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South African Indians are known for their flavourful cuisine, such as spicy curries, chutneys, pastries and other savoury foods.
They are also known for their beautiful traditional clothing, worn on special occasions and adorned with sparkling jewelry. Nikita Salik, Newcastle’s very own TikTok influencer is very proud of her Indian heritage.
With just over 48 000 followers and 1.4 million likes on the popular social media app, the Indian beauty has fast gained popularity by showcasing her proud heritage. She enjoys using the platform to spread love and good vibes.
Nikita,27, took some time off from making TikTok’s to speak to Spotlight On Newcastle.
Recounting her online journey to social media fame, the Indian dancing queen, who is currently studying for her honors degree in education, says that it all began in June 2021.
“There was a song during that time which was released by Deejay Avesh called Chal gaye Nana and the dance was trending on TikTok. I decided to take on the challenge as I have a passion for dancing and it went viral. I was pleasantly surprised by the success of the video and it gave me a real confidence boost to make more videos. My following increased and the rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
Apart from dancing, Nikita also shares her knowledge of Indian cuisine and beauty tips on her page.
“My followers enjoy the recipes and the beauty treatment tips, this has also increased my following on the app. I focus on both Hollywood and Bollywood content but the majority of my fans enjoy Indian dance content. I love my culture and promote everything about it to keep it alive,” she explained.
Interestingly enough, despite excelling at Indian dance, Nikita has had no formal training and attributes her success to good old talent and passion.
“I see dance as an art form and I love expressing the message of song through that. I learned to dance by watching and attempting the moves on my own. It has always been a long time hobby and I have a natural talent for it. It ‘s my stress-reliever and my way of keeping fit.”
Raised by a single mother, Nikita lost her dad when she was just two years of age.
“My dad passed on after battling with cancer. His death made an extremely drastic impact on our lives, as the past 25 years have been the most challenging. Growing up without a dad can be tough, its a void that can never be filled. My mother has done an exceptional job at raising us. She made education a huge priority in our lives and I am who I am simply because of her,” she said.
Being in the spotlight also means having to be perfect most of the time, but as life would have it, there have also been some light-hearted embarrassing moments for the influencer.
“When I went for my driver’s license test, I remember being so nervous that I drove past the stop sign. I also remember a time when I donated blood and fainted . So yes, life does come with funny moments.”
Don’t forget to check out Nikita’s TikTok page and dance along while trying some of her mouth watering recipes.
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