From the Skies to the Feed, and Into the Wild: Dunya Rajasekara
From the life in the skies to capturing moments on the ground Dunya Rajasekara’s journey has taken an exciting turn. Once part of the cabin crew at Sri Lankan Airlines, Dunya now finds herself in quite a different setting and audience. She has seamlessly transformed her love for travel, lifestyle, and storytelling into a space that resonates with many. With an eye for aesthetics and a passion for creating meaningful experiences, both online and offline, Dunya is redefining what it means to connect in the digital age.
Many people know you today as a content creator, but your journey actually began in the aviation industry. What was Dunya like as an air hostess, and what was the turning point that made you step into the world of content creation?
I spent 12 years working as cabin crew for Sri Lankan Airlines, so aviation was a huge part of my life. It taught me so much; discipline, communication, dealing with different kinds of people, being adaptable, and of course, the joy of travelling. But even while I was flying, I always had this creative side to me. I loved photography, fashion, styling and telling stories through visuals. And once I started spending more time in the jungle and getting into wildlife photography, my whole perspective on life started to change. I realized how much I enjoyed being in nature, creating, and simply being present. It made me question whether I really wanted to continue living in a routine that no longer made me happy. I knew I wanted to get out of the chaos and start building a life around the things I genuinely enjoyed doing, the things that made me feel happy and content. So, I decided to leave aviation in 2023 after 12 years. It was definitely a risk. I was giving up a permanent income and the security that came with having a stable career, and I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen next. But I knew I had to take that chance on myself. Content creation started very organically from the things I already loved travel, fashion, photography, wildlife and experiences. I didn’t have a big plan or a guaranteed career waiting for me. I just started creating and slowly built something around it. And honestly, I have absolutely no regrets about that decision. If anything, I think the best part is that I’m creating the life I actually want to live. I get to choose what I do, what I create and what makes me happy, and for me, that’s worth taking the risk for.
As someone who has travelled extensively, what’s one destination or experience that truly changed your perspective on life?
For me, it’s difficult to choose just one destination because travelling has shaped me in so many different ways. But if I had to choose an experience, it would probably be spending time in the jungle. There’s something about being completely disconnected from everything, no reception, no notifications, no noise, and just sitting there for hours observing an animal. You realise how little control you actually have. Wildlife has taught me patience in a way nothing else has. You can sit for hours and see absolutely nothing, and then suddenly, something incredible happens in a matter of seconds.
I think it has also changed the way I look at life. We’re always rushing towards the next thing, but in the jungle, you really have no choice but to be present. You wait, you observe and you appreciate what comes your way. I actually feel more at home in the wild than I do in a city sometimes.
You’ve explored content beyond the usual studio setup. What has been your experience creating nature and wildlife content, and how does it compare to the structure and predictability of indoor shoots?
They are two completely different worlds. With an indoor shoot, you have a plan. You know where the light is going to be, where the person is going to stand, what the outfit looks like and what you want the final image to be. Wildlife is the complete opposite. The animal is the boss. You can spend five hours waiting for something to happen and then suddenly have ten seconds to capture the moment. There are no retakes, no asking an animal to look towards the camera again, and definitely no guarantee that you’re going to get the shot you came for. And honestly, that’s what I love about it. It has taught me to be patient and to respect the subject rather than trying to control the outcome. Sometimes the most beautiful moments are the ones you never planned for. For me, wildlife photography isn’t just about getting a beautiful photograph. It’s about being there, observing behaviour and understanding that you’re a guest in their environment.
You co-host an all-girls camping initiative with Senali de Silva. Tell us about how this idea came to life, what inspired you both to create this experience, and what you hope every girl who joins takes away from it?
The idea actually came from wanting to create the kind of experience that we ourselves would love to have. The idea actually came about quite spontaneously. Just after Senali left her 9-to-5, I met her at an event and asked her if she wanted to come camping with me. She didn’t even ask a single question; she just jumped on the idea! She’s actually more of a beach girl, so I wasn’t sure how she would feel about being completely off-grid and surrounded by nature, but she absolutely loved the whole experience. After we posted about it, we started getting so many messages from girls asking how they could join us. And that’s when we thought, why not create a space for girls to experience this together? When you think of girls’ trips, it’s usually a trip down South, a beach getaway, the hill country or travelling overseas. But I hadn’t really seen a bunch of girls getting together and going into the wild, camping and completely disconnecting. And I think part of the reason is safety, accessibility and simply
not knowing how to organize something like that. So, we thought, let’s take that part away. We’ve literally sorted everything out for you, the location, the camping experience, the activities and all the little details. You just have to show up and experience it with us. But for me, it’s always been about more than just camping. If I can get even one person to fall a little more in love with the jungle and understand why nature is so important, that’s a huge win for me. We also want the girls to understand that being in nature comes with a responsibility. So, during our trips, we teach them how to experience the outdoors ethically, how to respect wildlife and their space, and how we can coexist with nature rather than just consume it. I genuinely believe that the more we protect nature, the more nature protects us in return. So, if someone comes on one of our trips and leaves with a completely different appreciation for the jungle, then for me, that’s the real success of what we’re creating.
Your online presence often shows the exciting, adventurous side of your life. What is one thing about your life that your followers would never guess from your content?
I think people probably assume that I’m constantly doing something, travelling, shooting, going on adventures, meeting people, because that’s naturally what I share. But the truth is, I’m actually not a big fan of crowds or loud noise. I would much rather stay at home or take a drive into the jungle than go to a party or a big event. I really value quietness and being completely disconnected. I can happily disappear into the jungle with no reception and be perfectly okay with not knowing what’s happening online. In fact, I love those moments where there’s nothing to document, nothing to post and no pressure to be “on.” I think social media can make your life look like it’s constantly happening, but there’s a whole side of my life that is very simple and very private. Sometimes I just want to put my phone away, be by myself, have a quiet day and do absolutely nothing. I think that balance is really important. You can love adventure, travel and excitement, and still be someone who genuinely loves a quiet little life.
