Beauty doesn't always lie in the eyes of the beholder. From billboard hoardings, advertisements to job descriptions and matrimonial listings, women are born into a world with manifold prescriptions of the beauty standards to which they must adhere. Men and women alike in an attempt to conform, often subvert the genetic gifts which represent their backgrounds. However through social media campaigns, celebrities and socially conscious advertising, awareness is being created to change conventional perceptions about beauty. As society strives to be more accepting of ethnic differences, can beauty too move away from the one-size fits all prescription? Join us in celebration of International Women's Day as we discuss notions of beauty in India, its impact on self-image and the various roles women undertake with Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014 and Malavika Sangghvi, Journalist and Founder, SANGUINE.

Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014, was the first contestant of Indian descent to win the Miss America Competition representing the state of New York. Over the course of her year of service as Miss America, she addressed an array of audiences on her platform: "Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency," this platform draws on Davuluri's personal experiences intending to spark conversations about diversity, inclusion, and assimilation. As part of her consciousness-raising efforts on behalf of diversity, Davuluri also launched a social media campaign, Circles of Unity to encourage constructive and civil dialogue on diversity issues. In addition to her personal platform, Nina also has a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Education promoting women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related fields.

Malavika Sangghvi is a journalist, editor, author and columnist with three decades experience in media. She has edited newspapers like The Sunday Review - and written for respected international journals like the New York Times and the Sunday Times, (UK). She has been regarded as a pioneer in lifestyle journalism and content creation. She has also worked as a broadcaster for BBC Radio and a TV anchor on Star TV and is a published poet and author of two books. Sangghvi currently writes a popular daily city diary column 'Malavika's Mumbai' in Mid-day and 'Woman of Letters' in DNA. She has recently co-founded a luxury and lifestyle consultancy 'SANGUINE' which curates bespoke events and which will launch an upscale digital content and e-commerce platform shortly.

This programme is part of Asia Society India Centre’s Women of Asia Series, which brings eminent women from the fields of Asian business, arts, culture and policy, and provides a senior level platform for discussion on issues of current interest affecting Asia and the world. This series promotes the collaboration and leadership of accomplished women through a range of informative and network building forums that facilitate the sharing of best practices, critical issues and personal experiences. 

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