Nirosha Paniesalvam’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and empowerment. From her early days of facing bullying and social isolation, Nirosha has emerged as a prominent advocate for women’s empowerment and a respected influencer. Her journey, marked by personal struggles and professional triumphs, reflects a remarkable evolution from adversity to influence.
A Humble Beginning
Nirosha’s journey started in a modest, tranquil home, where she grew up as an only child and relied on her friends and school to build her social life. I was an only child, and school and friends meant everything to me. After school, I often found myself cooped up at home due to my mother’s strict limitations on going out.
“As such, I often found solace in YouTube, where talking in front of a camera quickly became my comfort zone as I found it difficult to talk in front of a big audience. From there, that’s where I started spending time creating content on YouTube,” she reminisced. This hobby quickly evolved into a passion, prompting her to explore platforms like Instagram, where she realized the potential of leveraging social media to build a career.
Overcoming Insecurities and Embracing Authenticity
Although the life of an influencer is often depicted as glamorous and luxurious, it comes with its own set of challenges. “The hardest part of being a social media influencer is pulling the crowd. There have been countless times where some who doubted the authenticity of my reviews,” Nirosha explains.
“Honestly, my reviews are genuine. If I don’t like a product or feel it doesn’t work for me, I let the person in charge know and decline the campaign. Authenticity is important because my audience trusts me.”
Another significant obstacle Nirosha faced was deeply personal and related to issues of body image. This challenge involved navigating societal expectations and pressures regarding physical appearance, which can profoundly impact one’s self-esteem and confidence.
“Growing up, I faced cruel comments about my size, which deeply impacted my self-esteem. People would say I looked like a mother who had given birth to many children because of my body size. It only added to my insecurities,” she recalls.
Determined to silence her critics, Nirosha embarked on a weight loss journey and successfully lost weight. Unfortunately, the judgmental remarks continued. Despite this, Nirosha remains resolute in not letting them affect her. She realized that regardless of appearance, people would always have something to say. Some even accused her of using medication to lose weight, which she denies.
After dedicating herself to hard work and overcoming numerous challenges, Nirosha has built a significant online presence, now proudly having over 51,000 followers on Instagram. Her journey has not only been a testament to her resilience but also showcases her ability to inspire and connect with a large audience through her content. This growing following reflects the support and recognition she has garnered for her authenticity and perseverance.
Building Liprosha
When asked about the inspiration behind her lip care brand Liprosha, Nirosha candidly revealed that it was actually motivated by her own lip care issues.
“I tried using all kinds of lip balms and lip care products, but the results didn’t last long. This frustration eventually sparked the idea of creating a lip care brand, and after extensive research and development, I launched Liprosha.”
My idea in creating Liprosha was: since I’m not the only one facing this problem, why not create my own brand?
She mentioned that it took two years to complete the entire process, and Liprosha has since become a successful business, receiving praise from users for its effectiveness. During this period, she devoted countless hours to research and development, ensuring that each product met high-quality standards. Now, Liprosha is celebrated not only for addressing common lip care issues but also for providing solutions that truly work, garnering positive feedback from satisfied customers.
As an influencer, entrepreneur, and a married woman, Nirosha certainly has a lot on her plate. “Managing everything isn’t easy,” she admitted. “I try to embrace my responsibilities without overloading myself. When things get overwhelming, I always reach out to those around me for support.”
In addition to managing her image as an influencer and entrepreneur, Nirosha is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. This passion led her to co-found the Brown Babe community with fellow content creators during the MCO (Movement Control Order).
“We bring together passionate women who want to start side businesses and seek additional income. Last year, I organized the Boss Babe workshop, which focused on networking and self-grooming for women, and we have plans for more workshops in the future,” Nirosha said.
Hitting Rock Bottom & Rising Again
Despite achieving a considerable level of success, Nirosha faced personal challenges that threatened to unravel her life. “There were times when I experienced mental breakdowns and depression. I felt lost and unsure about my life, with no projects or job offers coming in, and I was struggling financially.”
“I hit rock bottom at one point and thought to myself: How am I going to take care of my mother, who wasn’t working, and manage the household expenses?
During these challenging times, Nirosha found a steadfast source of support in her family, who became her pillar of strength. They were always there to offer comfort and guidance whenever she needed it, providing a safe haven and valuable advice that helped her navigate through her difficulties. Their unwavering presence and encouragement played a crucial role in helping her overcome the obstacles she faced.
“Whenever I’m on the verge of not knowing what I am doing, I turn to my loved ones for comfort—whether it be my husband, mother, in-laws, or best friends. They give me the strength to move on, especially my friends who are also content creators,” she shared gratefully.
When asked what advice she would give to those aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Nirosha suggested starting with it as a hobby. “Focus on pursuing your education and establishing your career path first. Don’t commit fully right away; instead, approach it as a part-time venture.”
“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a solid foundation before diving into the world of content creation, as it will help keep you grounded,” she said.
Nirosha Paniesalvam’s journey from overcoming personal challenges and insecurities to becoming a prominent influencer and successful entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. Her story reflects her resilience and unwavering determination to transform adversity into opportunity. From her humble beginnings and battle with body image issues to the triumph of building her own brand, Liprosha, Nirosha has exemplified the power of perseverance and self-belief.
Balancing multiple roles as an influencer, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s empowerment, Nirosha has shown that success is not just about achieving goals but also about giving back and supporting others along the way. As she continues to make an impact in her field and inspire others, Nirosha Paniesalvam stands as a beacon of hope and a role model for those navigating their own paths to success.