Popular content creator and influencer Apoorva Makhija widely known online as The Rebel Kid, has moved to New York, marking a major new chapter in her personal, academic and professional journey. The creator recently confirmed the move and opened up about why she wanted to leave India, making it clear that her decision was driven primarily by a desire for new experiences, education and a different environment.
Apoorva Makhija’s move comes after several years of rapid growth in India’s digital creator ecosystem. From building a large following through relatable social-media content to appearing in entertainment projects and reality television, she has gradually expanded her career beyond traditional influencer work.
Her decision to relocate to New York has therefore attracted considerable attention, particularly because she had previously spoken about wanting to study abroad and experience a new environment. Reports also indicate that she is pursuing higher education in New York, adding an academic dimension to the move.
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Apoorva Makhija Confirms Her Move to New York
Apoorva Makhija has now confirmed that she has moved to New York. In a recent update, she expressed excitement about living in the city and beginning a fresh phase of her life.
The move was also discussed during her appearance on Amin Jaz’s podcast, where she explained that she had been planning to relocate and was looking forward to experiencing life in New York. Reports say she had already made the decision to move by the time the podcast episode was released.
Rather than presenting the move simply as a reaction to her experiences in India, Apoorva Makhija has spoken about broader personal reasons. She has expressed an interest in meeting new people, experiencing a different environment and stepping outside the familiar circle she had developed through her work in India’s creator industry.
This makes the relocation significant not only as a geographical change but also as a shift in how she wants to approach her next stage of life.
Why Did The Rebel Kid Leave India?
One of the biggest questions surrounding Apoorva Makhija’s move has been whether it was connected to the controversies she faced in India.
However, recent reports indicate that her stated reasons are primarily connected to personal growth, education and her long-standing interest in living in New York.
Apoorva Makhija has previously spoken about wanting to move abroad because she felt that Mumbai had become too comfortable and accessible for her. In a 2025 interview, she explained that she wanted to challenge herself by moving somewhere where she would have to build new connections and opportunities from scratch.
That earlier statement provides important context for her latest move.
The decision was therefore not entirely unexpected. She had already discussed pursuing higher education abroad and seeking new challenges outside Mumbai and India.
Meeting New People Is One of Her Main Reasons
Apoorva Makhija has also highlighted the importance of meeting people outside her existing professional circle.
According to reports on her recent comments, one of her motivations for moving to New York is to meet new people and experience a wider social environment. Her growing career in the creator industry had meant that many of the people around her were connected to the same field.
Moving to another country gives her an opportunity to build relationships beyond that familiar network.
For a creator whose professional life has largely developed around social media, this can also provide exposure to different cultures, ideas and creative communities.
Her move consequently represents more than simply relocating from one city to another. It is an attempt to experience a different lifestyle while developing personally and academically.
Higher Education Behind the New York Move
Education is another important part of Apoorva Makhija’s plans.
Earlier reports said that she was preparing to pursue a master’s degree abroad. More recent reports have linked her move to New York with her plans for higher education, including a programme at Columbia University.
Her decision demonstrates a shift toward formal education at a time when she has already established herself professionally.
Before becoming a major social-media personality, Apoorva Makhija completed a BTech in Computer Science Engineering from Jaipur. She subsequently moved into content creation and entertainment, eventually developing a substantial online following.
The New York chapter therefore brings together two different aspects of her journey: education and entertainment.
From Relatable Videos to Internet Fame
Apoorva Makhija initially became widely known through relatable videos on social media.
Her content connected with younger internet audiences and helped her establish the online identity of “The Rebel Kid.” Over time, her popularity grew beyond social-media platforms.
Her professional journey has included collaborations with major brands and appearances in entertainment projects. Reports have noted partnerships with brands including Amazon, Nike, Meta, Maybelline and Kate Spade.
She also appeared in the reality show The Traitors India and made an appearance in the film Nadaaniyan.
Her career illustrates how India’s creator economy has increasingly become a pathway into mainstream entertainment.
The Rebel Kid’s Career Has Not Been Without Controversy
Apoorva Makhija’s rise to fame has also included several controversies.
She became the subject of significant online attention following her appearance on India’s Got Latent, where comments made during the programme led to widespread criticism and legal complaints involving the show.
The controversy had a major impact on her public life. In 2025, she also revealed that she had to leave her Mumbai residence after police visited the building in connection with the controversy.
However, it would be inaccurate to assume that the New York move was solely caused by that episode.
Apoorva Makhija had discussed studying abroad and seeking new challenges even before her latest relocation. Her recent explanation also focuses on her desire for a new environment and personal development.
A New Beginning After a Difficult Period
The move to New York comes after a particularly eventful period in Apoorva Makhija’s career.
The India’s Got Latent controversy placed her under intense public scrutiny. She subsequently reduced her public presence for a period before returning to professional projects.
Her experiences have also influenced the way she has spoken about social media and fame.
In earlier interviews, Apoorva Makhija discussed the downside of being a public personality, including how mistakes can continue to follow creators online long after an incident has passed. She also questioned the increasing commercialisation of the creator industry.
These comments provide another layer of context to her decision to pursue something beyond the usual creator lifestyle.
Apoorva Makhija Has Previously Spoken About Leaving Mumbai
The idea of leaving India did not appear suddenly.
In 2025, Makhija openly discussed her plans to move abroad for higher studies. At the time, she said she wanted to leave Mumbai because she felt that the city’s familiarity had made things too easy for her.
She explained that professional opportunities in Mumbai had become accessible through her existing network, and she wanted to put herself in a situation where she would have to build a new life independently.
That perspective appears consistent with her current decision to settle in New York.
Instead of remaining within a familiar professional environment, she is now entering a city where she will have to create new connections and experiences.
What New York Could Mean for Her Career
New York could provide Makhija with opportunities beyond the Indian creator ecosystem.
The city has a large international student population and a diverse entertainment, fashion, media and business environment. For someone interested in developing professionally beyond content creation, the move could open new possibilities.
However, it remains too early to predict exactly how her career will evolve.
Makhija has previously indicated that she wanted to explore opportunities outside conventional social-media content. Her move to New York could allow her to experiment with different professional interests while continuing her existing digital presence.
Her academic programme may also introduce her to people and industries outside her established creator network.
Will She Continue Content Creation?
Another question surrounding the move is whether Makhija plans to completely step away from content creation.
Her previous statements suggest that she has considered moving beyond the industry but has not necessarily ruled it out completely.
In 2025, she said she wanted to retire from content creation and work on something else, while also acknowledging that she could return to content if her other plans did not work out.
This suggests that her relationship with content creation may evolve rather than end abruptly.
Moving to New York could give her the opportunity to continue creating content from a different setting while simultaneously focusing on education and other professional ambitions.
The Creator Economy Is Changing
Makhija’s journey also reflects a larger transformation in India’s digital economy.
Social-media creators are increasingly building careers that combine advertising, entertainment, acting, entrepreneurship and education.
Makhija’s own career demonstrates this transition. She began with social-media content, worked with major brands, entered television and entertainment projects, and is now pursuing higher education abroad.
Her move could therefore represent the next stage in a broader career strategy rather than a complete departure from the public eye.
A Fresh Chapter in New York
For Makhija, New York appears to represent an opportunity to step outside the environment that made her famous.
She has spoken about wanting new experiences and meeting people outside her existing circle. Her academic plans provide a clear structure for the move, while the city itself offers a completely different environment from the one in which she built her career.
Her decision also comes at a time when she has been reflecting on fame, social media and the pressures of being constantly visible online.
The move may give her space to explore those questions while continuing to develop professionally.
Apoorva Makhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has moved to New York as she begins a new chapter focused on higher education, personal growth and new experiences. Recent reports say she wants to meet new people and experience life outside the creator circle she had developed in India.
Her relocation follows earlier comments about wanting to move abroad because Mumbai had become too familiar and comfortable for her. She had already discussed pursuing a master’s degree overseas and seeking new challenges.
Although her move comes after a period of controversy and intense public attention, available reports do not establish that the relocation was solely a response to those events. Her stated motivations centre on education, exploration and building a new environment for herself.
From a relatable-content creator to a recognised digital personality and entertainment figure, Makhija’s journey has already gone through several major phases. Her move to New York now marks another significant transition—one that could see The Rebel Kid expand her horizons beyond the world of Indian social media.
