Jameela Jamil walks the talk: An unapologetic advocate for body positivity, with a following of nearly two million, she shoots her first ever cover in India—and the images are not filtered or digitally altered. This is as authentic as it gets. Just like Jameela.
On her way to shoot with Bazaar, Jameela Jamil posted a car selfie, showing the dimpled skin on her thighs. “Love every inch,” it said— “Even the bits you were told were ‘wrong’.” In a hot minute, the tone for our meeting was set. And when she walked into the penthouse suite at The Standard, Downtown, we felt a kinship. Solidarity of sisterhood.
The elegantly stark bathroom is the setting for our interview. Makeup is spread out on the side of the bathtub and Jameela is perched on a dining chair. The team working with her today is the same as the one on her hit show, The Good Place, and they know her preference for simplicity. We’re shooting with the new OnePlus 7 Pro (another exclusive for Bazaar) and she is excited about her first Indian cover. She is effortless in front of the camera. The sky is blue. Los Angeles has laid out a perfect Californian summer and the terrace is buzzing with activity.
Brunch is a religion in the USA, but what really stands out is the diversity you can see. Of ethnicity and shape. It is as if the world has been listening to our cover star. When we break for lunch, Jameela insists we continue the conversation—she feels we have more to discuss. So we speak about feminism, the responsibility of having a voice, the representation of women, especially South Asian, in international media. She’s candid about her health—a hearing impairment since childhood; a road accident that damaged her spine at 17; a connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS); anorexia.
Which is why her advocacy for honest, compassionate portrayals of women touches a chord. It comes from a deeply personal, authentic place. And it resonates with her 1.8 million followers on Instagram. With every photo that not only shows but celebrates stretch marks and cellulite, she dismantles the impossible ideal imposed upon women.
This story is from the May 2019 edition of Harper's Bazaar India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2019 edition of Harper's Bazaar India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Magic Of Magnesium
This miracle mineral can be your ticket to better health.
Filler Fatigue
With worries about facial distortion and a shift towards the natural, is it time to sav goodbye to these corrective tweaks?
Mind-Skin Connection
Is il possible for your skincare to communicate with your brain:
Tailored for the Game
Fashion meets sports as U.S. Polo Assn. names Sawai Padmanabh Singh of ol Jaipur’ s royal family its global ambassador.
Reimagined Classic
Louis Vuitton launches the Neverfull Inside Out bag, transforming the icon into a fully reversible tote.
Italian Muse
Guecr's new high jew ellery collection isa stroll through the country’s picturesque gardens.
Co Gs Art Post, Gas Art Pas New CELSIOR Net Lay the show Neking ble e dh PATRON An TH Fotal 24 ANAR Romantics
Romcoms might not have prepared me for modern dating, but they offered a timeless sartorial guide to falling in love.
Making a Case for India's Ingenuity
William Dalrymple says The Golden Road is an extraordinary story but also the most challenging book he has written in the last two decades.
On My Playlist
Playback singer turned indie-pop artiste Dhee talks about music, identity, and empowering a new generation.
Explicitly Bold
The latest lipstick range by Nars is designed to empower wearers with colour and confidence.