It has been several days since the untimely passing of social media influencer and cosmetics brand founder Misha Agrawal, but her sister’s recent emotional Instagram post has reignited public conversation around the dangerous pressures of online fame. Misha died by suicide just two days before her 25th birthday, leaving her family and followers in deep shock.
On April 26, the day she would have turned 25, her family confirmed the tragic loss via her social media accounts. Now, six days later, Misha’s sister has shared an intimate look into the pain and mental health struggles the young influencer faced — a raw and honest attempt to prevent others from falling into the same spiral.
“She Built Her World Around Instagram and Her Followers”
In a heartbreaking caption, Misha’s sister revealed how the influencer became emotionally dependent on her online presence, especially her follower count. Despite having over 358,000 followers, Misha was reportedly devastated by a recent decline in numbers.
“My little baby sister had built her world around Instagram and her followers, with a single goal of reaching 1 million followers,” she wrote. “When her followers started decreasing, she became distraught and felt worthless.”
The post includes painful details about Misha’s deteriorating mental state — frequent crying spells, anxiety, and panic over her digital career. Her sister shared that Misha would cling to her and sob, saying, “Jijja, what will I do if my followers decrease? My career will be over.”
Despite repeated reassurances, reminders of her LLB degree and ongoing judicial exam prep, and loving support from family, Misha reportedly felt unable to detach her self-worth from her online success.
“Instagram Is Not a Real World”
One of the most sobering parts of the message is the truth Misha’s sister left for others:
“Instagram is not a real world, and followers are not real love. Please try to understand this.”
She revealed that Misha’s phone wallpaper was a photoshopped image of her Instagram profile showing 1 million+ followers — her ultimate goal. But the growing gap between her dreams and the digital reality pushed her to a place of despair from which she never returned.
Her Legacy Beyond Likes
Beyond Instagram, Misha was a driven and multi-talented woman. She held a law degree, was preparing for judicial service exams, and had built Mish Cosmetics, a homegrown beauty brand focused on hair care and self-care. Her brand’s official page has also confirmed her passing and promised to fulfill all pending orders — a bittersweet reminder of the business she poured herself into.
Insight from a Fellow Influencer & Brand Founder (You)
As someone who also lives and works in the world of social media and entrepreneurship, I feel this loss on a personal level. Misha’s story is not just tragic — it’s an urgent wake-up call.
We cannot keep measuring our value by the metrics of platforms designed to manipulate attention. Followers are not the same as friends. Likes are not the same as love.
It’s terrifying how quickly this industry can blur the line between ambition and identity. Misha had a law degree. She was building a business. She had so much going for her — but still, the algorithm’s judgment felt heavier than all her accomplishments. That’s the kind of distortion social media can cause.
Let this be the moment we all take a step back. Creators, fans, and platforms — we need to create space for people to feel whole without needing to be viral. Let’s check in on each other, and more importantly, let’s remind each other that we are more than the number below our profile pic.
