Growing up, Kajol was one of my idols. Because she looked so much like me! Textured hair, brown skin, a boldness in her stance and still so gorgeous. TBH we got quite lucky for Kajol step into Bollywood and make waves because up until then, the Industry beauty standards were anything but inclusive.
Actresses all looked a certain way and Kajol never really fit into that demographic. She was considered an unconventional beauty and thanks to that she has helped make the industry a little more inclusive. From breaking stigmas against dark skin to making it normal for healthy body types to be considered attractive on the big screen, here’s every way Kajol challenged and changed Bollywood’s harsh beauty standards for good.
Dark Skin Is In
When Kajol made her debut in Bekhudi, she was one of the first leading ladies to have had a darker skin tone. Her onscreen presence proved that you don’t need to be fair to be considered beautiful. Her contemporaries all boasted a lighter skin tone, but it was Kajol’s confidence and comfort in her skin that truly left a mark. She didn’t care about her skin so much so that, in an interview, she said, “I never took adequate care of my skin or used a sunblock. When we started working, we were shooting in some of the harshest conditions. We didn’t have chairs or vans so we would be in the sun from 7 am to sunset. I had constant exposure for years on end until I finally realised that maybe we should be doing something about it.”
Natural Hair Texture Is Gorgeous
Kajol is known to have super voluminous and kind frizzy hair. Like fair skin, straight and smooth hair was the gold standard in the ’90s. But Kajol made it cool. Her hair was the true example of what Indian hair texture looked like and she carried it off with pride!
What Natural Brows Look Like
All actresses before Kajol, had their brows groomed to perfection and penciled in. But this diva let her natural eyebrows shine. Even though she shaped her eyebrows, she made sure to never touch her unibrow. Kajol literally made what others would consider an insecurity, her trademark style. When asked about her unique brows in an interview, Kajol said, “It’s sheer laziness, trust me. My tolerance for pain is at zero or minus 100. I’m one of those people that when I go to the parlour, they make sure I’m the only one there and it’s not because I’m famous.”
Brown Girl Makeup Is A Thing
Since fair skin was considered to be the highest beauty standard in the world, there was little makeup inspiration for women of colour until Kajol. She proved that brown girl makeup is a thing and pulled it off with sheer confidence. From nude lipsticks and glosses that complemented her skin to light blushes and bold eyeliner and she was the true MVP of minimalist makeup. Her look was more glow-focused and that made her truly irresistible to look at.
While a lot has changed, Kajol has managed to stay true to herself despite all odds. She’s a true icon and we’re so lucky to have such a star in our midst. Happy Birthday Queen!
Featured Images: Instagram
