We at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center are excited to highlight student entrepreneurs and share their personal experiences, achievements, and brilliant insights. We invite you to join us as we celebrate these ANTrepreneurs and get inspired by their stories.
In a world that’s increasingly driven by social media, “going viral” can completely transform a creator’s life. This is certainly the case for Henna Noor, (UC Irvine Class of 2024, Psychology and Pre-Dentistry) who recently went viral on Instagram and Tik Tok for her funny take on an introvert retreating to solitude during a party. With over 50 million views across platforms, this video has thrust Henna into the spotlight online.
However, Henna is far more than one viral video. She is also podcast host and a long-term mental health advocate who uses her platform to facilitate candid conversations on mental illness and to create safe spaces for those who experience mental health struggles.
To share insight on her mental health and social media journey, Henna recently sat down with Ryan Foland, Director of the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, for a quick interview.
Ryan: Ahoy and welcome, Henna! Thank you for sitting down with me today. To start us off, I know you recently had a post go viral with over 50 million views. Can you tell us more about that post and what you think contributed to its popularity?
Henna: Happy to be here, Ryan! My viral post on Instagram and Tik Tok is about me retreating to a secret corner in my house after partying with my mom for 12 hours (no exaggeration). The comments were full of individuals relating to my need for a safe space when needing to get away from hustle bustle culture or party animal families.
Funnily enough, my mom kept the party going after I retreated to the secret room and even left at one point to attend another party just to come back to the party she was hosting. I could never! Thankfully, my followers relate to my situation and can’t get enough of the “other world” I possess, since it also reminds many of them of the secret tunnel from Coraline.
Ryan: It’s crazy how a video can take off like that. How has the viral success impacted your presence on social media?
Henna: This post has changed the entire tone of my social media presence and has finally put me on the map in the world of mental health and silly memes. Because of this viral reel, all of my other posts have surpassed 10K views, and I am just a few followers away from reaching 10K! After surpassing 10K followers, you’re able to tap into the Creator Fund.
My increase in followers has also allowed me to start going live on Tik Tok which has helped me create loyal viewers and followers that tune in daily for advice, stories, and a safe space to vent.
Ryan: Going viral is so many creators’ goal, but I’m sure it comes with unexpected challenges. What was that experience like for you?
Henna: When going viral, no one talks about how overwhelming it actually is. Thankfully, most of my comments are either positive or neutral; but with 50 million views, there’s bound to be a sea of hate comments and trolls that flood in. You could be the most perfect person in the world and still receive hate comments because it has absolutely nothing to do with you. If you’re feminine-identifying, people will comment on your body to criticize and objectify you.
Going from few to millions of engagements on my account was something that my brain initially couldn’t get enough of. A dopamine vortex of notifications awaits you, and it’s too easy to get sucked into your phone for hours, laughing at comments, posting, doom scrolling, or getting upset with others. When you go viral, you have to be prepared for this and create some kind of social media use schedule for your own sanity. Do not go on your phone right after you wake up or before you go to sleep. Create a peaceful ritual that you can rely on and try to build a strong head for yourself or you will go insane. Truly, your self care should be your number one priority, because only when your cup is full can you then serve others.
Ryan: This is great advice, which makes sense considering you host a podcast focused on helping others. Let’s talk a little bit about Henna’s Corner. What inspired you to start the podcast, and has your viral video impacted it in any way?
Henna: When I was a teenager, I struggled severely with my mental health. I went to boarding school at the time, and I was actually kicked out for struggling too much mentally. I bounced around from hospitals to live-in treatment programs while juggling different medications. During this time, I desperately wanted to find someone that would openly talk about going through severe mental illness and coming out of it stronger. I could only find one man online that talked about it at the time, but it was enough for me to cling on to the hope that I too would find some peace amidst my struggle.
Fast forward to now, I started my own mental health podcast so that I could shed light on the topic and bring people together. Although the conversation around mental health has gotten better, it’s still not talked about enough. My podcast was originally called Begin Again with Henna, but after my viral secret room/introvert corner reel, I renamed it to Henna’s Corner.
Ryan: How has your journey as a podcast host been so far? What are some memorable moments or episodes that stand out to you?
Henna: My journey has been one of perseverance and blind faith! I actually started podcasting in 2020 when I started You Are Not Alone in 2020. This podcast transitioned into Begin Again with Henna in 2023, which has since been renamed Henna’s Corner. The purpose of this podcast is to offer a space for deep conversations and reflection while I explore different nooks and secret rooms in video format.
An episode that stands out to me is the one where I detail my medication journey, since it is a winding one, and I found that many people were curious about and could relate deeply to this topic.
Ryan: It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there, especially when it comes to talking about things as personal as mental health. I admire your ability to use your struggles to create a safe space for your audience. What advice would you give to students who want to start posting on social media or creating their own podcasts but don’t know how to connect with their audiences?
Henna: CONSISTENCY IS KEY! If you’re unsure of what to post, that’s okay. Just post and show up anyway! Quality is always better, but it’s usually the posts we don’t give a second glance at that end up performing extremely well. I was actually on a short break from posting on socials due to being consumed with school, and the first reel I posted after my break was my viral secret room video.
For podcasting, I’d say keep your podcast engaging, interact with your audience, ask them questions, and shout them out. Create a logo to include in the corner of each video episode that you do (video episodes are top tier), and the best thing that you can do is stick to a reliable posting schedule for both you and your followers.
Ryan: Where can people find your podcast and follow you on social media?
Henna: The best place to stream Henna’s Corner is on Spotify, as I upload video episodes there directly. For audio only, it is available on all other streaming platforms such as Apple and Amazon Music.
Please feel free to reach out to me on social media. If you have any questions or need advice, let me be your big sister! My instagram is @hennanoor_, and my TikTok is @beginagainwithhenna.
Ryan: Thank you again for sitting down with me, Henna! To close this out, do you have any final thoughts or messages you’d like to share with our audience?
Henna: Never give up! Pursuing your passions means that people will judge you, you may lose friends, and your relationships will change. But none of that matters as long as you remain true to yourself. Only when you help yourself can you help others. Get to know yourself, inside and out. Stand up for yourself, pamper yourself, take yourself on dates often. Reduce interaction with people in your life that drain your energy, and then keep going anyway. The only difference between someone that’s made it in a certain field and someone that didn’t is that the person who made it actually kept going. You’ve got this!
Be sure to follow Henna on Instagram and Tik Tok to keep up with her journey. If you are interested in launching your own podcast, check out the podcast studio at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center.
Visit the ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, funding, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.