HAIR IS POLITICAL.

Cutting my hair made me feel like it was mine again. Not my mother’s to dictate, not my grandmother’s worry over, not men’s to find me attractive, not society’s to define as feminine.




I am a goddamn woman because I say I am.

Photography: @papadam-productions

Coat : Zara 


Leggings: India




Top: Akira




Shoes: Antonio Milani

a day at the conservatory // 5.17.2015 

2nd set of photos for Kajal Collective cover story

photos by Papadum Productions 

papadam-productions:

people I know, people I don’t 

Remember when Papadam Productions did the Bangle Banger X Two Brown Girls video? It’s done by my wonderfully talented brother, Ashwin, and he has a tumblr portfolio now and you guys should check it out. 

BANGLE BANGER X DIWALI

makeup: mac nc44 studio fluid fix, mac concealer nc42, nars blush in liberte, nyx matte bronzer, mac prep + prime highlighter pen, sephora cream stain lip in always red, mac lip liner in cherry, maybelline nude palette, benefit they’re real push up liner, loreal voluminous mascara, 

banglebanger:

This outfit was inspired by the Balmain Fall 2014 Ready-To-Wear Collection (x)

wearing: f21 croptop, vince camuto shoes, natasha necklace

makeup: smashbox photo ready illuminating primer, mac studio fluid fix nc42, buxom illuminator, nyx eyeshadow natural palette, nyx matte cream lipstain in copenhagen, anastasia beverly hills eyebrow pomade in dark brown, nyx matte bronzer, nars blush in liberte

photographed by gaby v.

since i dont know when i’ll be able to post a new photo set (bc of moving) i’ll just bringing my fav shoots back for a bit in the mean time 

tropics give me motherland feels

wearing: jcp pants, missguided neoprene crop top, zara shoes, diy khadda dupatta

makeup: laura mercier radiance primer, bare minerals bareskin #15, nyx matte bronzer, nars blush in liberte, nars multiple in cococabana, maybelline concealer in medium light, anastasia beverly hills eye brow pomade in dark brown, loreal voluminous mascara, sephora collection cream lip stain in forever fuchsia, nars velvet matte lip in dolce vita

PLAID BLOUSES R MY SUMMER LOOKS

khadda dupatta : i’ve gotten a lot of requests on how to wear a khadda dupatta and there are many ways to do it, I just do mine like a half-saree. 

wearing: f21 top & pants, zara shoes, diy necklace

makeup: smashbox photo ready illuminating primer, bare minerals bareskin #15, hardcandy illuminator, nyx eyeshadow natural palette, nyx matte cream lipstain in san paulo & morocco, anastasia beverly hills eyebrow pomade in dark brown, nyx matte bronzer, sleek blusher in pumpkin pie & squash 

photographed by gaby v.

It’s been 6 months since this project started. It came as an idea late at night with a conversation among friends. The immense support that this  has received even further proves the lack for a supportive safe space for marginalized communities to thrive because it’s no longer just about survival. 

I hope more than anything this serves as the catalyst for POC to pursue whatever is that we want to pursue because we deserve that and to carve out a space that is so rightfully ours. 

Basically, this is a drawn out thank you, so thank you very much. XOXOXO

This outfit was inspired by the Balmain Fall 2014 Ready-To-Wear Collection (x)

wearing: f21 croptop, vince camuto shoes, natasha necklace

makeup: smashbox photo ready illuminating primer, mac studio fluid fix nc42, buxom illuminator, nyx eyeshadow natural palette, nyx matte cream lipstain in copenhagen, anastasia beverly hills eyebrow pomade in dark brown, nyx matte bronzer, nars blush in liberte

photographed by gaby v.

NEVER LET GO OF THAT ONE STRAND OF HAIR THAT BELIEVES IN YOU

CLOTHES: f21

MAKEUP:
face - bareminerals bareskin #15, nyx matte bronzer in deep medium, nars blush in liberte, illuminator hard candy in tiki 
eye makeup - sephora jumbo eye liner pencil in black,  nyx shadow in black,
brows -  anastasia beverly hills pomade in dark brown

rose water

silk button down
pink ombré saree with swarovski crystals

Tiny Dancer (This is from a video shoot that we did last week.)  

top, joe fresh
pants, charlotte russe*
shoes, antonio milani 
jewelry, bharatanatyam costume jewelry

* these pants make their rounds a lot.