Today we’d like to introduce you to Joty Kay.
Joty, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was always really witty and outspoken. The small town I lived in wasn’t very welcoming of that. I grew up in a small town where there was a prominent Indian Community. Everyone followed a path that was “right” If you didn’t follow that path, you were looked down upon. I was pretty much the black sheep I want to say. I remember I took a semester off from College and Vine was popular back then. I made some funny videos that blew up and helped me gain 100,000 followers. I didn’t even know that was possible.
I started getting hosting gigs, brand deals, and some other cool opportunities. I featured In a popular Indo Canadian web series Anarkali, it did really well and got picked up by on a tv station in England. After a dark moment in my life, I moved to Los Angeles to start a new beginning. I felt like I wasn’t focused and wasn’t living up to my full potential back home. I then had a friend introduce Podcasting to me. He suggested I start my own show. I bought a microphone that day, but it sat in my closet for almost a year. Then one day, I googled ways to start a podcast and how to post them on sites. I came then I recorded my first show, and it hit 10,000 listens. I just kept going and six months later, I got picked up by Rukus Avenue Radio, Dash Radio’s first South Asian Station. It’s only up from here.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish It was a smooth road. After college, before I moved to LA, my life took a huge turn. I found out my dad was using drugs. I always had a feeling, but he had drastically changed as a person and that’s when I knew. I dropped all my dreams and focused on trying to better him and our family. I starting working so I could help my Mom and myself. I realized who was really there for me and who wasn’t. So I stopped hanging out with friends, To make up for not hanging out with friends, I would make funny videos to escape reality, I got to be happy when I wasn’t, I was really depressed. My Dad and I were super close, but he soon became my enemy. The environment in my home was becoming so hostile that I was starting to doubt my life and potential. I then decided I need to leave and live my life. I then moved to LA, but I felt really guilty for doing so. I felt like I abandoned my family, but I realized it was for the better. I definitely struggled when I first moved to LA. I stayed with friends, random people at times. I worked two jobs. I some times thought I wasn’t going to make it in LA. But here I am.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As a brand, what sets me apart from others, I would say is experience. Our experiences is what make us who we are. I am always told that people love my bold personality and F U attitude. That didn’t happen overnight. Experiences is what has made me into the bold person I am today. I have been in the situations I talk about on my show. That’s why show is called Joty Kay UNCUT. That’s what you’re going to get, raw material. Being Indian, there are so many societal pressures that come along with the decisions we make. I feel like a lot of girls need a strong personality to look up to for that reason. I want them to feel they are not alone because I use to feel like I was. I also have a great sense of humor. I take pride in making others laugh through comedy skits. I think I mastered that in my role as “Navi” in the web series Anarkali. I love being the UNCUT version of myself. That’s how I want others to perceive me.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Staying positive and motivated. I know a lot of people, myself included, get discouraged sometimes by social media. Everyone on there posts the best version of themselves. The best pictures, the best experiences, achievements, awards and that sometimes make me feel like I am behind. We have to remember no one is posting their struggles or failures. This is not a race. Work hard, stay motivated and keep it pushing, that’s my motto.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jotykayworld.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instgram.com/jotykay
- Facebook: facebook.com/jotykay
- Twitter: twitter.com/jotykay
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