DIDIHOOD ~ Issue 4

Hey all! Happy June! And if you're new here, welcome to our monthly newsletter! We have some exciting news this month, but first... 

Meet the Didis: 

This month, we're talking to Manjot Bains, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Jugni Style. She's been published in Geist Magazine, Huffington Post, and numerous corporate publications. Manjot is also co-owner of Anara Design Co., a modern textiles and home decor brand based in Vancouver. 

Tell us about Jugni Style and why you started it? 
I co-founded Jugni Style with my friend Joti when we were both living in Toronto. I was a grad student and hated the program I was in, and I was seeking a creative outlet where I could comfortably talk about the ideas and identities that weren't being discussed in my cultural studies program. We also didn't see ourselves and our skin tones reflected in the fashion magazines and websites we liked visiting. Those initial frustrations developed into a digital lifestyle magazine that covered South Asian fashion, beauty, film, music and history. We also produce a leading South Asian history podcast, The Nameless Collective, and plan on resurrecting The Jugni Style podcast this autumn as well. 

How important do you think representation of South Asians in media is? Do you feel like it's enough? 
It's good to see the number of brown faces on Canadian television news, but we need access and representation at the executive and managerial levels. We need to be decision makers and have access to this power in order to change the way storytelling is done. It's inspiring to see the number of South Asians on American television — Mindy Kaling is my hero! — but that's a long battle that doesn't feel like it's even started in Canada. I was so excited to see Radhika Jones come on as the editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, and I hope we'll see shifts in access and representation for POCs in that publication. But Canada? Show me a digital, print or television media space where there is a POC in a key position of power. 

Do you have any advice for other Didis who want to do what you're doing? 
Don't overthink it. There are a lot of stories and ideas that I've wanted to tackle on JugniStyle.com over the years but I've second-guessed myself and refrained from publishing. The digital space and call-out culture is scary — will someone criticize my view on this topic? They will. Someone always will, but it's so important to put your ideas out there. I know from the reader feedback that I've received that there is an appetite for a diversity of voices and sharp opinions on everything from race and politics to foundation colour matching and whether or not haldi masks actually work. I've had friends treat me different because I'm interested in fashion and like writing and publishing about it. It used to bother me a lot, being pigeonholed and characterized in a small box, but then I got over it and said, fuck it. I like fashion AND critical race theory. It's all good. 

Anything else we should know? 
I'm always seeking out new voices to join us at Jugni Style and on the podcast. DM me on Instagram. 

What we're reading: 

Where are all the South Asian women in fashion? With racial diversity in the fashion and beauty industries at an all-time high, Tahmina Begum asks, what about South Asian representation? 

How Savita Halappanavar's story became the face of the movement for Ireland's abortion law. 

Check out OH AUNTY JI, an Instagram page dedicated to stylish Aunty Jis curated by Canadian designers NORBLACK NORWHITE. 

What we're watching: 

Love this funny Telugu/English makeup tutorial from Deepica Mutyala and Raja Kumari! 

-- Roohi Sahajpal 

Upcoming Events: 

DIDI TALKS: MEDIA 
We are excited to announce our first panel on the media's representation of South Asian women. 
Through narratives from women in film, journalism, arts and academia, we hope to create a larger conversation of some of the industry's biggest struggles and triumphs. Stay tuned to our Instagram as we introduce our panelists over the coming weeks! 

When: Thurs. June 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
Where: Twitter Canada headquarters in downtown Toronto 
The one-hour panel will be followed by drinks and refreshments

RSVP HERE.

Issue 4 

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