What Really Is Beauty? And How Does One Perceive It?

What really is beauty? And how does one perceive it? As debates rage around the inclusivity of it (or lack thereof), seven voices offer their insights on a term that has been most-polarising this year

TARUN TAHILIANI

DESIGNER

Well, beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder. And I have always found dusky and tribal Indian beauty alluring and sensuous. It is also real and unfettered. I gag every time I see fairness creams or people (especially in fashion and modelling) trying to brighten their skin. I find indigenous beauty so beautiful. But that does not mean I cannot find somebody who is very fair, beautiful. I think it is important to promote and celebrate our diversity, and the tribal sensuousness of Indian women. And that’s something we, as a label, try to do, too: endeavour to work with women who represent the true soul of India, and not just a whitened colonised view.

FATIMA FARHEEN MIRZA

AUTHOR