Nara Smith: ‘The Comments and the Hate Got to Me. I Was Crying Every Single Day.’ The REAL Story Behind Her Viral Persona, Online Criticism & Discovering Her Self-Worth
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Intro
This chapter emphasizes the significance of making intentional daily choices, like cooking at home, to achieve meaningful goals. It also highlights personalized insurance options and introduces products that support a lifestyle focused on strength and personal care.
Have you been pretending to be okay?
Is there something you’ve been keeping inside?
Today, Jay welcomes model, digital creator, and mother of three, Nara Smith, for an intimate conversation that blends vulnerability, wisdom, and humility. Known online for her serene ASMR-style cooking videos and elevated fashion-forward kitchen aesthetic, Nara opens up about the personal journey that shaped her—from her childhood in Germany to signing with IMG Models at just 14. Together, Jay and Nara explore the gap between her curated online image and her lived experience, touching on childhood influences, struggles with body image, and the courage it took to forge a creative career on her own terms.
Nara candidly opens up about the physical and emotional toll of working in the modeling industry at such a young age, the silent battles with her body through eczema and lupus, and how motherhood reshaped her priorities. She shares how cooking from scratch became a lifeline, first as a necessity to manage her health, then as a passion, and eventually as a business. As she and Jay reflect on marriage, communication, and the complexities of being modern, working mom, Nara’s groundedness and clarity shine through. Nara opens up about her love story with Lucky Blue Smith—their whirlwind but intentional path to marriage—and the beautifully messy reality of raising three kids. It’s a powerful reminder that real joy and purpose come from living true to yourself.
In this interview, you'll learn:
How to Balance Career, Motherhood, and Marriage
How to Heal Through Food and From-Scratch Cooking
How to Set Healthy Boundaries on Social Media
How to Communicate Better in a Relationship
How to Stay Grounded in a Fast-Paced World
How to Know When You’ve Met the Right Partner
How to Handle Online Criticism with Grace
No matter where you are in your journey, whether you’re building a career, navigating relationships, chasing a dream, or simply trying to keep up with life’s daily demands, remember this: you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold to be worthy.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
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What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
02:16 Blending a Love for Fashion and Cooking
04:44 The Grandmother Who Shaped Her Life
07:57 Starting a Modeling Career at 14
09:15 How to Put Confidence Before Comparison
10:02 Protecting Kids from the Dangers of the Online World
11:59 How Early Parental Trust Can Fuel Success
12:49 Why You Should Never Sacrifice Your Health
14:03 Finding Real Love in the Digital World
17:01 How Modern Dating Has Evolved
18:55 Making Young Marriage Work
21:51 The Power of Knowing What You Want
23:45 Building a Relationship on Shared Values
26:30 Marriage Is Both Collaboration and Compromise
29:45 Why Fast-Paced Dating Doesn’t Work
30:54 Working Together to Strengthen Your Relationship
33:31 Communication Is Key to Connection
35:56 Becoming a Parent on Your Own Timeline
38:29 Your Life, Your Choices
42:18 Own and Celebrate Your Path
44:05 Don’t Let People’s Projections Define You
47:32 What You See Online Isn’t the Whole Truth
50:02 Facing Online Negativity with Strength
52:05 Other’s Opinions Don’t Determine Your Worth
53:25 Choosing What to Share and What to Keep Private
56:10 How Food and Diet Can Transform Your Health
01:00:29 Finding Joy and Creativity in Cooking
01:01:24 How Her Online Persona Was Born
01:04:05 The Reality Behind the Content
01:06:48 Simple Daily Habits That Strengthen a Relationship
01:09:44 Tackling the Hard Stuff with Joy
01:13:04 Dressing for Confidence and Productivity
01:17:58 Living Life on Your Own Terms
01:20:23 Nara on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Nara Smith | TikTok
Nara Smith | Instagram
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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