Sophia Loren once said, “Beauty is how you feel inside and it reflects in one’s eyes. It is not something physical.” This is one of the very few quotes that perfectly sum up ‘beauty’ for me. I was 12-13 years old when I first asked my mother ‘Am I beautiful?’ I still remember her expression when I asked her this question! It was everything from shock, disbelief to anxiousness and worry. In that very moment, she sat me down and gave me one of my most important life lessons. She said, ‘Beauty is not your skin colour, size and shape. It is not what you see in the mirror. It is what you don’t. Beauty is subjective and everyone has a different definition for it. It is not important to be beautiful but it is important to be a good human being. And if you are a good human, you are beautiful!’ What she said that day struck a chord and has stayed with me till date.
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Over the years, women have been passionately fighting society’s interpretation of beauty and self-image. They have been consistently defying the unrealistic standards set by fashion magazines, films and brands, and have finally come around to embrace themselves for who they are. The last decade has seen a very interesting shift in the beauty industry. A shift that was much needed. A shift that now allows any and every woman to celebrate her individuality and embrace one’s flaws with full pride. And with this issue of ELLE, which is also our Beauty Special, we aim to do just that—celebrate real, unfiltered beauty and individuality. Celebrate beautiful people for who they are and who they want to be. And this definitely brings me to our cover star, Alia Bhatt.
It’s an established fact that Alia is a superstar and an actor par excellence. And while one can go on and on about her fabulous body of
work, what makes her extra special is how she is as a person. Just as Alia Bhatt. Real, secured, confident, a thorough professional, charming and forever ready to learn. And that is what makes me admire her the most. Her beauty does not only lie in the face that we see on celluloid. It runs deeper. It lies in her conduct, in those little details that she pays attention to, in the faith and confidence that she has in herself and the people she works with. Actors are often known to be insecure people and that probably has a grain of truth in it. But I have to admit, the self-assurance and grounded-ness that I see in a 28-year-old Alia, I am yet to see that in anyone else.
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We also explore individuality and inclusivity very closely in this issue. We celebrate different body shapes, types and age groups in our Diverse & Proud fashion editorial in pages 128-135 and then we talk to 20+ achievers from varied walks of life. They share with us their definitions of beauty and individuality. Check out the Perceptions of Beauty feature in pages 96-102. Last but not the least, do not miss our exclusive interviews with heavyweights Maria Grazia Chiuri and Huda Khattan.
Before I sign off, I would like to wish all our ELLE readers a very Happy Diwali and prosperous festivities. I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. Until the next one… Stay safe and stay happy.
Find ELLE’s latest issue on stands or download your digital copy here.
