DRAFTING W/ NIMAY NDOLO
Nimay Ndolo belongs to a new class of internet polymaths who pivot from punchline to policy without losing the feed. The Nigerian-American former software developer has built a following of more than 3.4 million across TikTok and Instagram by blending fashion, beauty and cultural commentary with a trusted point of view. Whether she’s unpacking capitalism, mental health or the mechanics of a viral news cycle, Ndolo’s humor keeps audiences thinking long after they’ve double-tapped.
Brands like Truly and Victoria’s Secret have collaborated with her; politicians including Senators Ed Markey and Cory Booker have appeared on her platform. After a brief break from TikTok, she’s returned with a sharper thesis and an even larger audience — campaigning for Zohran Mamdani, earning a spot on the TIME100 Most Influential Creators list and launching City Aesthetica, an environmental nonprofit. The algorithm amplified her voice, but what she’s building now extends beyond it.
For DRAFTING, Ndolo shares what’s keeping her inspired — and the earlier work that helped shape the creative force she is today.
Love him to death, but as a reluctant member of the douche dads club, I need space. I told him I’d unblock him on March 1st, so we have a few more days.
The Kyballion. I had a Jung and Nietzsche phase two years ago at the start of my Saturn Return (I’m rolling my eyes) — and I feel like once you get into Jung, it’s only a matter of time before you start wandering down the rabbit hole. The Kyb is definitely down that rabbit hole. It’s led to some fun late-night YouTube deep dives.
I used to collect vintage lingerie and lacy things back in college, and one day I lucked out and found this set for $33. I splurged and got it, but it was too tight to fit over my boobs, so it only ever saw the inside of my house and one video I shot back in film school.
I used to sketch these back in college in a class where the professor banned phones. I’d sketch them in my notebook, and then draw and colorize them on my phone afterward. I have a whole secret IG page full of them.
I heard it at a recent fitting and ended up playing it on repeat across the span of 27 hours, then it played in my dream that same night. Extremely catchy.
I had grapes, but I ate them. That last shelf is my stylist Yetunde’s lunch that she left in my fridge during NYFW (come get your lunch, sis). Bless her. It’s literally seaweed crunchies, some gochujang, two cans of tuna and mayo. She knows what’s up. The lemon juice, cheese, Dr. Pepper, apples, Lacroix and water are mine.
My $250 film that screened at Nitehawk in 2018. It was signed to NoBudge. Once it screened at Nitehawk, I dropped out of film school.
