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For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic was a time of uncertainty, fear, and staying indoors. But for Nadia, it was the moment everything changed.
What started as a long-awaited wish to own a pet soon turned into something much bigger: a whole new life, career, and purpose, all thanks to one golden retriever named Reggie.
A dream she waited years for
Growing up, Nadia had always wanted a pet. But there was one problem: her mum was allergic to both dogs and cats.
So the dream remained as a dream, and it wasn’t until after Nadia got married that the idea resurfaced again. Even then, the timing never seemed right.
“There’s always something going on, and me and my husband often felt we were too busy.
“When the pandemic happened, suddenly all the excuses disappeared,” she recalled.
Love at first millisecond
The pandemic was at its early stages in April 2020, Nadia finally got her dream fulfilled when she got Reggie.
But the experience wasn’t what she had expected.
“I didn’t meet Reggie in person, and I chose him based on the photos that were sent to me. After I made online payment, he was delivered to my home in a box.
“It was also raining that day. My husband brought the box inside, and when Reggie’s head popped out, it was love at first sight. Actually, love at first millisecond,” she quipped.
As a first-time dog owner, Nadia wanted to give Reggie the best life possible.
But she quickly realised that it was hard to find information about pet-friendly places in Malaysia as some preferred to gatekeep their “hidden gems” to avoid crowds.
Being the solution
Thus, Nadia decided to do something about it and become the solution to the problem.
“I started bringing Reggie out to cafes, on trips, and even on a ferry ride to Langkawi, which I later shared online.
“At first, I was creating content about digital marketing as that was my professional background. But I noticed that whenever I posted about marketing, the content would perform poorly.
“But when it came to Reggie, it would blow up and achieve record numbers,” she said.
Like any good marketer would do, Nadia began following the data and started to make more content with Reggie as the star.
It eventually proved to be the right move because within just six months, she landed her first brand deal.
Around the same time, Nadia was going through a difficult period in her life in the form of her mother falling ill and losing a loved one.
“That was when I truly realised how short life was. I then decided to quit my corporate job and gave myself a 12-month time frame to create content full-time.
“If it doesn’t work out, at least I tried,” she added.
That was nearly two years ago. And today, it has paid off big time.
Building a life around Reggie
Nadia is now a full-time pet content creator, something she never imagined for herself as an MBA holder from a top business school.
Her days mostly revolve around idea curation, filming, editing, and sharing moments with Reggie.
“Instead of overthinking content ideas, I encourage people to start with what they’re already doing.
“My advice would be this: whatever you’re doing with your pet at home, just record it.”
Nadia also constantly learns and upgrades herself, even becoming a certified canine nutritionist so she can create better content and recipes for pets.
“It was never about going viral. Before posting anything, I’d always ask myself this: “Is this helpful or entertaining?”
Perhaps that’s why her content resonates with so many, from pet-friendly travel tips to unique recipes using ingredients people wouldn’t usually think of for dogs.
‘Your pet’s world is as big as you make it’
For Nadia, Reggie didn’t just become her pet. He changed the entire direction of her life.
And she’s also a firm believer that pets are family who deserve a full, happy life.
“This is the reason why I bring Reggie everywhere to explore, experience, and simply enjoy life together. When he’s happy, I’m happy.”
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