For those of you who don’t know, LesRebelleSquad is a fashion and lifestyle blog. Pooja is a fashion stylist and influencer who has been working with a number of brands based in Qatar. She has a very unique style and is definitely one of the most stylish women I have met here in Doha.
I approached Pooja for an interview and was so glad that she was happy to take out time for my blog. I first met her at the Grazia Live event and we had a brief (read me being an introvert and acting awkward) introduction. Since I had a camera and was taking random pictures, she asked me if I could take some pictures of her and I absolutely LOVED shooting her!! Since then, she is one of the faces that I had been eager to shoot!
I had so much fun meeting her, one on one for coffee/tea and the photoshoot for this interview. What I love about this section is that I get to know the ‘real’ people behind the faces we see on social media. No matter how stylish and fashionable she looks, Pooja is a very simple and humble girl next door! We had a fun afternoon and I found out that her mum’s ancestors hailed from Karachi (my hometown!).
Here it is for you guys – an up close and personal conversation with Pooja, to know a little bit more about LesRebelleSquad and her journey.
Q: Tell us something about yourself? Who is Pooja in real life? Tell us about your expat life, from London –Kuwait –Doha.
Pooja: I have a fashion merchandising degree and so it will come as no surprise that fashion was always my main focus and still is! Originally from London, I once lived in NY city for 6 months and the Middle East was never part of the plan! I moved with my Husband to Kuwait 4 years ago and had worked as a Buyer for Harvey Nichols Kuwait before moving to Doha two years ago for his job. 
Q: How did you enter the blogosphere? Tell us about the LesRebellesSquad journey? I understand you started it with your friend Tina? What inspired you guys to start the blog? How long have you been blogging for?
Pooja: My friend Tina and I started the blog as we both left Kuwait around the same time and we were excited to share our adventures whilst also remaining connected to our friends back in Kuwait and back home. It was a lifestyle, travel, expat style blog to begin with. After around a year we both discovered our own passions and did separate things whilst continuing to support each other. The blog had evolved to a more Doha based audience featuring street style and lifestyle and its been going for two years now.
Q: How would you describe your own personal style?
Pooja: My style is colourful, adventurous and unique. I aspire to wear luxury but do often create those looks from the high street.
Q: What is your number one fashion inspiration?
Pooja: In this day and age when you can get almost anything from high end to high street I can honestly say that I just love vintage fashion. I am an 80’s child as I was born then and it still remains a huge inspiration to me! You will catch me in vintage stores in the UK, raiding my mums closet and looking at magazines for my main inspiration.
Q: What is your biggest fashion pet peeve?
Pooja: I really hate when women have really cool fashionable clothes sitting in their closet which are unworn! I also can’t stand seeing labels which are still stuck on the bottom of a shoe! I know women all over the world wear all black head to toe but I live my life in colour and could never do it!
Q: How does it feel to be recognized for your work? You were recently in the Qatar Airways Oryx magazine and was also nominated for Grazia Style awards for Blogger of the Year 2017?
Pooja: I was really excited to be part of the nominees for this year’s GSA alongside some fantastic influencers in Doha. It made me realise how many people supported me and sometimes you need a reminder of why you started everything in the first place! The Oryx magazine was a great opportunity and I was lucky to have been chosen by them. Puts my name out there on another scale! All of the recognition comes as a bit of a surprise sometimes, I know there is a lot of talent out there and I am glad to be part of the running, it connects me with so many inspiring women around the world.
Q: What do you love most about blogging and what you find challenging?
Pooja: I love everything about blogging, I am thankful for having had some really cool experiences through my blog such as working with fashion brands I admire, collaborating with women I admire and learn from and getting the most awesome gifts is surely a perk. Honestly speaking, the technology parts can be challenging at times. If I could say the most challenging part would be editing my youtube videos, and working on website building. The other thing I find which can be a challenge as a blogger would be to post and publish on time and making time for writing my blog.
Q: Can you walk us through a typical day for you?
Pooja: Every day is not the same but in general I would start my morning by checking my Instagram and catching up on any comments on my posts. I spend a lot of time on Instagram, probably too much! I get inspiration for the day and decide on my focus area – whether it is working on my youtube videos or working on a blog and make time to do the work – which will take me up to lunchtime. I would maybe have an event later that day so I would start thinking about what to wear and whether I can achieve my deadline. If I was doing a photoshoot that day I would also do it later, in the golden hour!
Q: What’s the biggest tip you have for anyone wanting to start a fashion blog? What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Pooja: Follow your passion and dreams! If you really enjoy what you do, work hard and put in the hours. It will eventually pay off. The best advice I received is to never give up!
Q: What is one thing your readers would be surprised to hear?
Pooja: Until a few months ago, 90% of my photography was taken on my husbands Samsung galaxy edge and edited up to look like a better quality photo. I only just got my first camera but I’m proud of what we both achieve with so very little resource. The other thing is I don’t shop all the time as I would have no money! I just style my clothes differently.
Q: What’s next for you?
Pooja: I am building my own website.. coming soon! More vlogs! I just love them but it takes time to create them. I am so so excited about some upcoming brand collaborations with some cool brands so stay tuned!
Pooja’s Favorites
TV Show/Movie: SATC the show / Amelie the movie
Book/Novel: I used to love and relate to Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Blog: Man Repeller
Activity with Family: Long walks / Visiting MIA at sunset
Travel Destination: Thailand stole my heart most recently
Daily Wear Attire: Jeans with anything!
Heels or Flats?: Heels
MUST-Have Accessory: Pearls!
Perfume: Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood
Hair Stylist/Salon: Glow Salon – West Bay Lagoon Street
Designer: Dresses by Self Portrait
High Street Store: Zara and Mango
Fashion Magazine: Harpers Bazaar
Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn
Thank you, Pooja for taking the time out for doing this for my blog.
You can follow Pooja on
Website: http://lesrebellessquad.blogspot.qa/
Insta: @lesrebellesquad
Twitter: @lesrebellesquad
Youtube: @LesRebelleSquad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesrebellesquad/
DIARY OF A PMP MOM 