This Ex Model Sells Tea for Rs 10 and Earns Rs 1 Lakh a Month

Ex-model and winner of the Miss Gorakhpur title in 2018, Simran Gupta is now better known as the Model Chai Wali. She is a street-side tea entrepreneur who has caught the attention of social media with her unique hustle.
Based in Lucknow, Simran started her tea business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her modelling assignments had dried up and she was also not receiving her salary from the electricity department where she had a job those days.

Circumstances pushed her to take the bold step of setting up a roadside tea stall near Gorakhpur University. The success of tea brands like MBA Chai Wala and others, whose videos were going viral on social media, gave her confidence that she too could succeed in the business.

Today, she has become an internet celebrity with around 30,000 followers on Instagram. She earns around Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh every month, selling a cup of tea for Rs 10 with daily sales of about 250 to 300 cups.

Simran’s tea stall has evolved into a brand and she has now started offering franchises under the “Model Chai Wali” name. She has plans to expand her business beyond Lucknow, and wants to give women across the country a chance to become financially independent just like her.

But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. Recently, she was in the news after she claimed that she was harassed by police officials while they were doing their night patrol. A viral video that showed her being manhandled caused public outcry and led to the suspension of two policemen.

However, all these have not deterred Simran, who continues to run her tea stall, and continues to inspire many women like her who aspire for financial independence by running some small business.- TWL Bureau