“Confidence breeds beauty.” ESTEE LAUDER, BUSINESSWOMAN

CAREER IN BEAUTY INDUSTRY? WHY NOT sabella Dymalovski, founder of a natural No More skincare line for girls in Australia is a I successful teen entrepreneur. She con- verted her passion for organic beauty by founding her own skincare line. Today, she is an inspiration for girls who want to Dont’s, create a niche for themselves in the beauty Isabella Dymalovski industry. Jhelum Biswas both love beauty but I spent my Bose, founder-owner of a childhood hearing that my pursuit A lot of wellness brand, was told is silly, not smart.” She proved her in her teens Jhelum Biswas Bose mettle by founding her that her love for own wellness and skin- beauty is frivo- Cosmetics industry is care brand and lous. “My mom a lucrative one and not becoming an author owns a salon; we a frivolous pursuit of a book on beauty.

There are so many things that make a person success- ful, however grooming does play a significant role – it reflects self-care. When someone puts in effort, thought and care into how to present their own self, it shows their attitude “I was told pageants are not intelligent.” towards everything they do. Sushmita Sen and other beauty queens faced RAGINI SINGH, VP Creative of a fashion e-portal this prejudice. But they proved everyone wrong and how.....

ushmita Sen won the Miss Universe crown for India in BLONDE JOKES ARE PASSE... 1994 when she was 18 – she was the first ever Indian woman BLONDE JOKES ARE PASSE... GROOMING AND EDUCATION CAN GO HAND-IN-HAND to achieve this feat. Did it take just physical beauty to ntelligent women follow Photo: Getty images ost girls have had their share of have a closed mindset of equating investment reach where she did? No, it was more wholesome – it was glamorous careers with S experiences of being told to spend in personality development with non-serious about grit, personality and loads of talent. “Modelling or partic- aplomb. If some young ipating in a beauty pageant is as hardworking a field as software I more time on taking care of their attitude towards career building. If you get an off- women aspire for a model- M engineering,” says the former Miss Universe and acclaimed upcoming exam vis-a-vis their appearance. So, is hand remark from any such person, engage in a ling or acting career, they actor. Sen learnt how to groom herself and had her share of strug- investing some time and energy in skincare, conversation positively: give them examples of gles to enter the beauty pageant. In fact, the outfit she wore for should not be jeered at and haircare, etc. waste of time? Well, if you are women doctors, engineers, politicians, entrepre- the Miss Universe finale round wasn’t a designer one and was assumed to be bird-brained. spending hours in front of the mirror when neurs who focus on their grooming and gain confi- stitched in a local tailor’s shop in Delhi! One can pursue an academic career while nurturing dreams of you need to study and participate in a sport, dence from it to better their careers. Chances are becoming the next ‘Miss India’ too. Roshmitha then it is likely to bother your parents and you will be heard. Harimurthy, winner of Miss Diva Universe 2016 teachers. However, if you are giving suffi- says, “Beauty pageant contestants are talent- cient time to your school curriculum and ed in their own right and display great person- alongside taking good care of your ality skills. That is an achieve- skin and hair health and physical ment in itself.” Check these fitness, there is no reason statistics that reinforces why it will upset your what Harimurthy said: STUDENT SPEAK elders and teachers. around 45 per cent of On the other hand, “Pageants are no longer just about beauty contestants in there will be some clothes and pretty looking ladies, it’s major pageants are relatives and neigh- also about all round personal develop- practicing doctors, 15 bours who will ment. Models teach you to stand with per cent are MBAs and 10 per cent are your head high and face the world as if teachers. you are the queen. I salute their confidence.” SHARANYA PATNAIK, student, Mothers International School, New Delhi IS THE MODELLING Former Model INDUSTRY VAIN? Miss World Sonalika Sahay pass snide “Who has given anyone the right to shame a Manushi ccording to Sen, this mindset is is a hotel remarks if profession or contest? Beauty pageants are Chillar is a far from true. “There is far too management they notice medical like launching pads for youngsters who want to do much responsibility for the graduate and ex-air you applying a A student who something for the society. It’s no fun, it’s more work. hostess. She also face mask or model because she is the face of your scored well launched a fashion buying good SONIA SARKAR, student, Amity International society,” she opines. All professions throughout e-portal that she quality hair oil School , Delhi including modelling or being a beauty her school eventually sold off as few people entrepreneur needs consistent hard and college to an investor in our society work. And every success life story is the result of sweat and will power.

nce upon a time, the word ‘female’ was women choose hot pink or red? No. The colour which added before the word ‘athlete’ while came out top, for both men and women, was blue. talking about women in sports. Now, Give me Usually, cultural norms shape colour preferences, Beauty is not O she is an athlete. Period. This so pink became the appropriate colour for a change has been recent after women lived baby girl and blue for a baby boy, and they with the ‘female athlete’ tag for decades. grew up wearing these colours until it became This Women’s Day is a time to celebrate a habit – shaped by gender-based cultural one idea - it’s this cultural shift and recognition after mores. However, surveys have shown girls years of battle. Gender equality — the BLUE love blue as much as men or even more, theme for this Women’s Day — is still to despite the societal conditioning. What’s the be achieved, from pay gap to fashion new verdict: EVERYONE wears blue! While on one hand, soci- notions and beauty ideals seeped in exclusivity and “I’m a girl” WHO WEARS THE PANTS? ety throws jibes and patriarchy. However, women have insults at women in the taken many strides and the world is Women and beauty industry, the taking note and trying to listen. So, other side has been there are women declaring they men, both about promoting stan- love blue and not just pink and A symbol of power darised beauty ideals of young women becoming sports and taking charge, fashion entrepreneurs and so on. To pants for a very long being thin and having them, three cheers! time was supposed hairless perfect bodies to be a men’s thing. that have impacted the Men like blue, In fact, many US confidence of women so do girls cities in the 19th and 20th cen- arbie doll has had iconic brand has introduced a Barbie from this collection A 2007 research conducted at the turies, had passed typical features of a line with Barbie staying pret- also has vitiligo – (a skin Newcastle University in the UK asked legislation bar- slim body, long ty but with different types of condition that causes the people about their ring women from B blonde hair and a pretty pout disabilities. Barbie’s loss of skin colour in blotch- favourite colour. wearing for a long time. The toy girl Toymaker Mattel worked on es). It’s a step forward Did most of the trousers. Photo: Getty images was criticised by people a doll that uses a wheel- towards embracing Eventually women endorsing values of chair and another one with inclusiveness SPORTS FASHION BY WOMEN entered the work- unhealthy beauty stereo- a prosthetic leg. One more in beauty. force and started types. Gradually Barbie A company CEO at the age of 13 and ed with fashion ventures but sports wearing pants, and We reimagined Barbie moved beyond blondeness a self-made millionaire by 15, Rachel fashion for long has been the turf of in the process and was available in various to include changing val- Zietz — through her hugely success- men. Not anymore. Women entrepre- paved the way for a skin tones, body types, eye ues of beauty and fashion to ful online sportswear company in the neurs, especially young girls, are more equal world – colours, hair colours and make it more inclusive US — is an achiever in her own right. venturing in this territory and mak- at least sartorially. It hairstyles. Now, with debate The Florida girl’s business turnover ing meaningful businesses and creat- has been a long jour- KIM CULMONE, on inclusive beauty ideals was around $2 million in 2018. ing everything from tennis racquets ney. And now every- global head of and also to accommodate Women have always been associat- to soccer wear and more. one wears pants! design for Barbie people with disabilities, the