Quote I Live By:
The Universe helps those who help themselves. Never give up, move with honesty, and you'll be led to where you're meant to be."
- Something my Nani always said
For Vancouver-based content creator and actor Gurnaz, building a career online was never part of a grand plan. In many ways, it simply grew out of a lifelong instinct to create.
Her journey on the internet began more than a decade ago on Vine, the short-form video platform that launched the careers of many early digital creators. At the time, she was simply experimenting—posting comedic skits and snippets of everyday life without much expectation beyond having fun. When Vine eventually shut down, she continued creating, slowly building her presence across Instagram, YouTube, and eventually TikTok.
Consistency — rather than strategy — became the foundation of her growth.
Today, the Miss Teen Greater Vancouver's (2017) audience spans more than 1.3 million followers across platforms. Her content ranges from beauty tutorials and makeup artistry to humor, motivational reflections, and cultural storytelling, which even led her to acting in films.
At the center of it all is something deeply personal: her identity.
Growing up, she rarely saw South Asian women represented in the media spaces she loved. “I always wanted to be the representation that I didn’t see growing up,” she says. “South Asian women weren’t really visible in the media, especially just being themselves.” Rather than adapting her content to fit what she believed audiences expected, she leaned into her culture—something she says was not always encouraged. “There were definitely moments where people suggested that I make myself more ‘digestible’ for Western audiences,” she explains. “But that never felt right to me. I didn’t want to lose who I was.”
Punjabi language, humor, and cultural references became part of her content, something she now sees as one of the most meaningful aspects of her work.
One particularly memorable moment came during her time as a member of the Sephora Squad program, a competitive initiative that supports emerging beauty creators across North America. She pitched an idea that felt especially close to her heart - creating a fully Punjabi-language beauty video for Sephora. “I told them, ‘Let me try this in Punjabi. I promise it will connect with people,’” she recalls. The campaign went forward, becoming one of the first fully Punjabi-language beauty videos shared by the global brand. “It was such a proud moment,” she says. “It showed that culture and authenticity actually resonate with people.”
Despite the growing visibility, Gurnaz says the journey hasn’t always been easy. As a woman of color in the creator economy, she has faced everything from online harassment to systemic disparities in the industry. “There are still moments where I’m the only brown girl in the room,” she says candidly. But rather than letting those experiences discourage her, she says they have strengthened her commitment to showing up — both for herself and for others.
For Gurnaz, the goal has never just been numbers or followers. It has always been connection, and the possibility that something she creates might resonate with someone else. “Sometimes people come up to me and tell me that one of my videos made them laugh during a difficult time,” she says. “Or that it helped them feel more confident.” Moments like that, she says, are what make the journey worthwhile.
Q&A
Q- This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Give to Gain.’ What does that phrase mean to you personally?
A- The more positivity and knowledge you put out, the more it eventually comes back to you. I grew up in a Sikh household where giving back and serving others was always emphasized, so that mindset has always stayed with me.
Q- What’s one lesson you had to learn the hard way that shaped the woman you are today?
A- Realizing that no one is coming to save you. At some point, you understand that your life is in your own hands. So write your story. Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens from you.
Q- Who is a woman you deeply admire, and what about her inspires you most?
A- My mom without a question. She’s full of so much love, kindness, and grace despite the adversities she’s faced. My drive in life has come through witnessing her resilience in uncertain and difficult moments in life. Moms truly are warriors, and they deserve the world!
Q- What’s one thing you hope more women give themselves permission to do?
A- Choose themselves. Especially in South Asian culture, women are often expected to prioritize others. But it’s important to honor who you are as an individual.
