Meet Dubai mum and daughter who built 7.4 million TikTok following with everyday home cooking videos

She wasn’t trying to chase views or go viral. She was just doing what she loved best, cooking with her daughter, and casually recording it.

For Dubai-based mum Afnan, it was about capturing joy in the purest form, family, food and laughter.  “I’ve always loved cooking for my family, and every dish came with a story. What really pushed me to start was my daughter, Mouna. We used to cook together and laugh so naturally, so I thought, why not share these moments on TikTok? I never imagined it would grow this big, but people really connected with the family vibe and the real, relatable energy,” she explains.

Perhaps, it’s this raw authenticity that builds Afnan’s loyal following. She doesn’t show her face in her TikTok videos, but her presence is unmistakable. Each video carries her voice, warmth, and intention, serving not just recipes, but slices of home and parenting moments that resonate far beyond the screen. You can feel the two of them having a blast.

Afnan doesn't plan her recipes. And, perhaps that spontaneity is her secret ingredient in the kitchen. “I get inspired by everything around me, what my kids ask for, dishes I try at restaurants, TikTok trends, and even my followers’ comments. Sometimes a recipe starts with one simple ingredient I have at home, and I keep building on it until it becomes something fun, new, and easy.” That spontaneous, what’s-in-the-fridge approach resonates with her audience, especially fellow busy parents looking for ideas that are practical yet flavourful.

Her signature style

She loves blending traditional Arabic flavours with modern, easy techniques. “I like taking classic recipes and simplifying them for today’s busy moms. It’s a way to stay connected to our roots while keeping up with modern tastes,” she says.  This gentle balance of heritage and ease brings a sense of accessibility, and is also emotionally satisfying, comfort food that feels both familiar and fresh.

One of her most viral moments was a video featuring her daughter’s lunch. “My lunchbox recipe for my daughter went viral. The story was real, the setup was simple, and every mom related to it. The success wasn’t in the filming, it was in the emotion and connection.” That video catapulted her into the spotlight, but Afnan remained grounded in the very thing that brought her there, relatability.

While TikTok lives on fast-changing trends, Afnan wants to make sure, her voice stays heard. “I take what works from the trends and adapt it to my own voice. Even if I use a trending sound, I make sure the video feels like me. The most important thing is to stay true to my identity.” And her followers love her for it. She doesn’t try to be someone else, she simply lets her kitchen and personality do the talking.

It’s not always easy showing up online, especially while juggling motherhood and home life. “Consistency. Being a mom with so many responsibilities, and still showing up with fresh ideas, good energy, and engaging content, it’s a real challenge. But the love and support from my followers keeps me going.”

The encouragement she gets from her online community supports her on days when the ideas, or the energy, run low.

Engagement is a two-way street for Afnan. “I reply to as many comments as I can, ask for suggestions, and sometimes turn a follower’s comment into a whole recipe. I don’t see them as just followers—they’re my extended family.” It’s that emotional intimacy that makes her platform feel more like a warm kitchen than a stage.

There’s a joy in the mess-ups too. After all, that’s what makes for good stories. “I always have funny behind-the-scenes moments. We laugh and move on. I love sharing these clips with my audience because they show that not everything has to be perfect or planned,” she says. “There have been so many of these moments, I don’t need to explain them all. But I enjoy turning them into videos because people love to laugh and see the real side of content creation.”

By showing the bloopers, she reminds her viewers that real life (and real cooking) isn’t always polished.

Instead of letting the pressure to stay fresh get to her, Afnan turns it into a game. “I’ve learned to see it as a fun challenge, not pressure. If I hit a block, I take a walk, try something new, or read through my followers’ comments. Inspiration is everywhere—even outside the kitchen.”

And it’s that mindset that allows her to keep showing up with joy. Looking ahead, Afnan is ready to play with fusion recipes. “I’m excited to experiment with global recipes that have an Arabic twist—like making lasagna with musakhan filling, or an Eastern-style cheesecake. I love blending cultures through food.” Her fans can expect more surprises that taste like home, with a twist.

 With a full household and a growing digital presence, how does she manage the grind of content creation? “I follow a weekly content schedule and prep things in advance. Most of my videos are filmed in one take because the story is clear in my head. When the concept is strong, the workflow becomes easier.”

To creators hoping to merge food with other passions, Afnan offers this: “Find the connection between your passions. If you love travel, film the foods you try abroad and recreate them at home. Make the content reflect all of who you are—your audience will love you for being uniquely you.”

 And that’s what makes Afnan’s answers worth listening to: She just shows up for herself, and her extended family.