Susan JessicaMomo Dandadan. The name alone is enough to make me feel like I need to step up my game. I mean, the woman radiates confidence like it’s her full-time job, right? You know the type—she strolls into a room like she owns it, leaving everyone else wondering, “How do I get some of that?” I wanted to channel that same energy. I thought, “I can totally pull off the whole Momo Dandadan vibe.” Spoiler: I couldn’t.
Alright, let me set the stage. I tried to be like Momo Dandadan—and, well, things didn’t exactly go as planned. Buckle up. It’s about to get real.
Why Momo Dandadan?
So why did I pick Momo Dandadan as my role model? Well, why not? If you’ve seen her—whether it’s on social media, an interview, or in some random video—she just exudes this unapologetic confidence. It’s like, she wakes up, gets dressed, and immediately commands the room with zero effort. She’s that person who can wear a hoodie and sneakers and still make you feel like you’re underdressed for the Oscars.
The catch? It’s not about how she looks or even what she does—it’s about how she owns it. Momo’s confidence isn’t just the “look at me, I’m fabulous” kind. No, no. It’s deeper than that. It’s the kind of confidence that makes you feel like you belong, no matter the situation. And honestly, I wanted some of that for myself.
My First Attempt: The Confidence Quest
Okay, so there I was, sitting at my desk at work, thinking: “Today’s the day. I’m channeling Momo Dandadan. Watch out world.” I threw on my so-fancy-it-might-as-well-be-designer blazer (Target, for the win), straightened my back, and walked into the office like I owned it.
Then? Total disaster. It’s like the universe said, “Oh, you think you can do this? Watch me laugh.” My coffee? It didn’t just spill. No. It exploded like a firecracker, hitting my laptop, my co-worker’s desk, and the floor, leaving a trail of coffee everywhere. The worst part? The whole office heard the sloshing sound, and I just stood there, frozen, holding my now-empty cup. Was I channeling Momo Dandadan? More like I was channeling a deer in headlights.
And let me tell you, that moment was a far cry from the carefree Momo vibes I was aiming for. No, instead of feeling like a boss, I felt like I’d just bombed a test in front of the class. Yikes.
The Fear Factor
Alright, so that first attempt at confidence was, uh, a learning experience. But I wasn’t going down without a fight. Time to get fearless. Just like Momo Dandadan.
So, I thought, “Okay, fear is a thing, but it shouldn’t stop me.” My first move? I spoke up in a meeting. Now, for someone like me, that’s as close to skydiving as it gets. Normally, I keep my ideas tucked safely under my “I’ll email it to you later” armor, but today was different.
Except… guess what? The second I opened my mouth, my brain went into panic mode. My heart was basically trying to punch through my chest, and my mouth went dry. I don’t even remember what I said, just that I probably made zero sense. At least I was trying, right? Momo Dandadan would’ve probably taken charge of that meeting and nailed it, while I was over here praying that no one noticed the awkward silence.
And let’s not even talk about my attempts at trying new experiences. I decided to go on a solo hike to really embrace my fearless side. Bad idea. Two minutes in, I’m Googling “How to outrun a bear” (even though I live in the city). Fear? Yeah, it’s not just a feeling, it’s a real thing. Momo Dandadan probably would’ve been out there hiking without a second thought, but me? I was counting down the minutes until I could get back to my car without getting eaten alive.
The Wake-Up Call: Realizing I Was Trying Too Hard
Alright, here’s where things get interesting. After multiple attempts and about ten thousand moments of secondhand embarrassment, I had an epiphany. Fast forward past three failed attempts and a lot of self-reflection, and it finally hit me:
I wasn’t failing because I wasn’t trying hard enough. I was failing because I was trying too hard to be someone else. Momo Dandadan didn’t get her confidence by pretending to be someone else. She got it by being her unapologetic self.
And here I was, over here trying to be her, when I should’ve been focusing on me—flaws, quirks, and all.
The Truth About Confidence
Here’s the hard truth about confidence: it’s not about faking it. You can’t just put on a smile and some fancy clothes and think you’ll magically become someone you’re not. Confidence comes from knowing who you are and accepting that.
Momo Dandadan didn’t earn her confidence by copying anyone else—she’s built it by embracing herself completely. And, uh, well, I had a lot of catching up to do. I thought I could fake it ‘til I make it, but turns out that doesn’t really work in the long run. I needed to embrace my awkwardness, my mistakes, and let go of the idea that I had to be perfect like Momo.
So I decided to stop trying to be Momo Dandadan and start trying to be me—a better, more confident version of me, not a copycat.
What I Learned: You Can’t Imitate Confidence
The big takeaway? If you try to be someone else, you’ll always feel like a knockoff version. I tried to imitate Momo Dandadan instead of developing my own style of confidence. And let me tell you: it’s exhausting. It’s like wearing shoes that don’t fit—they might look good, but you’re tripping over every step.
Momo Dandadan didn’t just show up with confidence, she built it over time. Real confidence comes from owning who you are. So I made a vow to focus on my version of confidence. Even if it means I spill coffee or make a fool of myself now and then. That’s part of the journey.
Fearlessness? Work in Progress
Let’s be real. I’m still not Momo Dandadan. I’m still the one who gets nervous when I speak up in meetings and still panic about bears (even in the city). But here’s the thing: I’m learning to embrace that fear, not run from it. Fearlessness isn’t about eliminating fear. It’s about facing it head-on and moving forward anyway.
I might not be the next Momo Dandadan, but I’m getting better at embracing what makes me unique. And that’s what counts. One small step at a time, I’m starting to create my own kind of fearless.
Final Thoughts: My Momo Dandadan Epiphany
So, yeah, I didn’t become exactly like Momo Dandadan. But you know what? That’s perfectly fine. I’m learning that I don’t need to copy someone else’s confidence to be awesome. I just need to be the best version of me. And that’s a version that doesn’t involve pretending.
Fast forward to today, and I’m still working on that self-assurance. Some days I’m on top of the world. Other days, I spill coffee on my lap and call it “part of the process.” But I’m learning that embracing both the wins and the fails is what confidence really looks like.
Richard Joseph
