Who was Ms. Misha Agarwal? The girl whose suicide shook the internet

The recent demise of Ms. Misha Agarwal, a social media influencer, has sent shockwaves across the internet. The young entrepreneur, who tragically passed away by suicide on April 24, 2025, a mere two days prior to her 25th birthday, leaves behind a poignant narrative regarding the pervasive influence of social media on the lives of young individuals.
In a formal announcement posted on Ms. Agarwal’s Instagram account, her bereaved family confirmed the heartbreaking news of her passing. Subsequently, six days later, a deeply emotional disclosure on the same platform illuminated the underlying factors that contributed to this devastating event. The post revealed that Ms. Agarwal’s existence had become inextricably linked with her pursuit of a significant milestone on Instagram: amassing one million followers. The family further shared the distressing reality that a decline in her follower count precipitated feelings of profound worthlessness and despair in the young creator. Reinforcing this revelation, they included a screenshot of her mobile phone wallpaper, starkly displaying her aspiration to achieve this digital popularity, underscoring the extent to which this goal had consumed her thoughts and aspirations.
Despite her professional accomplishments as a law graduate and her preparations for the Provincial Civil Services Judicial Examination (PCSJ), Ms. Agarwal evidently struggled to reconcile the pressures of maintaining a prominent online presence with her personal well-being. While her content resonated with a wide audience, few were privy to the internal turmoil and emotional distress she endured behind the curated facade of her social media persona. An older video of Ms. Agarwal, now circulating online, poignantly reveals her struggles with self-hate and a deep-seated fear of abandonment, offering a glimpse into her underlying vulnerabilities.

More than an internet personality
Beyond her influencer status, Ms. Agarwal was the driving force behind Misha Cosmetics, a brand recognized for its focus on hair care products and beauty advice disseminated through its dedicated social media account. Following her passing, the brand’s page issued a confirmation of the news, assuring customers that pending orders would be fulfilled, a testament to Ms. Agarwal’s commitment to her entrepreneurial venture.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Ms. Agarwal’s death serve as a stark reminder of the profound impact social media experts on contemporary youth. The incident underscores the potential for these platforms to become sources of validation to an unhealthy degree, blurring the lines between online representation and lived reality. Her family’s heartfelt message explicitly addressed this concern, stating with solemnity, “Instagram is not a real world and followers are not real love, please try to understand this.” Their plea urges young individuals to adopt a more discerning perspective, viewing these platforms as a form of entertainment rather than allowing them to dictate their sense of self-worth and consume their lives entirely.
The untimely loss of Ms. Agarwal highlights the critical need for increased awareness regarding the psychological implications of social media engagement and the importance of fostering a balanced and realistic understanding of online interactions.