For thousands of followers across Pakistan and beyond, @TiredDesiMom is more than a lifestyle creator – Qurrat ul Ain (Annie) Azhar is a refreshing reminder that authenticity still has a place on social media. Known for her colourful DIY projects, home transformations, practical recommendations, and candid glimpses into everyday motherhood, she has built a community rooted in relatability rather than perfection.

What many people may not know is that 36-year-old influencer's journey began during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Navigating the challenges of raising two young children, she found herself struggling with her mental health, much like many young mothers out there. In the midst of that emotional turmoil, she created a page that reflected exactly how she felt: tired, overwhelmed, and trying her best. The name “Tired Desi Mom” wasn't a branding strategy – it was her reality.

Over the years, that reality resonated with countless women. Through DIY tutorials, home improvement projects, and honest conversations about motherhood, Annie challenged the idea that women should stay away from tools, paint brushes, and hands-on work. Her content encouraged followers to pick up a drill, repaint a wall, fix a switch, and most importantly, believe in their own capabilities.

Today, despite her growing influence, she remains committed to showing the imperfect side of life – the mess, the chaos, and the everyday moments that often go unseen online. Whether she's transforming a room on a budget, balancing content creation with family life, or inspiring women to step outside their comfort zones, her message remains consistent: ordinary women are capable of extraordinary things.

In a candid conversation with MAG, she opens up about her journey, the challenges of sharing life online, the lessons she's learned along the way, and the dream she hopes to build in the years ahead. Excerpts:

SK: How did your journey as “@tireddesimom” begin, and what inspired the name?
AA: I had just lost my father, and soon after, my daughter was born. Raising two small kids with no maika took an extreme toll on my mental health and that's when, one day I created a page online; this page was born out of depression. I named it "Tired Desi Mom" because it summed up exactly how I felt: I was tired, I was a mom, and I added 'desi' so mothers from Pakistan and South Asia could instantly relate to me and my journey.

SK: What does a typical day in your life look like behind the scenes?
AA: I’m an early riser, so my day starts with fajr [prayers] then prepping kids for school and the school run. I come back, have breakfast, hit the gym, and back home around 11. If cooking is on the agenda, I head to the kitchen otherwise, I work on content before the kids return. Once they’re home, it’s homework, assignments, tests, snacks, and [my] full-time mom mode [is turned on]. Content creation goes on all day simultaneously.

SK: Lifestyle blogging can sometimes create pressure to appear “perfect.” How do you stay grounded and genuine online?
AA: I actually dislike the “perfect life” image social media often sells. I love showing the chaos behind the scenes because every home has mess, problems, and imperfect moments.

SK: What kind of content do you enjoy creating the most?
AA: Definitely DIY and home projects! Years ago, I painted my entire kitchen myself using chalk paint when hardly anyone was talking about it. That colourful kitchen and pink lounge wall became my identity online. I've transformed so many spaces in my home, ab koi deewar, koi kona bacha nahi (no corner of my home is left untouched).

SK: Have there been moments when sharing your life online became emotionally challenging?
AA: Yessssss. When my content started going viral in the very start, people began recognising my children everywhere. Then came the family pressure regarding privacy. That's when I made the decision to go faceless, and honestly, it was one of the best decisions I've made.

SK: What has been the most rewarding response or message you’ve received from your followers?
AA: My recommendations are often a hit, and I get a lot of encourging dms on that however, when I get messages from women saying, “Apko dekh ke I painted my bed (you inspired me to paint my bed myself),” or “I fixed my wall” or even “I changed a switch by myself!” honestly, those messages make me extremely happy!

SK: What are some misconceptions people have about influencers or lifestyle bloggers?
AA: That our homes are always spotless, our kids are always well-behaved, our husbands are angels and our lives are perfect. Trust me, we’re normal people with lots of daily problems and chaos. We just happen to share the little curated moments online.

SK: How do you decide what parts of your personal life to share and what to keep private?
AA: Honestly, it really depends on where I am mentally. Some days I’m in full sharing mode; breakfast, gym, kids, chaos, everything! Other days, I just go quiet and keep things to myself. Over time, I’ve learned what to share and what to hold back. One rule I always try to follow is: never post when you’re angry or emotional.

SK: Which creators or experiences have influenced your style of storytelling and content creation?
AA: More than creators, it’s my own blogging journey that shaped me. I always knew I could speak well, but along the way I learned what clicks, what’s boring, and what actually grabs attention. [There was] lots of observing, experimenting and just figuring it out as I went. That’s how I became who I am today.

SK: What advice would you give to women and moms who want to start creating content online but feel hesitant?
AA: Just start. People might laugh, question you, or even discourage you. But every creator starts somewhere. If you wait to get some confidence, you'll be waiting forever. Start first, confidence will follow. Jitna karogay utna seekho gay (you will learn as much as you try).

SK: I personally find your content really inspirational as a woman. We don't often get taught home improvement skills. Who taught these to you?
AA: My father-in-law! He's incredibly skilled and can fix or build almost anything. My sister-in-law is equally talented, I jokingly call her my “evil nand” she's annoyingly good at everything. Watching both of them inspired me to pick up tools and start learning.

SK: What encouraged you to focus your content on home improvement? Were you worried women might find it unrelatable?
AA: Not at all worried. In fact, [I was] very excited because I knew there were hardly any Pakistani female content creators painting walls all by themselves. So when I finally got my own floor [to live] in the house, we had a lot to set up but not a huge budget. To save money, I decided to do things myself. I would spend up to 15 hours-a-day working on setting up every room, and it majorly involved painting walls and furniture. I had a very thhaka hua (low quality) phone and almost no tripod but still recorded everything and posted [online]. And my videos went viral!

SK: How would you encourage women to learn these skills?
AA: Start small. Buy a basic tool kit and try fixing little things around the house yourself. [Using] the internet makes learning easier than ever. Once you start, you'll be surprised by how EMPOWERING it feels.

SK: Which project/accomplishment are you most proud of?
AA: There are two actually - setting up my multicolour kitchen [which] was a mammoth task, and I did it all by myself even when everyone else had doubts about it, when it was completed, everyone was in awe! Secondly, I won the Best Affiliate Influencer of the Year Award some time back. It was a huge achievement for me to win [one of] the biggest awards in the country.

SK: Looking ahead, what goals or dreams do you have for your platform and personal brand?
AA: I’d love to launch my own brand one day, don’t know exactly what yet, I’m just waiting for the right time (and for my kids to grow up a bit so they can help out).

SK: Finally, if your followers could remember one thing about you, what would you want it to be?
AA: That us ordinary women can do EVERYTHING EXTRAORDINARY if we set our mind to it.