Inside Tara Yummy’s Journey: Her Iranian Roots, Growing Up in LA, and the Internet
For the inaugural cover of Cake The Mag, we are thrilled to introduce Tara Yummy, a dynamic force who perfectly embodies the essence of the publication. From her fearless approach to self-expression to her unapologetic confidence, she is a true icon of the new generation. Tara’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and staying grounded, and her magnetic personality has made her an inspiring figure for many.
Tara’s rise to fame is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and authenticity. With over 2 million subscribers on YouTube, 3 million followers on Instagram, and nearly 10 million on TikTok, she has cultivated a space for herself on the internet that is uniquely hers. But behind the numbers, Tara is deeply committed to staying true to her roots, surrounded by a supportive circle of family and friends. Despite navigating the fast-paced, often overwhelming world of social media, she’s managed to keep her feet on the ground, always remembering where she came from. In this exclusive interview, we get a closer look at Tara’s journey, the challenges she’s faced, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
As Cake The Mag celebrates its debut issue, there couldn’t be a more fitting cover star than Tara Yummy. This cover is a celebration of authenticity, individuality, and the unapologetic confidence that Tara continues to radiate. In a world that often tries to define individuals in narrow terms, Tara is redefining what it means to be unapologetically herself. Join us as we dive into Tara’s world and learn more about the boundary-breaking trailblazer.
Cake The Mag: Let's go to the beginning. What was life like for you growing up?
Tara Yummy: I was born in Maryland and I feel like I grew up really fast. Growing up in LA, especially for anyone who's been raised here, whether you're an immigrant's kid or not, is just the craziest experience ever. You grow up a lot faster, learn things you probably shouldn't be learning, and see things you're a little too young for. But I think that's what shaped me.
But how do you manage to stay true to your roots? Because from my side as a viewer, I can tell that your parents seem to be quite supportive of your career and what you’ve been doing. It’s really cool to see someone online still be quite grounded. How do you manage to keep your cool and stay true to your roots while being in such a fast-paced culture like LA, especially since it’s so social media-based and focused on numbers and networking?
I think it’s who you surround yourself with. I have really good friends. I still hang out with the people I grew up with in high school, and I see my family a lot.
When you said my parents are supportive, they haven’t always been. Obviously, my parents moved to this country to give me a better life, and I ended up on the internet, which probably wasn’t their first choice. But nonetheless, I’m very close with them and they’re proud me.
It’s really about who you surround yourself with. You can’t just live your life constantly thinking, "What’s next?" You have to stay true to the people you grew up with because they know you for who you really are, not for what the internet sees. They know Tara to her core, and spending time with them keeps me grounded and reminds me that this isn’t the life I’ve always had. It’s important to surround yourself with people who love you and want the best for you.
Completely. As someone who’s been watching you for few years, I’ve seen your career grow from probably 200K subscribers to 1 million, 1.5, and now 2 million in 2024. People might think, "Oh, that was such quick growth," but you’ve been doing this for five years.
I think I had a moment where I was like, "Fucking finally!" I’ve been doing this for so long, barely skipping a Monday, always posting. But at the same time, I was like, "Okay, wait, now I’m where I wanted to be. I have the larger audience I wanted, I’m making more people laugh every day—so what now?"
Honestly, I think it just finally caught up with me. It blew up without me doing anything differently. So, it was like, "Finally!" but also, "How do I keep this going?" It’s a little scary and daunting because now that I’m here, I have to figure out the next steps. I see the impact in other people’s lives, in how many people come up to me daily. That reminds me that I need to keep going. It’s a big change—I can’t say I feel no different. But it’s a good kind of different.
How has that rapid growth in 2024 affected you personally, creatively, or professionally?
Personally, it’s been tough at times. Some people don’t respect privacy and have even shown up at my parents’ house, which is really uncool. But at the same time, this is the life I live.
Professionally, I know I’m making a difference in people’s lives. I grew up watching YouTube and I know how much it meant to have someone to look up to. So, knowing that I can be that person for others is really meaningful. I try not to let the numbers and attention affect me because if I think about it too much, I freak out. It affects me in both good and bad ways.
Yeah, of course. Like you mentioned, you rarely miss a Monday. From the outside, you seem like such a hardworking and dedicated person. Has there been a moment in 2024 where you thought, "Oh shit, this is big. This is a big moment for me"? You’ve been invited to major events like F1 and the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premiere in London, but what was your pinch-me moment?
Probably doing Playboy. That was a huge moment for me because my whole room is Playboy-themed. The early 2000s are a big creative and style inspiration for me, so that was amazing. But another big moment was being able to buy my own place and live on my own. Not just any place—I bought a house at 23. That was probably the biggest pinch-me moment.
It wouldn’t have been possible without my managers, my friends, and of course, my followers. It wasn’t about the places I got to go or the events I attended—it was about being able to buy something that was truly my own. I remember standing in my house and touching the walls like, "I own these." That was actually crazy.
That was so cool to see and at such a young age. So, with your growing platform comes more people watching you—some idolising you, some even wanting to be you, and of course, some hate. Unfortunately, that’s just part of the package. How do you stay grounded through both the praise and the negativity?
Honestly, hate comes and goes, and so does love. You can't just sit there and bask in praise because it will humble you quickly. It's just the internet – a comment from someone who's probably lonely and sad, making assumptions about me. But that's fine. The people who love me know who I am, and I try not to let it bother me. Of course, sometimes it does, but you have to look past it and remember that there are people who love you. It just comes with the territory.
Speaking of staying true to yourself, how do you maintain a connection with the Tara who started YouTube?
Honestly, I’ve never struggled with that. A lot of YouTubers get burnt out, but I’ve always been passionate about what I do. Even if I’m not posting on Instagram or TikTok, I will still post a video every Monday. I’m so dedicated to YouTube; it's part of who I am. I’ve always felt that way, and I think that’s just natural for me. I’ve never had to "find" that passion again.
I love that dedication. Is there a lesson from your journey over the past five years that you wish you could have learned earlier?
I think the biggest lesson is probably not to be so naive. I think the reason my blow-up happened in 2024 was because I finally got my head on straight. I stopped being so naive and learned to stand up for myself. Not everyone has good intentions, even if you're a good person. You need to surround yourself with good people and stand up for yourself.
It's amazing to see how you’ve grown. There’s definitely a balance of fun and maturity that’s evolved over time.
Yeah, looking back, I do feel like I've grown a lot. If I watch old videos of myself, I think, "Wow, I was so naive and small then." But I’ve matured, and I still have that same energy. I think it’s just about evolving with your age while staying true to yourself.
Do you feel like your heritage has influenced your creativity?
1000%. My dad is probably the hardest-working person I know. Immigrant parents are some of the most hardworking people, and my dad is a perfect example of that. He came to America from Iran with nothing and built a life for us. I look up to that work ethic, and it’s why I work so hard. His Iranian roots and that experience shaped me a lot. I know I can work hard too because he did it, and I’m following in those footsteps.
That’s really inspiring. Do you listen to Iranian music? Any artists that you’re into?
Yes, I do! I really like anything I grew up listening to like Arash and Kamran & Hooman, and my mom played a lot of old Ehsan Khajeh Amiri. I also listen to some newer artists like Sassy. It’s funny because a lot of people don’t know how Persian I am, but I speak Farsi to my parents and I call my grandparents every week. It’s just a side of me that only those close to me really know about.
It's so interesting how your heritage is such a big part of who you are, even if it's not as obvious online.
Exactly. I feel like I’m really myself on the internet, but there’s this whole other side that only the people who know me personally get to see.
