Some people experience a city simply by living in it. Others have a way of helping everyone else see it differently.
For years, Nicole Hernandez has been doing exactly that. Through her camera, her curiosity, and her genuine love for Indianapolis, she’s introduced thousands of people to local coffee shops, restaurants, markets, seasonal events, and small businesses that make this city feel alive. Long before content creation became a career path for many and before local businesses fully understood the value of social media, Nicole was already exploring Indianapolis simply because she loved it.
As part of our Creators We Like series, we’re proud to highlight someone who has helped shape Indianapolis’ creative community and inspired so many people—including us—to appreciate the city a little more every day.
A Camera, a Curious Mind, and a Love for Indianapolis
Nicole’s story didn’t begin with Instagram. It began with a camera and a lifelong passion for photography. From an early age, she knew she wanted a career that allowed her to tell stories through images. That passion led her to study journalism and visual communication, where she developed not only her photography skills but also an understanding of how visual storytelling can create meaningful connections between people and their communities.
As life took her around Indianapolis, she began experiencing the city in a new way. With more independence came the opportunity to explore neighborhoods, discover locally owned restaurants, visit weekend events, and spend time in the small businesses that give Indianapolis its unique personality. Every new place became another reason to fall in love with the city, and sharing those discoveries online felt completely natural. She wasn’t trying to build a brand or become a creator—she was simply sharing the places that genuinely made her happy.
Over time, those honest recommendations resonated with people. Her page slowly evolved from documenting personal experiences into a trusted resource where locals could discover new places and visitors could experience Indianapolis through the eyes of someone who truly loves the community. What makes Nicole’s journey so special is that it has always been driven by authenticity rather than trends, and that’s something her audience continues to recognize today.
Staying True to Herself
When Nicole describes her creative style, she keeps it refreshingly simple.
“Just a girl in the city sharing what she’s doing around the city.”
That one sentence perfectly captures why so many people continue to follow her after all these years. Her content has never felt overly polished or disconnected from real life. Instead, it feels like recommendations from a friend who genuinely wants you to experience something you’ll enjoy. Whether she’s sharing a new coffee shop, highlighting a local event, or introducing followers to a hidden gem, everything comes from a place of genuine excitement rather than obligation.
In a world where social media can sometimes feel repetitive or overly curated, Nicole has remained true to herself. She hasn’t tried to fit into every trend or reinvent who she is just to chase algorithms. Instead, she’s continued doing what first inspired her—exploring Indianapolis and encouraging others to do the same. That consistency is one of the reasons people trust her recommendations and continue returning to her content.
Always Connected to the Community
Before focusing on content creation, Nicole worked in local news, and that experience continues to influence the way she approaches everything she shares today. Journalism taught her to stay curious, pay attention to what’s happening around the city, and understand that every neighborhood, every business, and every event has a story worth telling.
That mindset has never left her. She’s constantly paying attention to what’s new in Indianapolis, whether it’s the opening of a local restaurant, a seasonal festival, a community event, or a small business that deserves more attention. Rather than focusing on what’s popular across the internet, she focuses on what’s meaningful within her own community.
That’s something we’ve always admired because it’s also one of the values that inspired WE LIKE INDY. We believe the best stories are often found around the corner, and creators like Nicole remind us that supporting local businesses starts by simply helping people discover them.
Building Something Before It Was Popular
It’s easy to look at today’s creator economy and assume it’s always existed the way we know it now. Collaborations between businesses and creators happen every day, and influencer marketing has become a normal part of how local businesses promote themselves. But when Nicole first started sharing Indianapolis online, things looked very different.
While balancing a full-time job, she was also building a platform from the ground up and trying to help local businesses understand the value of authentic digital storytelling. At the time, many business owners weren’t familiar with influencer marketing, which meant creators often had to explain why their work mattered before they could even begin working together.
Like many creators, Nicole also experienced the pressure that comes with comparison. As social media continued to grow and more people entered the content creation space, it became increasingly easy to wonder whether everyone else was doing more or doing it better. Looking back, one of the most valuable lessons she learned was that comparison only distracts you from your own journey.
Instead, she chose to focus on what made her different—her authentic voice, her passion for Indianapolis, and her genuine excitement for helping people discover the city. That decision continues to define her work today and is one of the reasons her audience has stayed with her through the years.
Looking Ahead
Although Nicole continues creating the local content that thousands of people know and enjoy, she’s also entering a new chapter. She’s currently working on rebranding her platform, exploring new creative ideas, and finding fresh ways to tell stories about the city she’s grown to love.
For someone whose career has always evolved naturally, that next chapter feels less like a change and more like another step forward. One thing, however, remains the same: her desire to inspire people to get out, support local businesses, and experience Indianapolis for themselves.
More Than a Creator
For Nicole, being part of Indiana’s creative community means far more than building an audience or posting online. It’s about the friendships she’s formed, the collaborations she’s experienced, and the people she’s met along the way. Those relationships have made her life in Indianapolis richer, more meaningful, and constantly inspiring.
As someone who has supported WE LIKE INDY since our early days, Nicole has also been part of a growing community of creators who genuinely want to see Indianapolis thrive. We’ve watched her continue to celebrate local businesses, encourage other creators, and contribute to a culture where supporting one another matters just as much as creating great content. That spirit of collaboration is something we deeply admire and something that continues to define Indianapolis’ creative community.
When asked what she hopes people take away from her work, her answer is beautifully simple. She hopes people feel inspired to try something new, visit a place they’ve never been before, and create memories of their own. Because at the end of the day, that’s what her content has always been about—not just showing people where to go, but giving them a reason to fall in love with the city they call home.
Where to Find Nicole Hernandez
Instagram
@nicolexindy
If you’ve spent any time exploring Indianapolis over the last several years, there’s a good chance Nicole Hernandez has helped shape your next adventure. Whether it’s introducing you to a new coffee shop, a neighborhood market, or a local event, her work continues to remind us that some of the best experiences are waiting just around the corner.
Creators We Like is an ongoing WE LIKE INDY series highlighting the artists, makers, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs shaping Indiana’s vibrant creative community. Stay tuned as we continue sharing the stories behind the people making our state a more inspiring place to live, work, and create.
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