What happens when the people we make famous actually succeed?
& the winner of the beauty products giveaway!
The winner of the beauty products giveaway is… Annie Finn!!! Congrats Annie, check your email so we can send you this iconic gift :)
I read all of the paid subscriber notes and they make me so happy! This one is a favorite, thank you Nitya (and I’m so impressed that you quit social media. I really need to do a detox…like now.)
In this letter:
An Italian-American seafood spot in Greenwich Village you must know about
My thoughts on the internet’s reaction to my friend and TikToker, Halley Kate buying a Hampton’s house and car
A must watch video if you’re feeling imposter syndrome
& so much more, duh.
Okay, let’s dive in.
REPORT ✨
Reading: Mieko Kawakami’s “Breasts and Eggs”. The number one spot on my bucket list to visit is none other than Japan. When it comes to Japanese culture, I often hear about its fearless cuisine, gorgeous Shinto and Buddhist temples, and award-winning anime. What you might not know is that female writers, unlike some of the best Japanese male writers (like my personal favorite, Haruki Murakami) have had a much harder time getting published. This is not surprising in the context of Japanese society, where women still have a long way to go when it comes to women’s rights. So I was delighted to stumble upon this book, which is Mieko’s first book to be translated into English and hailed as a “feminist masterpiece”. It depicts the lives of women in contemporary Japan and their struggles to not conform with the pressures imposed on them.
Eating: San Sabino located in the West Village. This wife & husband team is the same team behind Don Angie (known for their famous lasagna!) San Sabino’s menu is focused on Italian-American seafood and handmade pastas, and holy shit it’s good. I recommend ordering the Cheesy Frittelle and the Grilled Coho Salmon. For my beverage choice, I slurped up The Benny Spicy House Margarita with prickly pear & Italian bergamot – it comes in a fun glass! Enjoy.
Proud of: Halley Kate.
If you’ve ever felt imposter syndrome, watch Reshma Saujani’s speech. I dislike the term “imposter syndrome” because it suggests you’re pretending to be something you’re not. The SFK school of thought believes you define your identity, your plot, and your place in the world.
Saujani says, “when as many as 82% of women report feeling imposter syndrome, it’s hard to believe it is just about individuals. Imposter syndrome is the result of structural inequality, not individual inadequacy.”
I’ve always wanted to write a feature film but felt inadequate. My dad is a screenwriter. He is committed to writing, day after day, and growing up, I doubted I could be as disciplined as him. When I started my outline, I felt delusional for thinking I could write a movie. Delusional means “holding false beliefs or judgments,” which is why I’m slightly uncomfortable with the popularization of the term “delulu.” It feels like a manifestation of imposter syndrome.
Why do women feel the need to state a goal of theirs by adding “delulu” in front of it? For example, saying something like “I know I’m delulu but I want to become a homeowner one day” instead of just saying, “one day I will become a homeowner.”
Speaking of “delulu”, this made me think of my friend Halley Kate, a 24-year-old TikToker who went viral this week due to the fact that she bought a house in the Hamptons and a new car…
If you don’t know Halley, she creates content about sex, dating, and living in NYC. She’s like the Carrie Bradshaw to my Samantha Jones, if you will. And the name of Halley’s podcast is “Delusional Diaries”. When I met Halley, we became fast friends, but it wasn’t until I went on a brand trip with her that I realized this girl is anything but delusional.
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