Latest news with #Glow&Lovely
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Dark, not lovely: What San Rachel's death reminded me about discrimination
As a child growing up in Kolkata, I was often told to 'take care' of my skin, especially as I spent hours training in martial arts under the harsh afternoon sun. What began as seemingly gentle suggestions soon gave way to more pointed comments. By my teenage years, hushed conversations around my marriage prospects had begun, with relatives debating whether my 'darkness' would be a liability. My mother's rules were unspoken but clear — avoid the sun, wear full sleeves even in summer, and always keep a tube of Fair & Lovely close at hand. In so-called progressive Bengal, being 'wheatish' was tolerable. Being dark was not. The recent suicide of San Rachel, a 26-year-old model from Puducherry and an advocate against India's deeply entrenched colourism, hit close to home. Rachel was confronting an entire cultural system that told women like her, and like me, that we weren't enough. That we had to earn visibility by erasing ourselves. Rachel didn't just walk runways, she dismantled them. Crowned Miss Puducherry in 2021 and later Miss World Black Beauty, she challenged every norm that told her she couldn't be beautiful. She went on to create a mentorship platform to uplift other marginalised models. But behind the crowns and accolades was a young woman quietly fighting the crushing weight of depression, online hate, and personal hardship. Her story is painfully familiar. In India, skin colour still determines a woman's worth – her desirability, her marriage prospects, her dignity. Matrimonial ads continue to seek 'fair brides'. Family members still recommend turmeric packs, lemon juice, and ubtans to 'brighten' the skin. Compliments are backhanded, always delivered with an asterisk – she's dark, but pretty. At my cousin's wedding, a guest whispered how 'fortunate' it was that the groom 'overlooked' her dusky complexion because 'everything else is perfect'. She smiled through it. Later that night, she cried alone in the bathroom. Fair & Lovely, the fairness cream that defined generations, was a fixture in most Indian households, including mine. It was rebranded to 'Glow & Lovely' in 2020, but the shift came decades too late. The messaging remained intact: Success and acceptance were for the fair-skinned; the rest of us had work to do. Bollywood, too, plays its part. Leading female actors, many of them naturally dusky, are routinely lightened on magazine covers and on screen. Camera lighting, filters, and makeup are deployed to make them 'camera-friendly' – a coded phrase for paler. Priyanka Chopra, who once endorsed fairness creams, later admitted she was ashamed of having contributed to the culture that had made her insecure. Ironically, in Hollywood, her skin tone was suddenly seen as 'exotic'. This whitening isn't just reserved for women. The industry operates in reverse, too. Fair-skinned actors are often bronzed with darker makeup when portraying characters from marginalised castes or economically weaker backgrounds. In India's visual vocabulary, fairness signifies wealth, privilege, desirability. Darkness is associated with poverty and, by extension, inferiority. The bias is far more than skin-deep. It creeps into job interviews, classrooms, marriage meetings. A friend, an accomplished lawyer, told me she was advised to apply foundation before meeting a prospective groom so she wouldn't look 'too dull'. Her accolades meant less than her melanin. San Rachel spoke publicly about being bullied for her skin as a child, and rejected by modelling agencies early in her career. Yet, she persevered, calling out the deep-rooted hypocrisy of a nation that worships dark-skinned gods but shames its dark-skinned girls. Her death is a sobering reminder of just how relentless this pressure can be. Of how the applause on stage can drown out the silence within. In India, for many women, beauty is not a joy. It is a burden. A battlefield. A lifelong negotiation for validation. We cannot bring Rachel back. But we can honour her. We can carry forward her work, her voice, her vision. It begins by unlearning what we've internalised. By refusing to laugh at that 'dark joke' at a family gathering. By calling out the aunty who insists her daughter shouldn't play in the sun. By recognising and rejecting colourism even when it comes dressed as 'concern'. And maybe, finally, by teaching our daughters, and our sons, that beauty was never meant to be a single shade. Thank you very much.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Glow & Lovely empowers women influencers in new campaign
Glow & Lovely , one of India's skincare brands, has unveiled a new chapter with ' Apni Roshni Baahar La ' (Bring Out Your Inner Light), a nationwide movement designed to champion and enable the next generation of women influencers . With this initiative, the brand introduces an empowering narrative — one that celebrates visibility, voice and influence of young Indian women. At the core of this movement is The Glow Up Academy , a first-of-its-kind creator-upskilling platform with a bold ambition: to train and nurture one digital creator in each of India's 19,101 PIN codes. Through structured modules, mentorship, and real-world exposure, the Academy will equip aspiring women with the skills to build personal brands, create compelling content, and thrive in the creator economy . Glow and Lovely's campaign, created by Ogilvy Mumbai , is brought to life by a collective of women creators who exemplify the spirit of 'Apni Roshni Baahar La'. The campaign features the journeys of creators Shehnaaz Gill, Jannat Zubair, Nabha Natesh, Larissa D'Sa, Avneet Kaur, Shreya Priyam and Chum Darang. Each of them brings their unique story, voice and influence to the fore. Together, they represent a growing movement of women rewriting the rules of self-expression in India from metros to small towns. Launching with a social-first film, the campaign challenges conventional definitions of what it means to be an 'influencer'. Today's influence is not about creating content to 'fit in', it's about standing out. It isn't about just sparking attention, but about owning your story, showing up unapologetically, and building a following with purpose. Harman Dhillon, executive director, beauty and wellbeing, Hindustan Unilever Limited said, 'With 'Apni Roshni Baahar La', we are reframing the definition of influence to one that is rooted in authenticity, courage and impact. We believe that every woman has the potential to build her own identity and this campaign, along with The Glow Up Academy, is our commitment to enable her and help her shine.' Anurag Agnihotri, chief creative officer, Ogilvy India (West), added, 'This idea was born from a simple truth that every woman carries a light the world needs to see. Today, influence is not simply about her simply gaining status; it's how she uses her authentic narrative to shape culture, claim her space, and inspire others to do the same. 'Apni Roshni Baahar La' is our mirror to every woman: your light is enough, now let it lead.' The campaign is live across Instagram, YouTube, and other digital platforms, supported by influencer collaborations, regional content rollouts and on-ground outreach initiatives through The Glow Up Academy. Watch the video here:
Fashion Value Chain
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Value Chain
Glow & Lovely Empowers Women with ‘Apni Roshni Baahar La'
Glow & Lovely has unveiled a bold new brand initiative, 'Apni Roshni Baahar La', a movement designed to empower Indian women to lead and influence in the digital era. Central to the campaign is the launch of The Glow Up Academy, a nationwide platform that aims to train at least one digital creator in every one of India's 19,101 PIN codes. This unique academy will offer structured learning modules, mentorship, and hands-on experience to help aspiring women creators build personal brands and navigate the creator economy — turning self-expression into opportunity. Created by Ogilvy Mumbai, the campaign brings together celebrated voices including Shehnaaz Gill, Jannat Zubair, Nabha Natesh, Larissa D'Sa, Avneet Kaur, Shreya Priyam, and Chum Darang, who each share their own journeys of owning their narrative, building influence, and breaking norms. The social-first campaign film shifts the definition of 'influencer' — from trend-follower to authentic leader, spotlighting the power of women who shape culture through confidence and purpose. Watch the film: 'This is more than a brand evolution — it's a cultural call to action,' said Harman Dhillon, Executive Director, Beauty & Wellbeing, HUL. 'Every woman has a light that needs to be seen,' added Anurag Agnihotri, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India (West). The campaign is live across social platforms, bolstered by regional rollouts, influencer collaborations, and on-ground engagement by The Glow Up Academy. Sign up now at:
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Business Standard
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
HUL launches iSight to track demand trends, competition on real-time basis
Hindustan Unilever (HUL), one of India's largest fast-moving consumer goods companies, is using its employees to stay ahead of the curve by launching an application called iSight. The app enables employees to track demand trends and competitors' moves in the market. Through iSight, employees can share feedback and insights about HUL's products, their placement, market trends and observations in the marketplace. They can also include suggestions made by family and friends. The app aims to help the company understand product efficacy and shelf placement, provide insights into competitive products, and contribute to addressing specific issues within various categories. While this initiative by the maker of Lux is exclusive to India and was launched at the end of April, the application already has 1,000 employees enrolled and has generated 300 insights since its launch. 'Our employees are our most passionate consumers. With iSight, we're putting the power of market insight directly in their hands — to observe, engage and shape the future of our brands. The goal is to scale this as a force multiplier — not just through campaigns, but by enabling every employee to be a constant consumer and customer tracker,' Rohit Jawa, chief executive officer and managing director of Hindustan Unilever, told Business Standard. After employee feedback is received, the consumer markets insights team collates and extracts key findings, which are then forwarded to relevant teams for further action. While employees previously had the option to send market feedback via emails or customer care lines, this is the first time the company has rolled out a dedicated app for the purpose. iSight is an HUL initiative exclusive to India. The company has already run two changes for its brands Glow & Lovely and Lifebuoy and is currently analysing the ideas and insights. In a conference call with analysts following its results, Jawa said both Lifebuoy and Glow & Lovely had undergone comprehensive relaunches in response to changing consumer needs. 'Lifebuoy has been dedicated to preventing infections and promoting health for over a century, continually evolving with changing consumer preferences. After enhancing the product with Stardust technology, the brand has now elevated its proposition from illness protection to advanced skin protection benefits,' Jawa told investors. He also added, 'We also stepped up our investment behind on-trend demand spaces by relaunching Lifebuoy Lemon Aloe Fresh within the freshness segment. We introduced Glow & Lovely with an elevated proposition of newer, brighter skin every day and modern packaging.' While the application gives HUL real-time insights on market trends to help enhance its processes, the company is also incentivising employees for providing feedback while shopping by allowing them to earn points for their contribution.
News18
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Shehnaaz Gill's BTS Pics From Latest Track Noor Have Harry Sandhu's Attention
Last Updated: In the behind-the-scenes shots, Shehnaaz Gill fiercely posed for the camera, wearing an asymmetrical one-shoulder silver metallic dress. Bollywood actress and television personality Shehnaaz Gill recently shared some behind-the-scenes shots from her newly released song Noor. In partnership with Glow & Lovely, singer Hardy Sandhu and Shehnaaz Gill collaborated on the inspirational track that celebrates womanhood. In the behind-the-scenes shots, Shehnaaz fiercely posed for the camera, wearing an asymmetrical one-shoulder silver metallic dress that featured a wrap detail at the bottom with a long drape. In the caption, she wrote a playful and witty note that read, 'Mirror's favourite view…me." Channeling a soft glam look, Shehnaaz went for coral eyeshadows and soft pink lips to balance her whole look. For accessories, she went for minimal silver ear cuffs and a matching ring. To bring the whole look together, she put her hair in a sleek ponytail, channeling a fresh and energetic vibe. The series of pictures also featured a shot of Shehnaaz and Hardy Sandhu posing together. Sandhu was seen twinning with his collaborator and wearing a silver metallic jacket on top of an all-black outfit, giving a classy look. To bring everything together, the singer paired his outfit with a stunning diamond necklace, featuring a big diamond in the middle. Shehnaaz and Sandhu collaborated together to make the official anthem of Glow & Lovely. The song Noor, combining Sandhu's musical genius with the brand's core values, delivered a strong message on women's empowerment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shehnaaz Gill (@shehnaazgill) Previously, while talking about the song, Shehnaaz explained her experience of being a part of Noor as 'uplifting." As per The Times of India, Shehnaaz reflected on the song as she stated, 'It's a celebration of the spirit of womanhood, and I believe it will resonate deeply with women across India, reminding them of their inherent power." Hardy Sandhu, in a recent interview, also shared his experience working with Shehnaaz Gill as 'unalloyed pleasure." Sandhu complimented Shehnaaz's performance in the music video and praised her for perfectly capturing the quintessence of the song and its underlying message. First Published:
