In Episode 35,  we sit down with Hemali Mistry as we dive into an unfiltered conversation about mental health, birth control, the struggle of being a first-gen child and the effects social media can have on our lives. 

You may know Hemali from her page, Ready to Glow, but the Canadian native wants you to know that she has more to bring to the table than just her picture perfect make-up skills. 

Hemali invites us into her world as she opens up about her bouts with mental health issues, depression and anxiety. She shares with us where these issues stem from and the reason why she decided to open up about this so publicly. 

Suffering from menstrual issues, Hemali has tried everything to find a solution for her pain. That's where birth control comes in or as Zaina likes to call it, "The Devil." We share our own personal experiences with birth control and the negative effects it has had on our bodies, our mental health and the strain it has put on our personal relationships. 

We also discuss the struggles that only first-generation kids would know of. Especially, if this first-gen decides to pursue an unconventional career (creatives, we're talking about you)! Our parents have always wanted the best for us, but how do we explain to them that what they want and what they sometimes force upon us, isn't actually what's meant for us? Hemali has found herself in that situation far too many times. She walks us through how she handles the pressure she receives from her parents, even until today. 

Smile, put a filter on it, and then post. As much as we love it, it's easy to admit that social media isn't always the best (or healthiest) way we should spend our time.  As an influencer with more than 200k followers, Hemali explains how she avoids getting too caught up in the online world, and how she's learning to navigate life both on and off social media.  

Throughout this conversation, Hemali has taught us that being open and honest with our struggles can help us in our healing process. We hope you all can benefit from her humble wisdom. 

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Hemali on Instagram: @ready.to.glow
Watch her on Youtube: @Ready To Glow