Bride & Prejudice

For years, women have been urged to adhere and conform to the societal norms of beauty, especially in the run-up to marriage. But as we enter a New Year, it’s time to do away with these stereotypes and encourage and embrace ourselves for who we are. With Dove’s #StopTheBeautyTest, we aim to create a world with women who are beautiful, confident, and empowered in their own skin

- TANYA MEHTA

The search for beauty can often be ugly and diminishing. A recently conducted survey reveals some unsettling statistics about the pressures and anxieties around conforming to this narrow definition of beauty in the run-up to marriage. An alarming 9 out of 10 single women in India feel that they are judged based on their looks during the matchmaking process. These unpleasant incidents are bound to shatter any young woman’s self-esteem and body confidence. The pressure to adhere to a singular vision of beauty is intense. With an aim to end this #BeautyTest, we spotlight the personal journeys of five women who have faced beauty biases on the basis of body type, skin colour, height, scars, and hair types as they share narratives of how they’ve risen above these and love the skin they are in.

YOUNG AND RESTLESS