Zoya: The Iconic Gay Persian Content Creator Who Took Over Shark Tank!

Author: Ourselves
Published: Thu 06 Mar 2025
Episode Link: https://ourselves.podbean.com/e/zoya-the-gay-persian-content-creator-who-took-over-shark-tank/

From Persian family pressure to Shark Tank success!

Zoya was expected to follow the traditional Middle Eastern path—become a lawyer, get married, and live the “perfect” Persian life. But she had other plans. As a gay Persian entrepreneur, Zoya had to fight against cultural expectations, family struggles, and self-doubt to build her own empire.

In this episode, we dive into:

✔️ How Zoya’s parents reacted when she came out as gay

✔️ The pressures of being Middle Eastern & breaking tradition

✔️ How she built a food empire from scratch (and made $$$ from content!)

✔️ The dark truth about raw fish & why she stopped eating sushi

✔️ Her insane Shark Tank journey and what happened behind the scenes

Watch till the end to hear Zoya’s message to anyone struggling to live their truth!

00:00 Intro

02:07 Cultural Expectations and Career Choices

16:18 Challenges of Being Gay in a Persian Family

34:28 Coming Out to Family

44:57 Reflections on Luck and Life

46:43 Reflecting on Life's Luck and Fate

47:37 The Lottery of Life

49:16 The Culinary Journey Begins

51:05 From Social Enterprise to Culinary Ventures

55:06 The Birth of Fish Foods

57:58 Challenges and Triumphs in the Vegan Sushi World

01:07:41 Shark Tank Experience and Future Goals

01:19:23 Discussing the Deal: Behind the Scenes

01:20:22 Shark Tank Experience: Expectations vs Reality

01:22:52 Challenges in the Food Industry

01:25:44 Restaurant Business: The Real Struggle

01:32:44 Content Creation: The New Frontier

01:34:16 Collaborations with Gordon Ramsay

01:39:13 Future Plans and Advice for Aspiring Creators

01:52:50 The Value of Engagement Over Follower Count

01:53:34 Earnings and Niche Differences for Content Creators

01:54:27 Negotiating Deals and Knowing Your Worth

01:55:20 Challenges of Sponsored Content

01:55:52 The Importance of Authenticity

02:00:02 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

02:17:41 Personal Reflections and Future Plans