Today we’d like to introduce you to Zarin Alam.
Hi Zarin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a passion for learning about other cultures, especially through food. My parents are Bangladeshi immigrants, and like many other cultures, food is one of the biggest expressions of tradition and heritage. My story really starts when I moved to Austin, TX to attend UT Austin where I got my BBA in Marketing. I moved from a small town in South Texas, so when I first moved here I was so excited to meet new people from all different backgrounds.
One of the people I met in college that changed my life was my husband. He knew how passionate I was about trying new foods, so he would take me on dates to different restaurants where we could experience a little “taste” of different cultures. As we crossed off all the restaurants off our list, he encouraged me to take photos of the dishes we tried and post them on social media for our friends and family. Little did I know that posting photos of local eateries would grow into a larger following where I could discover new eats around Austin. Since then, the page has become a place where I can share my cultural experiences through food, travel, and little parts of the home I’ve made here in Austin.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge I faced while growing my page was in 2020. Not only did the pandemic affect how I curated content, but I also found out that I had an autoimmune disorder called Ankylosing Spondylitis. The disorder causes the bones in your spine and hips to fuse over time if left untreated, making it hard to walk, sleep, or even breathe. Fortunately for me, I caught it in the earlier stages, so I have been able to combat it through treatment and constant exercise. One of the biggest factors that go into fighting the disorder is maintaining a healthy anti-inflammatory diet. For me, that changed everything for my food page. I had to pivot to trying healthier food options and curating content around that. It’s still something I struggle with because, on the one hand, I’ve built an audience that expects one type of content, and on the other hand, I am trying to tailor my content around this new lifestyle change.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am grateful to have grown enough to where I am able to promote and collaborate with local businesses and restaurants. I am always open to partnerships, especially when I know it’s helping businesses in my own community.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My husband has always been my #1 supporter, but I have to also give credit to my friends, family, and coworkers that encourage me to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zzzarin
Image Credits
Proposal image by Jorge Alvarado
