Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.
ISSUE: Summer 2011
DEPT: Features
STORY: Janice Jann
PHOTOS: Melly Lee
HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS
– Janice Jann
{ NEHA }
America may be all about the sun-kissed, golden complexion, but for some Asian American women, paler is better.
“Fairer is regarded in higher regard,” says Indian American Neha Shah, whose family honed in on her naturally darker skin tone and told her to keep out of the sun. But Neha, a former track runner, always wanted to go outside as a kid so avoiding a tan was tough — not that she didn’t try. “I used to put on SPF 75 sun block to stay fair,” she remembers. “I would go on [beach vacations] and be under an umbrella and a towel.”
Today, the 32-year-old embraces her gorgeous skin color. “I’m over it,” she says. “You know what? When I get under the sun, I look golden.” And she’s optimistic about Hollywood’s portrayals of Indian Americans of all skin tones. Though she recognizes that there’s still not enough darker-skinned South Asian actresses onscreen, she’s happy there’s a few. “I think it’s going to get there,” she says. “It just hasn’t gotten there yet.”
Neha is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.
Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.
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Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it. ISSUE: Summer 2011 DEPT: Features STORY: Janice Jann PHOTOS: [...]
Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it. ISSUE: Summer 2011 DEPT: Features STORY: Janice Jann PHOTOS: [...]
Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it. ISSUE: Summer 2011 DEPT: Features STORY: Janice Jann PHOTOS: [...]
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i like this feature. cool idea.
[...] | Body of Quirks ft. real women Violetta, Neha, Nebula, Helena, Jessica, Joz, Iris, Yoko, and [...]
She is beautiful !