Eleven creatives get real about what beauty means to them—and why it should (mostly) be unhinged

Beauty isn’t about playing by the rules anymore. It’s messy, loud, unapologetic, and utterly personal. We asked eleven creatives from different corners of the scene to share what beauty truly means to them, why it should be a little unhinged, and how embracing that wild side can push us all forward. Get ready for some real talk, bold confessions, and a whole lot of inspiration to break free from the perfect-and-curated mould.

Narresh Kukreja, creative director, Shivan & Narresh

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

I talk too fast. In my own head, I form my own sentences even before I’ve finished them out loud.

Should beauty be curated or a teeny bit unhinged?

Oh, I think beauty should always be unhinged. If you’re not unhinged, you’re actually not pushing society to evolve itself

Hussna Bano, content creator

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

I’m careless.

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

Calm down. It’ll happen.

Mashaal, model

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

Telling it like it is! I view personal style as an animal that just grows as you do while building a whole life.

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

You can be anyone you want if you are at ease with yourself. Have fun, think more! Being just one thing was never the point.

Sabrina Dhillon, CEO, Okhai

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

I think I’m authentically me—even if it’s big and bold, or if I am hiding in a corner.

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

Just be yourself, everyone’s figuring it out, no one has got it right. Just go with it.

Prableen Kaur Bhomrah Bhomrah, content creator

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

I’m unfiltered, and I make sure that my voice is heard—all with a smile on my face.

Should beauty be curated or a teeny bit unhinged?

I don’t think there’s any specific ratio. It has to be felt. If you’re feeling beautiful, that’s all that matters.

Nin Kala, model and interior designer

Should beauty be curated or a teeny bit unhinged?

It has to be both. I think mine is like 70 per cent curated, 30 per cent wild. I like control but I also like that little madness, that little mess that makes someone feel alive. Too perfect is boring.

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

You were always enough. You didn’t have to hide or shrink or wait for someone to say “yes, be you”. I wish I could hug you and say—don’t waste time proving. Just live. You are the proof.

Deepu Rawat, dancer and model

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

Professionally, I am a Bboy dancer, which is the purest Hip-Hop dance form. It enables your essence to come forward.

Should beauty be curated or a teeny bit unhinged?

My style is baggy and comfortable. Don’t go with perfection, I would say, just wear what you have with confidence.

Deveney Dweltz & Gayle Dweltz, models

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

Deveney: That it’s okay to have freckles and it is okay to stand out in public. We were really questioning our identities when we were younger.

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

Gayle: Our pictures. We are able to show our bond as twins, which is sometimes captured so beautifully.

Tanshi Agrawal, content creator

What’s the most ‘you’ thing about the way you express yourself?

I was so insecure about my belly and big arms. But, I started dressing the way my body feels it should be dressed, rather than me fitting into clothes.

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

I think I would tell her not to listen to all the “noodle hair” comments because that will become the biggest accessory you have in the future.

Spardha Malik, stylist

Should beauty be curated or teeny bit unhinged?

Beauty should definitely be unhinged. I think the way I see beauty is in a very natural sense—there’s so many different types of beauty and all of it needs to be celebrated.

What would you tell your younger self when it comes to just being you?

Just chill out, enjoy your life, and don’t be so stuck up on perfection.

Image credits: Ishaan Dhawan, Sarang Gupta
Editorial coordinators: Shalini Kanojia, J Shruti, Tongpangnuba Longchari
Makeup artist: Vatsala Bhagat for Mashaal, Hussna, Nin, Sabrina, Prableen, Gayle and Deveney; Muskan Chhaparia for Narresh, Deepu, Tanshi, and Spardha
Hair artist: Gina Ghai for Mashaal, Hussna, Nin, Sabrina, Prableen, Gayle and Deveney; Neha Valecha for Narresh, Deepu, Tanshi, and Spardha
Stylists: Tongpangnuba Longchari, Anushree Sardesai
Styling assistant: Jhanvi Khatwani
Editorial assistant: Ishita Mishra
Editorial intern: Navya Manocha
Studio Location in Delhi: Studio Deep Space

This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's July-August 2025 print edition. 

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