Shefali Interview
Q. Your content has a very creative and aesthetic touch - how would you describe your personality beyond social media?
I’ve always believed in being as raw and honest as possible on the internet. But as I continue exploring content creation more seriously, I’ve also realised there’s a practical side to it - sometimes you naturally begin focusing more on what performs well rather than only what feels deeply personal.
That being said, my audience has always connected with me emotionally, which I’m incredibly grateful for. One thing I would definitely want people to know is that I’m not actually a sad person in real life, even though a lot of my content revolves around emotional themes and vulnerability. I’m deeply fascinated by the concept of sadness because many of my experiences and phases in life have inspired the kind of content I create today. But currently, I genuinely love life. Beyond social media, I’d describe myself as funny, entertaining, and emotionally aware. I’m a huge extrovert, but at the same time, I also need moments of complete solitude to recharge myself after being socially active for too long. If I’ve spent three days constantly around people, I’ll probably disappear for a while just to recover my social battery.
Q. What inspired you to begin your journey as a content creator, and how did “Shef Creates” come to life?
I’ve honestly always been the “weird” person - the one who loved being in front of the camera and making people laugh. My content journey started years ago with dance videos, then singing content, and eventually acting and experimental reels here and there.
But because I kept trying different genres without sticking to one niche consistently, the algorithm never really pushed my content significantly. For years, I was simply experimenting and trying to figure out what truly worked for me creatively. I think my breakthrough moment came after I posted a reel with Cosmic titled “Gossip with Guy Best Friend.” After almost four or five years of creating content consistently, something finally clicked. Since then, I’ve continued exploring content every single day with the belief that something bigger would eventually happen - and thankfully, it slowly has.
As for the name Shef Creates, the story behind it is honestly quite funny. Initially, I simply wanted my username to be “Shefali,” but obviously someone had already taken it. Then I switched to mynameshefff, inspired by the famous “My Name Jeff” meme from 21 Jump Street. Later during a sleepover with one of my school friends, we started discussing how creative certain usernames online were - especially artists like RM with “rkive” and J-Hope with “uarmyhope.” Somewhere during that conversation, we landed on Shef Creates because, quite literally, I create.
It’s not necessarily a username I was emotionally attached to initially, but ever since changing it, my page has grown tremendously - so now I absolutely embrace it.
Q. Creativity often comes with phases of inspiration and creative blocks. How do you keep yourself motivated and continue creating fresh content?
Creative blocks are honestly inevitable in this profession. There are countless moments when I sit and wonder, “What do I even create next?”
But once I notice a particular type of content resonating strongly with audiences, I consciously explore it further - whether through sequels, alternate perspectives, or deeper nuances within the same topic.
At the end of the day, this is my full-time career now, and that responsibility itself becomes a strong source of motivation. I’ve always dreamed of building a life around doing what I genuinely love, so now that I finally have that opportunity, I don’t want to lose it. Of course, burnout is real too. During those phases, I intentionally step away and allow myself time to recharge emotionally and creatively. I consume a lot of content during those breaks - anime, K-dramas, films, random shows - and interestingly, consuming stories often sparks fresh ideas in my mind again.
I think the fascinating part about being a creator is that you’re almost never truly “off work.” Even a small interaction, emotion, or random observation in everyday life can suddenly become inspiration for your next reel.
Eventually, you start realising that everything around you has the potential to become content.
Q. Was there a specific moment or response from your audience that made you realise your content was genuinely impacting people?
Absolutely. The direct messages, fan pages, edits people make of me, and the comments I receive on YouTube still leave me speechless sometimes. There are moments when people tell me my videos comfort them or make difficult days feel lighter, and honestly, it’s hard for me to fully process that emotionally. The fact that something I created could genuinely affect someone’s emotions in such a personal way feels incredibly surreal.
Some people describe my videos as feeling like a warm hug, while others say my content simply makes them laugh when they need it most. Knowing I can emotionally connect with people like that is something I never take for granted. But one of the most unbelievable experiences for me has been seeing little kids - sometimes as young as six or seven years old - recreating my videos using the remix feature on YouTube. That’s something I genuinely still cannot wrap my head around.
Q. Your page reflects individuality and self-expression. How important is authenticity to you in the world of social media today?
I strongly believe that nobody truly knows what they’re doing until they’re actively doing it.
People often describe my content as unique or expressive, while some comments compare me to creators like “the female Hamza.” But honestly, I think I’m simply someone having fun while trying to figure things out creatively in real time. Authenticity is definitely important because that’s ultimately what builds identity and longevity. I’m still discovering my own identity as a creator too, but one thing I know for certain is that I want to remain relevant and meaningful years from now.
One person I deeply admire in that regard is Taylor Swift. Remaining culturally relevant for over a decade while continuing to evolve creatively is something incredibly difficult to achieve. It requires relentless hard work, reinvention, and emotional connection across generations.
That kind of lasting impact is something I genuinely aspire towards.
Q. What is one important learning or piece of advice you would genuinely like to share with people that you’ve learnt the hard way?
Honestly, there are two lessons I’ve learnt that deeply changed my perspective on life.
The first is learning to truly be content with yourself. There will be moments when you wish the people you love were beside you celebrating your achievements or supporting you emotionally, but sometimes circumstances simply don’t allow that. And that’s okay. You still deserve to celebrate yourself. You still deserve happiness, pride, and self-love even during moments of solitude. Learning to genuinely love yourself is one of the most important things anyone can do.
The second lesson is believing in yourself unapologetically.
There’s actually a quote from Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece where he boldly declares, “I’m going to be the King of the Pirates.” Watching him say that so confidently despite being surrounded by stronger and more experienced people genuinely changed something in me psychologically. It made me realise that I need to openly say my dreams out loud and fully believe in them myself. Because if you don’t believe in yourself first, even external validation eventually becomes meaningless.
Q. What advice would you give to young creators who are afraid to start posting their work online because of self-doubt or fear of judgment?
Honestly - just do it.
Everything feels cringe until it eventually works. People might laugh at you initially, judge your content, or dismiss your efforts completely. But the irony is that the same people often return once they see your growth and success. The truth is, people will always have opinions regardless of what you choose to do. That’s simply human nature. People gossip, criticise, admire, judge, and analyse others constantly. But what truly matters is what you choose to focus on - the negativity or the possibility of growth.
No creator starts out perfect. You eventually discover your style, voice, and direction only through repetition and consistency. The more you create, the better you naturally become. So instead of overthinking endlessly, just start. Everything else eventually figures itself out along the way.
Bio:
With her emotionally resonant storytelling, comforting digital presence, and refreshingly unfiltered personality, Shefali has built a space that deeply connects with today’s generation. From humour and vulnerability to self-expression and creativity, her content feels personal, relatable, and effortlessly authentic. In this conversation with Eat My News, Shefali opens up about her creative journey, navigating identity online, and the power of believing in yourself even before the world does.
Interviewed by: Gunjan Joshi
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