Every once in a while, a fresh face emerges on social media, and Juju Imao, better known as JujuMao on TikTok and JujuMaoEats on Instagram, is one such character. Going from a real estate agent to a global food sensation, this digital creator has made his mark on the internet, cooking up a storm and serving it in bite-sized videos of less than a minute.
Born in a family renowned for its artistic prowess, Juju had an entirely different canvas – the culinary world. Yet, his former career could not be further away from where he’s ended up. “[Before becoming a] content creator… You were a real estate agent,” Rico Hizon, host of CNN Philippines’ The Final Word, pointed out during their interview. To which Juju replied, “Yeah, it’s kind of far from it.”
So how did this transition occur? Despite not having any formal culinary background, Juju confessed his lifelong passion for cooking. A casual observer of online content creators, he decided to take the plunge and bring his culinary adventures to the world. He told Hizon, “I used to really love watching other content creators make really craveable dishes online… I thought to myself, why don’t I try this?”
His content, primarily centered around Filipino and Japanese cuisine, is guided by his personal preferences and suggestions from his audience. Embracing his followers as his friends, Juju admits, “a lot of the ideas that I get for my new dishes are actually from my viewers.” This user-oriented approach has been one of the keys to his success, creating a real connection between him and his audience.
But success didn’t come easy. It’s not just about the end product that gets uploaded; there’s a significant amount of work behind the scenes. Juju revealed, “it seems like my video comes out to be like 60 seconds, but in reality sometimes it takes me up to like 8 or 9 hours shooting it.” Yet, it’s a labor of love for Juju, who edits all his videos himself, ensuring the quality matches his high standards.
Moreover, as much as the audience is craving for more, he keeps the hunger alive within himself. “I think it’s important to always stay hungry… despite the number of followers, I’m always trying to strive for improving my own content,” Juju explained, demonstrating the balance of satisfaction and ambition that fuels his culinary journey.
Viral TikTok Food Vlogger Jujumao unexpectedly transitioned from real estate to content creation. How did he do it? https://t.co/oIfTvm4L1x
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) July 2, 2023
Currently, his focus remains on creating digital content, but Juju has bigger dreams in store. “I’m planning to convert [my new place] to sort of like a private dining type. But then eventually I’d love to start my own franchise,” he told Rico, hinting at his ambitions for the future.
Being an Imao, Juju could have followed in the footsteps of his grandfather national artist Abdulmari Imao and father Sajid, also a well-known visual artist. Yet, he chose a different path. “I kind of don’t mention it that often… I want to try to make a name for myself… But then definitely a lot of their influence really stuck on me,” Juju candidly admitted, acknowledging the artistic legacy of his family that has subtly influenced his culinary artistry.
In less than two years, Juju has created a global sensation, serving dishes from all around the world and leaving netizens salivating in just under 60 seconds. He’s not just creating delicious content, but also cultivating an international community of food lovers. One thing’s for sure – Juju is just getting started, and we can’t wait to see what he cooks up next.
WATCH Jujumao with Rico Hizon on CNN Philippines’ The Final Word here:
Check out Jujumao on TikTok here and Jujumaoeats on Instagram here.
Good News Pilipinas is a Lasallian Scholarum Awardee. TELL US your good news story tips by messaging GoodNewsPilipinas.com on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or e-mailing editor@goodnewspilipinas.com
