‘If things are not going good, it'll get better’

Fahrin Zannat Faiza, a student, a food blogger and a YouTuber recently gave an interview to risingbd, sharing her working experiences and different sights of her life which are given below.

Hello, how are you?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza:  Hey! I’m doing great Alhamdulillah. I hope you and everyone who’s reading are doing good.

What is your nickname?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza:  Everyone calls me Faiza

From where you completed your S.S.C and H.S.C?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I completed my SSC from Greenfield School & College and HSC from Willes Little Flower College.

Right now where and in which subject are you studying in?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I’m currently studying BBA in Marketing at IUB

Where you used to live in your childhood? Tell us some funny things that you used to do when you were a child.
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I lived in Dhaka all my life. When I was a child I used to compete in sports with boys and I won pretty much most of the time.

Do you want to give any advice to a 17 years old yourself?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I’d tell her not to stress too much. And to always hope for the best. Because even if things are not going good, it’ll get better.

Is there anything that you wanted to achieve from your childhood and now you have got it? If yes, then what is this and how do you achieve this?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I have achieved more than I’ve ever imagined at this age. I was honestly aiming for a job after graduation and saving up to do things that I like. But Alhamdulillah I am fortunate enough to achieve all these things at this point of life.

In this moment we all know we have got some precious free time. So, what are you doing this time? Are doing something productive? Then share it with us! We would love to know your activities.
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: We are going through a very unfortunate time and honestly I was feeling really low for the first week or so but I decided to do something productive. I’ve been cooking a lot. I’ve been making contents. The major change was my second channel “Faiza” where I talk about everything I do except from food which recently crossed 10,000 subscribers. But apart from content I’ve been spending a lot of time with family, praying and reading the Quran.

As I know you are a great food blogger! We all want to know the story behind this and who inspired you the most to do that?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I honestly didn’t know anything about food blogs. I didn’t know anyone did this. I used to eat out a lot and take pictures. So, I opened up an IG account after a friend suggested me to do it and I named it “khudalagse” I mean, I was surprised that this name was not taken. I used to just take photos and it was nothing serious until I started making videos and I am still in the seventh sky because 300k people are subscribed on all the platforms and that is huge to me.
 

Since when did you start it, did you face any negativity or difficulty? If yes, then how did you overcome that?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza:  Surprisingly, there wasn’t that much negativity apart from those keyboard warriors who commented “why you are going outside with Hijab, why you eat, why you make videos” and “you are a Hijabi girl then why are you going outside?”. But compared to the positive support from my IG followers these were nothing.

So, basically you have to find the new restaurants and foods. After entering into the menu there are so many options, which really makes a person crazy. So, how do you deal with that? How do you choose food from the menu?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I plan beforehand because I know that is a really tough decision. But yes in general when I go without a plan I ask the waiter what is good and usually order the best selling item and something that I think is good.

So, we all know that you are officially known as Faiza from Khudalagse. And people called you Khudalagse Apu the most which is really unique and interesting. Why this name and is there anyone who helped you to choose the name?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I actually like Faiza from Khudalagse. Khudalagse apu is nice too but I hope Faiza apu will be a popular name too haha and I don’t know how the name happened. It was my intro all along and people seem like it a lot.

As you are a food blogger and in your videos we all have noticed that you have really good sense in food. So, In future do you have any plan to create your own restaurant?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: May be a cafe, where everything is cozy and everyone can sit and work and talk. But, I actually want to open a modest fashion brand somewhere down the line In shaa Allah.

What will be your advice for the young people who are interested in being food bloggers like you?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I would say for being genuine and being authentic helps. We have to understand food critique and food blogging is different. Food bloggers share their experience with the food and that is the key.

After 10 years where do you want to see yourself?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: After 10 years I would want to be known as someone who set up the trend that girls can do amazing things too, whether it's online or offline. I want to be an example to all the young kids to chase dreams.

In your journey who has always been beside you and whom you want to say thanks the most?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: One person who has always been pushing me to do new things, making these videos with me from the start till now is Salman Sadi. He is the guy working constantly behind the scenes. We’re a pretty good team by the way.

So, in series #30days30souls you are one of those 30 people. How do feel to take part in this?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: I think this is really interesting and I feel honoured that I am a part of it. Thank you guys.

And also, there are 29 more people like you who are passionate about their work and doing great for the world. Do you want to give any message to them?
Fahrin Zannat Faiza: There’s only one message that I want to say to each one of them that I’m proud of all of us and I’m so glad that we’re all doing something we love and setting an example that you don’t have to wait till graduation to start a career.

 

Dhaka/Mukul