Meet Zae Camara

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zae Camara. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zae below.

Hi Zae, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I don’t think I “found” my purpose in the traditional sense. I didn’t sit down one day and figure it out. For me, it was more like it found me. Every time I prayed for clarity, every time I surrendered, and every time I trusted God even when nothing made sense, things started aligning on their own.

My purpose revealed itself through the doors that opened when I wasn’t even looking, the gifts and talents I posses, that I genuinely, no matter how hard I tried to fight it off, simply could not ignore. There was also a deep sense of peace I felt when I followed what was placed in front of me. I just kept moving with faith, and the path kept getting clearer.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, by Guinean parents who worked tirelessly to give my siblings and me a comfortable life. Everything I create is shaped by that environment — the grit, the faith, the ambition, the style, and the culture are all deeply embedded in who I am today. I’ve embraced every part of my journey because each chapter shaped the woman I am today. I work across culinary arts, wellness, and fashion, and each part of my work grew naturally over time through prayer, intuition, and trusting God’s timing.

I started by sharing simple cooking videos from my home, and within months my audience grew from a few thousand to over 270,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. That response led me to launch ZaesKitchen, where I’ve published two cookbooks rooted in comfort, culture, and creating meals that feel like home. After that, I expanded into wellness with ZCNutrition, a space dedicated to sustainable, realistic nutrition and supporting people through healthy lifestyle habits. I’m currently in the final stretch of nutrition school and should soon receive my certification as a certified nutrition coach — wellness and nutrition have become deep passions of mine, especially because I come from a background where proper nutrition is often overlooked.

I also co-founded THBRWNBRAND with my sister — a modest fashion brand built on clean, timeless, and intentional style. What started as our personal journey with modesty and identity has grown into a brand designed to empower women through clothing that feels effortless, elegant, and true to who they are. We recently launched our very first collection, marking an exciting milestone in bringing our vision to life.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

My faith is the foundation that keeps me grounded. It gives me strength, perspective, and the patience to keep moving forward, even when things get tough.

Perseverance comes next. There are moments when it feels impossible, moments when I think about giving up, walking away, and living a “normal” life. But then I remind myself that God wouldn’t have placed me on this amazing path to greatness if I wasn’t fully equipped to handle it.

The final is acceptance — the ability to accept what is and what is not. Learning to embrace reality, even when it’s not exactly what I envisioned, has been truly transformative.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple

1. Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t ever compare yourself to anyone else — only compare yourself to the version of YOU from yesterday.
2. Whatever is meant for you, will never ever miss you. So truly trust in that.
3. The advice you’d offer someone you love during their hardest moments is the same compassion you owe yourself every single day. Speak light into yourself, speak goodness into yourself — the tongue is very powerful, and what you believe about yourself becomes your reality. Be gentle with yourself and always give yourself grace. There is no such thing as failure — only redirection. Every “setback” is simply a step closer to success, so treat yourself with so much kindness along the way.

Bonus: The sun will always shine again. I say that with the upmost certainty. I’ve said it once but, I’m going to say it again, the sun will always shine again. There is no such thing as forever rain. Trust that even after the darkest storms, the SUN will return. There is no hardship that isn’t followed by ease.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest struggle right now is accepting that success isn’t linear, and happiness isn’t linear either. There are tests along the way, especially when you’re destined for greatness. The key is to stay the course, push through, and keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow or the path isn’t clear. I remind myself that every challenge, every hardship, and every setback is part of the journey, and that perseverance, faith, and consistency always pay off.

At the end of every day, I focus on showing up fully for myself, trusting the process, and embracing my growth — even if that means taking a break, stepping back for a while, or not posting. My mental health always comes first. I know that every step, no matter how small, is moving me closer to the life I’m meant to create. And I don’t rush my journey — what’s meant for me will happen at the perfect time, not a minute early, not a millisecond late.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zaecamara.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaecamara?igsh=MW5wMG4wcms2OTNxdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@zaeskitchen?_r=1&_t=ZT-923SgbSz2on