(Apologies about the poor audio quality!)
Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of Modern Malayali!
Today’s episode is about a topic that I've been wanting to speak about for a while. It’s close to my heart, and I know it’s something so many of us, especially in the Malayali community, have experienced in some way or the another. We’re talking about skin colour - more specifically, how darker skin tones are viewed within Malayali culture.
In this episode I am joined by Gauri. Gauri shares her experiences of dealing with colourist comments from family and friends and how it has shaped her self-worth. She also opens up about living with eczema, which often draws further remarks from others about her skin.
We talk about the cultural biases and the generational mindsets that perpetuate them. We delve into theinfluential and powerful role of media in shaping beauty standards. We explore how films, advertisements, and social media perpetuate narrow ideals of beauty, often marginalising diverse skin tones and features.
Through our discussion and Gauri's personal insights, we highlight the need for more inclusive representation and the power of media to redefine what is considered beautiful.
Gauri shares how she navigated the complexities of identity, self-acceptance, and resilience, and offers a heartfelt message of empowerment and solidarity to listeners who have faced similar challenges.
This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of embracing your unique beauty and challenging discriminatory norms. To anyone else that's listening, if there’s one thing I would like you to take away from this episode, it’s that your skin tone is not a flaw.
It’s not something to fix or hide. It’s part of you. And you don’t owe anyone “fairness” to be loved or celebrated. Dark skin is just as beautiful as fair skin :)
Please go check out Gauri's Tiktok page on: @powchikawowza and show some love!
--------------------------------------------------------
About the Modern Malayali podcast:
Have you ever wondered how other Malayalis live their lives outside of Kerala?
I have. I've always been curious about how other Malayalis navigate their culture while living very modern, Western lives.
I’m talking about the influence our culture has had on the decisions and choices we've made — from choosing a career path to choosing a life partner, from how we talk about mental health to how we spend our free time.
This is a podcast where Malayalis from all over the world can connect and share stories. We’re all in this together, and I’m sure many of us have had similar experiences.Hopefully, one of these episodes will inspire or reassure you that you're not alone in this.
Please follow, rate, and review the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music.
--------------------------------------------------------
To stay up to date with new episodes and upcoming guests, find me on Instagram and TikTok!
Instagram and TikTok are also a great way to connect with me, and to let me know if you’re interested in being on the show!
--------------------------------------------------------
Music by Kalpesh Ajugia from Pixaby.