Meet the winner of the Vlogstar Challenge 2018

Quarter to 7, I’m scrolling on Instagram, I swipe up…

Next thing, I’m sat at Google headquarters, at a workshop where I was introduced to the Vlogstar competition – a competition run by the Jack Petchey Foundation.

I enter the competition and I’m up against 1,500 bright, creative individuals. Hoping to get through the next round, I submit a vlog at the workshop, which the judges were really impressed by -surprisingly it was on ‘how to eat a doughnut’ – guess my love of Krispy Kreme’s paid off, as it saw me gain a place into the next round.

Whittled down to 150 buzzing vloggers. All briefed up, as it was during Ramadan – A holy month when Muslims fast from sunrise to dusk. I decided to make a captivating vlog on breaking my fast (Iftar) with just £1, with a hint of my mum rapping to Cardi B!

I don’t know if it was my mother’s questionable rapping skills or the £1 meals that saw me gain a place in the next round.

With just under 2 weeks to submit a 1-minute vlog on a social topic, my creative juices started to flow, in full force. I decided to make my final vlog on an issue that was quite close to me and something that I was and still am personally experiencing.

I was lucky enough during this, to be invited to the YouTube headquarters – where I was given full access to use the equipment and workshops which helped me greatly and gave me an invaluable experience which would not have been possible otherwise.

Making it into the final, with only just 15 vloggers remaining: I was feeling anxious as well as nervous, but at the same time really excited to be a part of the final. My submission was to be judged by a celebrity panel, which was quite daunting! The day arrived, all glammed up, I took the stage at the BAFTAs which was an AMAZING experience in itself. I ended up winning the Vlogstar Challenge 2018 – I didn’t think swiping up on Instagram would make such a huge difference to my life, but it has.

I am so grateful for Media Trust, Evening Standard, YouTube and the Jack Petchey Foundation for making this all possible.

Thank you.