Sometimes inspiration doesn't come from a coding tutorial, a hackathon,
or a roadmap. Sometimes, it just comes from scrolling TikTok.
That's exactly what happened to me.
The Moment of Discovery
It wasn't during work.
It wasn't while I was thinking about my next project.
It happened while I was casually scrolling through TikTok.
Between dance trends and funny clips, I started seeing something
different: portraits glowing with Y2K aesthetics. Metallic textures,
holographic colors, that dreamy late-90s vibe.
The images felt alive --- like snapshots from another time. They
reminded me of old album covers, glossy magazines, and the futuristic
optimism of the year 2000.
I was hooked instantly.
I kept swiping, video after video, amazed at how this aesthetic had
suddenly exploded online. The nostalgia hit hard, but so did the
curiosity: How were people making these?
And that simple curiosity was the spark.
The "What If"
That's when the thought hit me:
"What if there was a way to make this easy? What if anyone could create
these portraits in just one click?"
That simple "what if" stuck in my head.
So instead of just saving another TikTok to my favorites, I decided to
build something.
The Birth of Y2K Style
A few weeks later, I launched Y2K Style ---
a website where you can upload a photo and instantly transform it into
an authentic Y2K-style portrait.
No tutorials, no complicated settings. Just a click, and suddenly your
selfie looks like it belongs on a turn-of-the-millennium album cover.
What makes it fun for me isn't just the technology behind it --- it's
watching a plain portrait transform into something glowing, nostalgic,
and almost magical.
Why I'm Sharing This
I didn't create this site with a grand business plan. It started as
curiosity, as a playful experiment inspired by something I stumbled upon
while scrolling.
But that's the beauty of side projects: they remind us that building
doesn't always have to be serious. Sometimes it's about following your
excitement, creating something that makes you smile, and then sharing it
with others who might smile too.
Try It Yourself
If you've ever wanted to see yourself through the lens of the Y2K era
--- with holographic shine, metallic textures, and retro-futuristic
vibes --- give it a try:
Who knows? Maybe you'll rediscover a little millennium magic of your
own.
✨ Thanks for reading --- and if you've ever built something just
because TikTok inspired you, I'd love to hear your story too.
Top comments (1)
Maybe it would be good to include an example or two in this blog post?