GIRLS A LOUD

To represent – and celebrate – women exactly as they are was the guiding light that inspired Dove to create Project #ShowUs – the world’s largest stock photo library created by women to shatter beauty stereotypes and offer the most inclusive vision of beauty the world has ever seen. For as long as we’ve known, a model has been a figure of universal awe – tall, leggy, fair-skinned with immaculate bone structure. This definition also set a fixed beauty standard for girls all over the world that wasn’t always achievable. But the modelling industry today has evolved leaps and bounds, women of diverse appearances are being celebrated for their unique features. We’ve spotlighted four young women who represent this path-breaking movement as they share their thoughts on matters of beauty and self

- Tanya Mehta

THARA PARAMBI

A fine arts student who has spent her life in London, Chicago and Mumbai, Thara’s travels have taught her about the subjective nature of beauty and the importance of not being pigeonholed for her appearance.

“Being comfortable in my skin is a constant process, when I moved to India I realised that hair is almost politicised here, it was a considered a bold move to cut off your hair, and, I was stereotyped as being ‘edgy’ because of my tattoos. Over time, I’ve begun admiring aspects of myself which I previously never considered beautiful, I’m a size 8, which is usually considered big as per conventional modelling standards, but I recently signed up with an agency that represents more women like me. I’m glad that the nature of casting is changing, and that beauty isn’t perceived as something factual anymore.”

TASHI PALDEN GYAMTSHO

An ardent advocate of self-love and inner beauty, Gyamtsho, a Mumbai resident from Bhutan, has faced her fair share of racial insensitivity in the recent past. But, she strongly believes that the best way to preserve your confidence is by not comparing yourself to others.