Even though it’s self-gifting, it reminds me of all the hard work I’ve put into my work and reminds me to reward myself for everything I do.

Tell us about Diwali, how you like to celebrate it and why it’s special to you.

Diwali, also called the festival of light, also celebrates the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Goddess Lakshmi. We plan our Diwali outfits and jewelry in advance as this is a day most of us look forward to the most as it is a festival not only celebrated by Hindus but also by Sikhs and Jains. Also, lights are always associated with joy and celebrations, so when we decorate even our homes with flowers, lights and exchange gifts with our loved ones, the festival somehow feels very joyous.

What are your fave things to do during Diwali, and what are you most excited about?

My fave thing to do during Diwali is gifting myself on Dhanteras, dressing up in my festive best, and celebrating with my close ones, who all dress up for the occasion in a decorated house! We light earthen lamps together; girls sing a song called Bhailoni, and boys perform and dance to Deusurey (observed by people of Hindu Nepali origin across the world). So it’s a very happy, fun festival where for once, everyone seems to forget about their worries and celebrate the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance.

What are some of your Diwali beauty essentials? 

An eyeshadow palette packed with glitters because it ain’t a festival if there is no glitter! For skincare, a great mask and moisturizer to prep the skin for any makeup. For hair, a good hair styling product!

Nilu Tapha interview

We love your outfit styling and makeup looks! How do you use makeup as a form of self-expression?

I love everything colorful and bold. I start my eye makeup every day with the thought that it’ll be a simple look, which then becomes something else every time by the time I’m done with my makeup. Somehow I end up blending different colors or somehow a cut crease feels more appropriate for the outfit I’m wearing, or maybe even the reverse eyeliner gets my mood that day!

What advice would you give to other aspiring content creators who want to follow in your footsteps?

If you feel you want to do it, do it. When you’re passionate about something, you somehow manifest a way for yourself to move ahead!

What are your goals and dreams for the future?

I want to create more content but on a bigger scale for brands, and I would love for my work to be in ads and billboards someday!

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We are so grateful to Nilu for sharing her experiences and everything she loves about Diwali with us – head over to our @hudabeauty Instagram today to see her taking over our stories. Send some love to Nilu in the comments below.