Every once-in-a-while we come across some firecrackers who inspire us. Today, we will be uncovering one of the most dynamic and multiple-faceted personality, Diipa Büller Khosla.

Diipa has been named ‘Influencer of the Year’ thrice and has an enormous following of 1.9 million on Instagram. She identifies as a Global Indian as she was born in India, attended university in Amsterdam, and has since moved between Amsterdam and London. Diipa is the founder of a conscious skincare line Indē Wild that is loved worldwide. She is an entrepreneur who puts social change back into the job of an influencer and an advocate for women’s rights through her nonprofit organisation, Post For Change.

ClapClap had an insightful conversation with Diipa, where we learned a lot about her, and here’s how it went.

What would be your alternate career choice, if not a content creator or an entrepreneur?

DK: I think I would be a doctor.

What was your biggest learning experience when you moved to Amsterdam?

DK: When I was a teenager, I learned how open-minded they were and how they’re so accepting of your background, age, and sexual orientation.

What is your all-time favourite travel destination?

DK: My favourite all-time travel destination apart from my home India would be Cape Town, South Africa.

What does a day in your life look like?

DK: There’s no one day like the other. My life is constantly different, juggling between being a businesswoman, a mom, an entrepreneur, and an influencer. There is so much going on, so there’s no one day that’s the same. But I try to wake up early and spend time with the family in the morning.

How did you come about creating a skincare brand while being an influencer?

DK: For the longest time, I struggled with acne. For about 15 years, I had the worst skin. My mom is a dermatologist and an ayurvedic doctor. I learned so much about two different methods of science and skincare. One is a 5,000-year-old ayurvedic science, and the other is dermatology and modern innovation. So it finally cured my acne, and it has never come back since because of combining these two.

How do you wish to create a change in the mindset of young women who deal with acne and live up to societal standards?

DK: I wish to change that by showing up every day, no matter what. There are moments everybody feels not their best and as women, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, but ultimately life is just about showing up. And I think this incident is something that I hold very dearly. My face was swollen like Shrek, and I walked the red carpet at Cannes. If I can do it, you can definitely, do it.

What was the thought process behind having a no Photoshop policy with your brand, and how important is it to showcasing real skin texture to you?

DK: I think in the world of filters, lighting, editing and Photoshop, people are constantly putting out so many things. Especially as a brand, if you show a face of a Bollywood star or model, which is airbrushed, that’s selling fake news. You are sharing something that’s not real. So with my brand, we’re never gonna have Photoshop, so customers truly know what difference it’ll make or not make.

The concept of ‘Ayurvedistry’ is exclusive to your brand. What was the notion behind it?

DK: Ayurvedistry or Indē Wild is an amalgamation of my life, and I think an amalgamation of any modern desi living anywhere in the world. Ayurveda is everything our moms and grandmoms taught us. Like put haldi in yoghurt and then on your face, we’ve grown up with it. While at the same time, we’re the women of today that believe in science and honesty about things. And so Indē Wild is Ayurvedistry coming together of these two worlds beautifully captured in a bottle.

What is your makeup holy grail and beauty must-have?

DK: My makeup holy grail is lip balm. I am obsessed with nourished, glossy, dewy lips. Also, I never leave the house without SPF. It’s not makeup, but I guess it gives you a glow.

In what way has motherhood changed you and your work ethic?

DK: Before I was a mother, I was like the Duracell battery. I could keep going nonstop. And now, for some reason, I have a lot more of a work-life balance. I say no, so much more, and I only take things that give me joy or benefit the world.

How do you deal with separation anxiety with your daughter and your husband?

DK: I call and text them a lot. I try to focus on the work because the quicker you’re done with work you can go back to them.

What are some routines that your mother practised with you that you want to pass down to your daughter?

DK: My mom always did champi on Sundays, and I hope to take that down to my daughter. We’ve started doing it already, but I want to make that more of a tradition. My mom would always wake up at 5:00 AM in the morning. The house would be full of mantras, like the Gayatri mantra or a beautiful prayer to Sai baba and you would wake up with positive energy. I would love to do that in my household and take that to the next generation.

What are some of your partner’s favourite Indian dishes?

DK: He loves biryani, well, he has to because of me, but he also loves my mom’s baingan ka bharta and Kerela paratha.

What was the biggest cultural shock your partner experienced when he travelled to India?

DK: Initially, he preferred drinking sparkling water instead of regular water. At a restaurant, he would ask for sparkling water, and they’d look at him like, what do you mean?. Then he’d ask me, babe, can you help me? And I would ask for soda pani.

Top three designers or labels you would want to collaborate with?

DK: I’ve had the honour of working with many of my favourite ones already. But I would love to work with Valentino. I think they’re killing it. I would also love to work with Prabal Gurung and Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

What was your biggest fashion faux pas?

DK: My biggest fashion faux pas is that I think I overdid it back in the day. I would do it all, too many accessories and too much everything.

What will the future hold for you and your brand?

DK: I think this year is going to be very big for the brand. We’re really going global in a much bigger way. I see Indē Wild as a brand that Indians all over the world can be very proud of, especially the new generation of young, energetic, excited people that believe in something more.

What advice would you want to give upcoming young creators that you wish you knew when you were starting off?

DK: One piece of advice I would give creators in the world of social media is that everything changes rapidly, so make sure you evolve with it. If you are still taking photos of avocado and toast, it’s not gonna work anymore. So, as the platforms change, as the world changes, be agile and evolve with it to make sure you can still create relevant content.

If this conversation didn’t inspire you, we don’t know what will. From being a worldwide icon and beauty entrepreneur to a stunning fashion creator and exceptional mom of baby Dua, our truest Desi Girl is nothing short of enterprising.

Lots of love from team ClapClap!