At the ELLE Beauty Weekender presented by Tata CliQ, we are celebrating all things beauty and wellness with Leeza Mangaldas. A sexual health advocate on Instagram, she is trying to build a community where all sexual experiences are consensual, safe, and pleasurable. Ahead of her participation at the three-day virtual event join us in a chat with Leeza.
ELLE: What does wellness mean to you personally?
Leeza Mangaldas (LM): Wellness to me is one’s sense of physical, mental, and emotional well-being and safety. It is also the freedom to express one’s identity without shame or stigma. Success in our society is so often defined purely in terms of productivity and how much money one makes even if that comes at the cost of prioritising things like rest and pleasure. But I think rest and pleasure are central to overall well-being.
ELLE: What are your top three ways to calm yourself down?
LM: Spending time in nature, running, and breathing. I also find singing along to my favourite songs out loud (no matter whether I am a “good” singer or not) to be a great way to get myself to breathe deep breaths and resume a state of inner calm.
ELLE: If your body could talk right now, what would it say?
LM: “Stop looking at your phone!”
ELLE: How can one navigate the ill effects of social media usage?
LM: Turn off all notifications, so you visit the apps only when you want to rather than every time they tell you to! Limit the amount of time you allocate to social media usage, be discerning about the information you give your attention to— it’s important that your sources of information are credible and ethical. Remember that neither the numbers nor the love nor the hate that may come with internet fame actually define your worth. Make an effort to spend more time in real life with the people that matter to you.
ELLE: Your mantra for being confident?
LM: I try to approach whatever I do from a place of love and kindness, and a willingness to learn. I don’t have all the answers and that’s okay. We’re in this together and we must approach each other with compassion and empathy instead of judgement.
Watch Leeza Mangaldas’s entire session at ELLE Beauty Weekender 2021 presented by Tata CLiQ here:
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Get ready for a weekend filled with all things beauty and wellness at ELLE Beauty Weekender 2021 presented by Tata CLiQ. From fun masterclasses to insightful conversations, save the date to celebrate three days of beauty, makeup, skincare, wellness, homegrown and international brands, and much more. Head to the new beauty destination, TATA CLiQ, to stock up on beauty essentials now!
