Sri Karthikeyan

Digital creator

October 12, 2026·By: Mbaire

Courtesy of Sri Karthikeyan

"I think it’s important for young brown girls to see someone who looks like them doing creative things."

She can walk a runway, create content for brands, and still never miss an assignment. At 20, Sri Karthikeyan is a Business Analytics student at San José State University, a model, and a content creator. She's also actively involved in campus leadership, taking on roles across various student organizations. What started as a spontaneous decision to create content has grown into an international community. For Sri, it's about more than followers. It's about embracing opportunities, finding confidence, and showing other brown girls what's possible. We spoke with Sri about her journey, cultural identity, and making the most of her twenties.

Before the content, modeling, and brand work, who was Sri growing up?

I think Sri was kind of the same person, just at a smaller scale. I was very creative growing up. I took classical music lessons, played piano and violin, and was always involved in extracurricular activities. I also grew up in a very cultural and religious family, so music and culture were a big part of my life. I was always occupied with something. I hate being bored!

You're someone who's willing to try a lot of different things. Where does that openness come from?

Because why not? You're only young once, and I don't want to look back wishing I'd done something. Sometimes I think about opportunities I missed or things I could have started earlier. But instead of letting that hold me back, I think about what I can still do. I'm really trying to maximize my twenties.

You recently walked your first runway. How did that opportunity come about?

It was literally the most random side quest ever! I usually let brands reach out to me because I'm so busy with school, but this time I pitched myself to a brand. They mentioned they had a show in San Jose and asked if I'd be interested in walking. I'd done freelance modeling before, but never an actual runway show. My parents and friends encouraged me, so I thought, why not? I ended up meeting so many people, and we're still connected. Some send me workshops, and I get to see their shoots. Saying yes really opens up your network, your confidence, and more opportunities.

You started creating content about a year ago. What's surprised you most about the journey?

The growth, honestly. I started last summer, kind of as a joke, but I knew that if I was going to do it, I wanted to be consistent. Since then, I've been posting two to three videos almost every day. Seeing the community I've built and all the connections I've made is still surprising. Sometimes I look back and realize I barely remember my life before content creation, and it's only been a year! I even received my first PR when I had around 100 followers. I was the happiest person ever.

People see your content and accomplishments. What's something they don't really see about you?

My academic side. Because I post a lot about beauty, outfits, and having fun, I think some people assume that's all I care about. But I actually spend so much time doing assignments and applying for internships. I don't have a single missing assignment. I'm very locked in with school, probably even more than content creation. I think that's something people don't always realize when they see my life online.

You've said you want brown girls to see someone they can relate to. What does that mean to you?

Sometimes girls send me DMs saying they love seeing someone like them on their feed. That makes me really happy. Growing up, a lot of brown families were more sheltered when it came to social media. There were concerns about being online, which I understand. But I think it's important for young brown girls to see someone who looks like them doing creative things. Maybe they'll want to pursue something similar, or maybe they'll just enjoy seeing someone they relate to.

What values matter most to you?

Authenticity and self-respect. Whether it's my content, friendships, family, or relationships, I want to be true to who I am. Especially in college, it's easy to be influenced by other people, but having boundaries and standing your ground is extremely important. I always tell myself that whatever I'm doing, I need to be fully content with it. I don't want to wake up the next morning regretting something. It's about knowing what to say yes to and what to say no to.

How has creating content changed the way you experience life?

I've started romanticizing life a lot more ever since I started creating content. I see beauty in little things now. I hate cooking, but I love making videos in my kitchen because I think they look so cute! There's creativity in everything, whether it's doing your makeup differently, styling an outfit, or capturing places while traveling. It's made me appreciate everyday moments more.

Between school, content, modeling, and brand work, how do you balance everything?

To-do lists! I always have one open. I've also learned that I can't do everything every single day. I usually film two or three days a week and edit throughout the rest of the week. I dedicate certain days to schoolwork too. And I need my “me time”. Even on the most stressful days, I still want an hour or two to listen to music or completely zone out.

You seem comfortable on camera. Is there anything that still makes you nervous?

Public speaking! It's funny because I'm always talking to a camera, but I hate presentations. I'm comfortable talking to people in smaller groups, but standing in front of a room makes me really nervous. Even with my first runway, I felt like I did a million times better practicing than I did on stage. But I'm trying to get better. Almost every class I'm taking this semester involves presentations, and I've already noticed my confidence improving a little.

When you think about the next few years, what do you want your life to look like?

I think about this every day! I definitely want to keep growing with content creation, but I also want a corporate nine-to-five job after getting my degree. I don't want to ditch one for the other. I want to see how I can do both side by side. And I'd love to live in a big city, maybe New York. Somewhere I can keep trying new things. I'm excited to see where everything goes.

Sri Karthikeyan

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