What began as a simple search to make a few new friends quickly snowballed into an overwhelming response with over 800 people expressing interest an all women's meetup. 32-year-old Aditi Sharma went viral after posting an honest Instagram reel about female friendships, acknowledging how difficult it can be to make friends as an adult. The Toronto resident wasn't promoting a brand, business, or influencer event; she was simply looking for other women to do everyday things with. "I was just looking for a couple of girlfriends to do normal things with, like going to the movies, grabbing coffee, or even visiting a nail salon," Sharma tells blogTO. "As adults, especially in our 20s and 30s, friendships start to feel harder to make and even harder to maintain. Everyone's busy, life moves fast, and it often feels like everyone else already has their circle figured out." Sharma points out that while social media often makes it seem like everyone has a thriving social life, in reality, "many of us feel pretty alone." Feelings of isolation and depression due to a lack of a solid social circle are experiences many of us can relate to. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi and Aarushi (@canadapyaar) After sharing those sentiments — while proposing a potential all women's event in Toronto — other like-minded women struggling with similar issues chimed in. The video exploded, receiving over 1,200 comments and more than 800 registrations for an event she decided to organize in just over a week. Now, how's that for a little glimmer moment? "That response showed me just how many women were feeling the same way," Sharma says. "This meetup is really about creating an easy, low-pressure space for women to meet, talk, and connect without it feeling forced, awkward, or transactional." The calculated decision to keep the meetup exclusively for women was non-negotiable, with Sharma emphasizing comfort and ease rather than exclusivity. "I wanted the meetup to have a comfortable space from the start. Sometimes it's just easier to relax and be yourself in an all-female environment, especially when the goal is a genuine connection rather than networking or social pressure," she explains. "This isn't about excluding anyone, but it's simply about creating a space where women can show up casually, feel at ease, and connect without overthinking how they're coming across." For Sharma, the push to finally do something about her social life came from an unexpectedly small moment. "I saw a reel about a cute jewellery-making place and thought, 'This looks fun, I want to go,' and then immediately realized I didn't really know who I'd take," she admits. While she enjoys spending time with her husband, she realized she feels devoid of the kind of connection that only girlfriends can offer. "I do miss that girl energy and those kinds of friendships. Posting the reel was my way of doing something about that feeling instead of just sitting with it," she says. While the overwhelming public response was visible through the reel's engagement numbers, the most meaningful reactions came privately to Sharma. "I received so many DMs from women saying they loved the idea, that they'd been feeling the same way, and that this was exactly what they felt was missing in their lives," she says. Having lived in India before moving to Toronto, Sharma doesn't believe the city itself is the problem. The lack of genuine female friendships is a universal discussion, stemming from life's experiences and age. And the fix, she feels, is actually quite easy: adults simply need more casual, agenda-free spaces to connect. And so, that's exactly what she's now set out to do. The first meetup will take place on Jan. 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at a small downtown Toronto venue. But here's the catch: attendance will be capped at 70-80 people, with the exact location shared with confirmed attendees on Jan. 17. With over 800 registrants for the Jan. 24 meetup, there was no way for Sharma to find a venue that could accommodate such unexpectedly large numbers.  Sharma plans to turn the meetup into a monthly series across the Greater Toronto Area to accommodate more people. She has also created an Instagram channel for registrants to join and follow along for updates on the series. Free registration remains open for women who want to sign up for future events through Sharma's Luma page. Sharma insists this doesn't have to be a one-off viral moment; It will be an ongoing effort to create a space to help women make meaningful friendships in their adult lives. "Not an influencer event, not a networking mixer, and not something you have to perform at. Just a space for women to show up, be themselves, and hopefully walk away feeling a little less alone," she says.