“If I could go back to myself in my 20s, I would tell her that this is her life. Take care of yourself. Don’t take too much time to be sad. Love comes and goes, but you can always heal and love again. Go out, do more of life, and use every second trying to make yourself happy.”
At 31, Bangkok-based creator, entrepreneur, and NVYNasty founder Nerst has learned a thing or two about beauty, self-love, and finding happiness on your own terms. In our conversation, we spoke about fashion, travel, social media, and the evolving relationship we have with ourselves in a world that constantly encourages comparison.
What stayed with us most was her ability to find beauty in the smallest things — moments, places, and details that many people might simply walk past without noticing. At the same time, she reminds us of something equally important: not to take our health for granted, whether physical or mental. Because in the end, being able to move freely through life, to explore, create, and enjoy the everyday is perhaps one of the greatest gifts of all.
And perhaps that’s what makes this conversation so special. It was a true pleasure to spend some time with Nerst and see the world through her eyes for a moment.
Enjoy!
Photos courtesy of Nerst
Your Instagram feels very curated but still human at the same time. There is beauty, aesthetics, and travel. How would you describe your own visual world?
You got me! Yes, I did it on purpose. Most of the time, it is for me. Instagram is one of my workspaces, and I want to enter this area and feel like, “Oh, I want to be here. I want to work here. I feel calm and focused.” When everyone enters my profile, I want them to be like, “This is Nerst. This is her vibe. This is who she is.”
I used to draw a lot when I was a kid — introverted, of course, and I loved art, music, etc. I got my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, and at the same time I also started my YouTube channel. Somehow, I became a beauty influencer, doing makeup tutorials and product reviews, and I’ve been doing this for 10 years.
In me, I’m still an artist. So I guess everything that I do and present to the world has my own perspective of seeing things, making them art, putting feelings into them, and doing things my way. That’s who I am.
What does beauty personally mean to you today?
Personally, beauty is everything. I find beauty everywhere I go, in everything I eat, and in everything I see on a daily basis. I can see one leaf and take 50 photos of it. (laughs) Believe me, sometimes I confuse many people around me, like, “Nerst, what are you doing? You take pictures of what?” And I love it. I love my eyes and how I see things.
There is a lot of pressure on women online to constantly improve themselves — body, skin, lifestyle, everything. Has your relationship to your own body changed through social media over the years?
If I can be honest? Yes, absolutely. As someone who uses social media for work, sometimes I did compare myself to others. Don’t get me wrong, I’m 151 cm and size M. Whenever my mood was low, sometimes I wanted to be taller so I could look good in many dresses.
Then, four years ago, I got serious back pain from working in front of my laptop for so many hours every day. After two years of trying to heal my back, I finally got back on track. I realized that being healthy is such a blessing — to be able to travel, walk, eat like a normal person. It is the greatest gift.
I also gained some good habits from social media, such as fitness content. I started going to the gym two years ago. I was never a gym person before, but I fell in love with this routine. I feel stronger, I can lift heavier — not to be skinny — and my mental and physical health feel amazing.
Social media can be positive and negative, so you have to choose wisely.
“Social media can be positive and negative, so you have to choose wisely.”
What are your thoughts on authenticity online today? Do you think it still exists?
Of course, I believe it still exists. If you are seeking authenticity, you are going to find your people. People are smart, you know. They can sense everything, true or fake. I’m not worried about that at all.
I do have influencer friends who are doing the same job, and we get along so well because we are honest with our followers about everything. It’s okay not to be perfect because nobody is.
Do you think people are slowly becoming more conscious again about ethics, quality, and intention in fashion?
Yes. Personally, I own so many basic and minimal pieces of clothing. I love seeing fashion grow. I used to buy so many fast fashion pieces, and I also used to buy a few high-end brands — I worked hard and got myself gifts. Then I changed. Being in my 30s feels different in a good way. I prefer quality over the brand or the price, plus I have to look good in it. (smiles)
Sometimes I also invest in expensive brands that I make sure I can wear many times. Like, girl, I love high heels, I love cosmetics — oh, I don’t want to count how much I spent. (laughs) However, I usually do what makes me happy, and I support everyone to do the same.
You are also the founder of NVYNasty. How did the idea for the brand first happen? Was there a specific moment where you felt: “I want to create something myself”?
I remember when I was around 18 years old, I wanted to study fashion design, but somehow I knew my parents couldn’t afford the price, so I ended up with Graphic Design, and I loved it too.
In Thailand, the beauty standard is to be white and skinny, and then people will call you pretty. Me? No, no, I don’t fit into that. Most fashion brands here run very, very small. I’m an international size M, but I wear size L or XL in Thailand, and most of the time they only sell S and M.
So I was like, “Yeah, maybe let’s create my own brand?” I wanted to make all sizes based on international sizes so many people like me could wear it. I got so many good reviews. People thanked me for making quality pieces, true to size, with an affordable price. I was so happy.
However, nowadays Thailand is much more open-minded about sizes. Many brands provide more sizes and plus sizes. I’m proud of my people. I want everyone to wear everything they want to.
“If you are seeking authenticity, you are going to find your people.”
What is more important to you while designing — aesthetics or emotion?
I would say aesthetics, emotion, quality, and function. I want everything, and I will make it happen. (smiles)
Your content also feels very international and inspired by travel. Which places have influenced your creativity the most so far?
You felt that too? Since I was a teenager, I listened to American music artists a lot, so I started to absorb some international cultures from that, I guess. Plus, my high school taught English and French, so it was necessary to learn their cultures.
Then, after graduation, I started to travel around the age of 23 — Asia, Europe, the United States, the Middle East — and I was so in love with traveling. The place where I can fully be myself is Bali, Indonesia. Wow, I feel like this place is my second home. I have been there five or six times already and it never feels enough. I love the culture, the architecture, and I can live in my swimsuit all day. Nature, jungle, beach, ocean — exactly what I need.
However, I have also been loving European fashion and Australian fashion. Very sophisticated.
Do you think traveling changes the way we see beauty?
Yes, absolutely! The look of people, the cultures, and everything changed my perspective. I learn new things every time I travel.
“It’s okay not to be perfect because nobody is.”
What inspires you more lately: people, cities, films, nature, books, or random everyday moments?
Everything, honestly. Besides traveling, I also like music and films. I try to finish my work around 6 pm, and then I turn on a movie or series to rest my brain from work a bit, since being a content creator means we create content pretty much all the time.
Lately, I continued watching Euphoria, and I got so much makeup and fashion inspiration that I want to try it all.
What is the most important thing in life?
Self-love. You know, as women, we work so hard to get what we want — career, money, fame — and to take care of everyone around us. Then our emotions can go down easily when it comes to, “What are others going to think of me?” Sometimes love plays such a big part in our lives that we take so much time to heal, or become so indecisive. We have been told to care so much about others, consequences, and responsibilities.
If I could go back to myself in my 20s, I would tell her that this is her life. What you can do is try to do your best every day for yourself. Love comes and goes, but you can always heal and love again. Take care of yourself. Don’t take too much time to be sad. Go out, do more of life, and use every second trying to make yourself happy.
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