Kashmiri women influencers you need to follow

Kashmir, a region marked by conflicts and job scarcity, has seen its youth, particularly women, grappling with limited opportunities. Amidst this challenging backdrop, social media has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a platform for self-expression and economic empowerment.

In the ever-evolving world of content creation, a group of remarkable women from rural Kashmir are seizing the digital stage to showcase their talents and, in the process, are dismantling stereotypes and defying prejudices – one social media post at a time.

Despite facing religious conservatism and patriarchal power structures, this new generation of Kashmiri women – models, make-up artists, singers et al – has harnessed their ingenuity to carve out prosperous careers as social media influencers. 

Village Square had the privilege of connecting with a few of these trailblazing women.

Mateena Rajput 

Hailing from the Handwara area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Mateena is an actor by profession. She has become a sensation among J&K’s youth, admired for her Instagram content ranging from film promotions and daily life glimpses to reels showcasing new attire and exciting travel destinations. 

Mateena recalled that it was initially an uphill battle to produce content for her Instagram handle. “Coming from a village, people here had no idea about what I was doing. It was challenging to make them understand,” she said. “I also faced trolling for my work.”

Undeterred by initial disapproval and trolling, Mateena now boasts over 67,500 Instagram followers who eagerly wait for her new content.

Also Read: Rural social media stars showcase rustic charm

Sayeda Hubza Ali 

A popular vlogger, Sayeda Hubza Ali captures her daily life, family moments, new locations, and much more in her social media content. “I had never envisioned becoming a vlogger; it all began abruptly,” she confided. 

Hailing from the remote Uri area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, her journey was tough. 

“When a woman hails from a village and delves into uncharted territory, it appears unique and unfamiliar to others. I encountered negative comments, but chose to ignore them, allowing my journey to flourish,” Hubza said. Her YouTube channel boasts over 60,400 followers, and she’s followed by 27,000 on Facebook.

Farah Zaidee 

Farah from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district is not just a content creator. She’s a passionate advocate for social change, sharing awareness videos and hosting live sessions to raise awareness about gender-based violence. 

Her social media journey has also been a means to share her travel experiences. 

“I travel to a lot of villages for my fieldwork, capture the scenic beauty and keep sharing that with people. I’ve recently started earning through social media by doing paid promotions for brands,” she said. 

Farah believes that the digital space offers an essential avenue for self-expression. 

“But with freedom comes responsibility. I would suggest content creators to act responsibly, as their posts have a significant impact. Obscenity and vulgarity should be checked before posting any content,” she suggested.

Farah is an Instagram sensation with over 62,300 followers and has 17,000 on Facebook.

In response to the criticism she encountered, Farah said a section of people is fixated solely on a woman’s appearance on social media. “Their remarks consistently revolve around matters of sexuality, objectifying women for amusement and gratification. Frequently, I come across fraudulent profiles where men impersonate women, engaging in content theft and infringement, and posting images of girls on their profiles to attract followers. I’ve personally experienced this on multiple occasions,” she said. 

Also Read: “Social media activism has given my life meaning”

Saba Shafi

Saba, hailing from the remote Seelo village in north Kashmir’s Sopore, is the valley’s first female make-up artist specializing in bridal make-up. Her entry into the field faced scepticism due to concerns about the cost of make-up. 

“When I introduced this concept, people were apprehensive about spending thousands of rupees on make-up. It was challenging to convey the importance of looking beautiful, especially on one’s wedding day,” Saba said. 

Saba uploads photos and videos of herself and some brides on her Instagram handle, “makeupbysaba”. Her uploads feature not just make-up artistry but also emphasise the significance of “looking beautiful” for special occasions. 

“I used to doll up my friends and cousins and later, I started getting orders on Instagram,” she said. “I now get a good number of orders each day.” Her Instagram handle has amassed a following of 1.56 lakh. 

Zartasha Zainab

Zartasha, a talented Pahari community singer from a remote village in Uri, has used Instagram to make her mark in the music industry. She is celebrated by youngsters for her captivating short reels and covers of popular songs. 

“Being from a village, one has to overcome numerous challenges to become a social media influencer. In my early days, acceptance was hard to come by, but now people eagerly await my content,” Zartasha said, revealing the criticism she faced. “People even commented on my clothes.”

A devoted fan of Pakistani singer Abida Parveen, she credits social media for making her journey possible. “It would be impossible without it.” 

With 16,000 followers on Instagram, Zartasha, one of the social media influencers, has worked in many popular songs in the valley and is on the rise in the world of music.

Also Read: The need for digital empowerment of rural women

Idrees Bukhtiyar is an independent journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir.