Editorial - Nina Davuluri

2014's Miss America Nina Davuluri, 24, became a role model to many Indian and Indian American women who struggle with the social stigma attached to dark skin

From the editor's desk

While India is drenched with ads promoting fair skin products endorsed by superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, the restrictive societal mold was finally broken when young and confident South Indian- American Nina Davuluri adorned the 2014 Ms.America crown upon her head, a historic event which allowed her to not only empower her country of origin, but also to embrace her cultural ethnicity, including her dark skin. During a phase of the competition, Davuluri was asked about her perception of plastic surgery, specifically in regards to television personality Julie Chen, who had procedures done on her eyes in order to make them look less Asian. Davuluri's answer may have been what won her the crown.

She noted that one's diversity should be celebrated and that she was personally opposed to plastic surgery to alter an ethnic appearances, a response which garnered her rousing cheers and applause from the audience.

This response from Davuluri also elucidated other aspects of her accomplishment in and of itself; specifically, how one should accept their cultural race and background completely, with no inhibitions or anxiety. It's not uncommon in India that fair skin is treated with awe and respect. In fact, several dark-skinned girls both in the North and in the South are looked down upon and treated as burdens by their own parents who cannot afford to pay the societal price of having a child with dusky skin.

Strangely even here in the United States, some Indian communities looks down upon the dark skinned South Indian community. I once even heard an Indian woman in the temple saying, "I can't believe such a dark skinned girl South Indian won the Miss America title."

When our own country is divided solely on the basis of what shade our skin color showcases, disallowing us from supporting our own daughters, how can other ethnic groups who are verbally attacking Nina to be blamed? Dont we have to rectify and clean up our own home first? While India has become the center of thriving business, fashion and cinematic industries, its culture and bias over prevalent issues pertaining to the female gender remain archaic.

Nina's parents are from Andhra Pradesh, South India where many girls face judgment due to their dark skin. In fact, the Telugu film industry doesn't even have any heroines that belong to their state anymore! Most of them are imported from North India due to their fair skin and have their voice dubbed (emphasizing that only the color of the skin matters).

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a "North" Indian or "South Indian," or "dark Indian" or "fair Indian." At the end of the day, all our origins say the same thing: we are from India. Originally atleast.

Hopefully, Nina Davuluri's victory will open the eyes of her own country and force it to realize that beauty is not merely a matter of skin.

Meena Yeggina