Power Women With Diverse Skins | Part One
With our third volume 400 Skins, we celebrate beauty in every form and colour through a wide range of neutrally toned objects. At 400 THINGS, we want to extend the conversation around inclusivity by speaking to diversely beautiful women about their experiences and achievements. We are surrounded by powerful women who are comfortable in their own skin. They embrace every supposed imperfection, translating it into a story of self-love and acceptance. In presenting their stories, we aim to fill this space with positive experiences that inspire each of us to truly embrace ourselves, and be unapologetic about our uniqueness.
We begin with our muse and the face of 400 Skins, Namita Sunil, recently lauded as India’s next modeling star’ by Vogue. A multifaceted crusader, Namita is a model, illustrator, textile enthusiast, as well as a conscious consumer. Continue reading, as we converse with Namita on topics including ethnicity, fashion, and diverse beauty.
How did you choose modelling as a career
As a young girl suffering from colourism in India, Fashion TV was a safe space for me. I would see other beautiful women of similar skin tones, and even darker ones, which was rare in general Indian media. I felt at home. I wanted to learn to be as graceful as those models, and would practise a catwalk in my bedroom for ages!
Later, when I wanted to voice my opinion on the beauty of various skin tones, I found modelling helped me make my statement effectively. Representing brown girls and non-eurocentric beauty has always been my aim. I am so grateful for the chances I get to do so!
What has your experience been like? Do you think there is certain criteria the model is required to meet?
My experience has been empowering. I have had the chance to work with many incredibly talented people, and learn a bit of their craft as well.
There definitely are certain standards a model has to meet. I have been asked to lose weight, been told I am too short, and more. I used to take such statements very personally, but now I laugh them off. There is going to be negativity in every industry, and all you can do is be you.
Are sizes or skin colours important metrics in the profession?
Thankfully, the Indian modelling industry is slowly becoming diverse. I am so happy to see models of every skin tone!
However, I feel there is a lot of improvement to be done concerning sizes. There just isn’t enough representation. Though recently there have been plus size models cropping up, they do not get nearly as enough exposure as models of slimmer sizes. It doesn’t make sense, especially in the Indian market, where the average person is no where near a size XS.
What does 400 Skins mean to you?
400 Skins defines my purpose. To be able to work on a topic so close to my heart has been incredible. 400 Skins means that teenage Namita never has to feel bad about her brownness again. It means that millions of girls who have been told they are too dark can start to brush those statements off, and love themselves. It means the world.
Who are the women that inspire you and push you to challenge societal norms?
Beautiful black women. Beyonce, Rihanna, Serena Williams and Zadie Smith, to be precise. Black women are the strongest people in the world. To see them thriving and creating their best life with their incredible talent fills me with happiness. When I was young, I would be called ‘African’ as an insult. Even now, people often don’t think I am Indian at first glance. I looked to black women as sources of power and inspiration, rather than cheap insults from ignorant people.
What have been the defining moments for you as a model?
It’s been 9 months around, and I recently got featured as a rising star model of India on Vogue.com. It’s absolutely mad! My agent and I freaked out when we got their mail asking to interview me.
Other than that, travelling to my first ever resort, getting shot with my braces fully on display, getting the opportunity to wear brands like Dolce & Gabbana — there have been plenty of moments that have changed my life in many ways.
The best thing though, is when I post a picture, and other brown girls message me saying how they feel so much more confident with their skin tone now. That is the best feeling.
What does fashion mean to you? Do you think your style is representative of your thoughts?
I love how fashion can be one of the clearest ways to represent yourself, to take up space. It can be static, or fluid; you can be a different persona everyday or stay the same for years. It’s all up to you, and what you feel describes you best as a person. I’ve personally gone through 3 style phases (goth inspired, super colourful, and traditional Indian); my growth as a person in each of them were drastically different, but it was all for the same namita.
We love your Instagram feed. How do you use Instagram as a platform to reach out to people all over? Who is Vantagold?
Thank you!
Social media is an excellent democratic platform. Everyone is equal on it, and has a voice. My Instagram started off very light heartedly — I used it to make friends online and create this circle filled with support. Later on, a boring summer vacation caused me to start experimenting with product photography and makeup. I chose gold as a theme colour, and that was that! I started being vocal about my experience with colourism, and combined it with the pictures I posted — all in deep browns and blacks, to showcase the beauty of those colours. Vantagold — a play on vantablack and gold — was born.
My Instagram is nowhere as gold as it used to be. My aesthetic is always evolving. But I am still Vantagold, in the jewellery I wear, in the skin that I am in, and in the message I spread.
Your illustrations are bold and fearless, featuring proud brown girls in bright colours. We are conditioned to wear colours and silhouettes that ‘complement our skin colour and body type.’ What is your response to this?
I’ve got a lot of unsolicited advice about what I should wear and not wear. It inspired me to create a little project with my friend Anshita Kasal, who shot me in looks which were ‘not meant’ for dark skinned girls. It was small and fun, and helped me get over a lot of fears because I realise that a colour was just a colour — no one should have to fear what it looks like on them!
My journey with clothing for my body type has not been a struggle, since I have the privilege of being slim. I do not want to take away the voice of people who have actually been affected by body beauty standards.
What has your personal journey with self-love and beauty been?
My personal journey is still going on. There are many days I look in the mirror (or phone) and see flaws. But then I do my best to remind myself of how far I’ve come. I have worked extremely hard for my self esteem. It has been taxing at times, but very worth it.
Sharing my struggles and realising I am not alone has helped me immensely as well.
How would you encourage women all over to embrace their unique colours and forms?
Noticing and celebrating the beauty of women around us will transform us. There’s so many different types of beauty to explore — once one starts to observe and learn about them, it is easier to see their hints in oneself. I am happy with my curly hair and dark skin thanks to the myriad of other women who I’ve noticed unapologetically rocking theirs. Big shout out to them!
In a world where we are oversaturated with choice, how do you remain a conscious consumer?
Two things helped me. I decided to invest more time and money into skincare, my general health, and hair — basically my body! Because that is where one feels really beautiful. Clothes make us happy, but we get bored. But if we spend time on ourselves, that happiness is bound to stay.
The second thing that helped me was a 1 year no shopping rule, inspired by Rhea Gupte. It just started out of the blue one day, and the next thing I knew, it was over. It saved a lot of money, and that 1 year gave me enough time to think about what I was really searching for in a garment. With that knowledge, I’m much more disciplined while shopping now.
What advice would you give to young girls and women?
Your health, both physical and mental, comes first. Always.
Eat less sugar, wake up early and run a bit!
You are the only person who is always there for you.
You DON’T need to be in a relationship.
I could write a whole list! These are all lessons I learnt very recently through a painful break up. I’m still learning. Oh yes, that too — always learn! :)
— — — — — — — —
Namita’s answers reflect her honest, fearless and empowering personality, with every sentence. She stands tall as a young, inspiring role model for brown girls across the world, pushing them to follow their dreams by overwhelming all the barriers of colourism. Similarly, it is time for all of us, as well, to take a leap of faith, believe in ourselves and in our own unique beauty. Like Namita let us take charge, redefine convoluted standards of unidimensional beauty, and make it our own, shall we?
