From being a regular Delhi girl to walking the ramp in a swimsuit as a plus-sized model, life has come full circle for Sakshi Sindwani.
She runs a popular fashion channel- Style Me Up With Sakshi, on YouTube and other social media channels. And she has been instrumental in starting the dialogue around normalizing plus size on social media in a conservative society like ours. She walked as a model at Lakme Fashion Week in August 2019. Her stylemeupwithsakshi Instagram account has also grown to more than 300,000 followers.
For all her fans out there, Women Fitness India recently had the wonderful chance to chat with the stunning Influencer about her life, body positivity, and much more
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In India, there are not many plus-size models and influencers as compared to the west, tell us how your journey in the world of fashion and lifestyle begin?
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
Not many people know this, but I actually started off of YouTube. I was obsessed with YouTube ever since I was in sixth grade in school. So back in the day when Youtube became a thing it was way before that. Also when I was in sixth grade and I’m twenty five right now, that’s when I started YouTube and I was a much skinnier girl.
I wasn’t a plus sized girl at all, I was a mid-sized girl. And a lot of people said at that point of time, even being a mid-sized girl was taken like such a big deal. Like nobody looked like me, not even not even a size 12 on the Internet everybody saw there were skinny girls who were doing YouTube videos. So a lot of people are commenting that, you know, that’s such a breath of fresh air that, since I was a mid-sized body doing fashion and lifestyle. And I think that’s where my body positivity journey began because it was the people who encouraged.
They were like, it’s so nice to see a full-size body, wearing a skirt or a cropped up this and that and styling it in such an organic way because I would never preach body positivity. I didn’t even know, and I truly feel like I became body positive because of my audience, because they told me how I was inspiring them and that inspired me. So that’s how it all really began. I have been on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Vogue, and did multiple features with Cosmo, it’s been great so far!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
As mentioned that you have been body shammed by your family, how did you deal with it, your message for girls who go through the same? What helped you overcome the same.
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
I’m from a Punjabi family. So discussions about who gained weight and who lost weight is like a primary conversations that my family would have.And because I was a fat kid. I got really shamed a lot because everybody would keep telling me to lose weight, not a lot of people know this, but when I was in school, when I was in eighth grade to 10th grade I was probably anorexic in 10th grade in school I was a size six and I’m a size 14 to 16 now. So I was extremely underweight, malnourished, properly. It was just it was just bad. I would not eat anything. Had the proper eating disorder and this happened because, you know, the society told me that being fat is not something good? I wouldn’t get the attention of the boys. I would get constantly scolded by my dad.
My home atmosphere was going to be negative because I was gaining so much weight. So when I decided to lose weight and it started happening, I got addicted to the feeling of that losing weight sort of situation. People don’t realize how fast I was losing weight and how much weight I was losing in a very short duration of time. Um, and that led to an obvious eating disorder.
How do I deal with body shaming? Now shaming doesn’t happen. I feel like I’ve spoken about body shaming so much and the body was really so much on my page and everybody knows that I’m associated with it. There’s nobody in my family that’s going to speak about it now. But back in the day, I don’t remember fighting about it with anybody. I just remember just being so silent and absorbing everything, just let them body shame me. I think most girls end up doing that because what can you say to your elders in your family? You know, when they’re doing that, you can’t tell them they’re wrong. You just go cry about it in a room and you go sleep in the night because they’ve said something mean.
You need to be wise with your words and you need to tell them in clear words that it’s not okay to body shame
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2020 Women Fitness Org
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Women Fitness India promotes that everybody is unique and beautiful, & should always follow a healthy lifestyle, Share your fitness regime and things you incorporate to remain healthy
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
I’m a huge fitness enthusiast. I have been working out ever since I was 13 years old. I was a proper athlete in school, even though I was big. I used to play football, basketball, I would run a lot in school. So sports for me comes naturally. Also, my dad has been an athlete. He is super enthusiastic about fitness.
It’s become a little, all over the place in the lockdown. I did workout almost every single day in the lockdown and now I try to work out at least four to five times a week. And what I do to maintain a healthy lifestyle is I try to balance it out. I try to not eat junk when I’m outside. I try to eat a salad or something roasted.
I feel like if you feel like eating something, eat it. But do it with moderation is something that I always tell my body. And if you some days if you’ve eaten too much and that happens a lot with me the next day, I try to compensate by working out harder or, instead of having breakfast, I’ll have a green smoothie just to flush out those toxins. It’s all about that balance. And I think a good workout every single day is so important. Whatever you doing, whether you’re running Zumba, dance, fitness, or lifting weights, whatever it is you need to kind of work out
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Social media, is both a boon and bane, how did you go around dealing with trolls?
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
I actually am very good at ignoring trolls most of the time, the trolls most of the time actually are really funny, I just laugh it out or I ignore them. But I have this really strong thing that somebody said to me that when you start growing on social media, that’s when the trolls start coming in harder and harder and more and more. So for me, that’s like how I calculate my success. That’s just a positive way of me kind of taking the trolls. But I will always be in the positive comments and the affirmations and the validation so much bigger than just a few trolls. But when the trolls are really hurtful, it depends. If a troll has caught you on a bad day, then you can’t really do anything about it. Then it upsets you
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
As an influencer you try on various skincare products, Skincare brands that you swear by. 5 favorite homemade organic skincare rituals
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
Yes, I do try a lot of skincare. I would say I’m very selective with the kind of brands that I associate myself with because I feel like skincare isn’t something that can be messed around with. You need to be very careful, especially having oily acne prone skin. So for me, I need to be extra ultrasensitive skin, extra careful about the kind of products that go on my skin. But I have been loving, absolutely loving Laneige. It’s one of my favorite brands. Any brand that does kind of gel based water formulation of moisturizers like creams, all of that. I love clinique, makeup removal balm and love their under eye cream. I use it on an everyday basis.
My five favorite homemade organics, Multani mitti is the thing I love,if you are somebody who has dry skin, there are so many home remedies. There are so many food products in your fridge that you can apply to your skin and that can do really good wonders. Like I know for a fact that you can apply, honey, tomatoes really good. Mixing a little bit of banana is really good and egg too. But again, it all is really good for somebody with dry skin.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have a YouTube channel as “Style me up by Sakshi”.Whose style/dressing sense you like the most among the influencer industry
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
Oh, my God, this is a really good question. I can’t pick one, to be honest, I love Shereen Sikka, Masoom Minawalla, and Malvika Sitlani. I love Komal Pandey is the Queen love her fashion sense. Among international names, there is definitely Best Dressed among many others I love.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
3 Tips to share for upcoming you tubers and influencers, who lack confidence due to the way they look on camera
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
Big thing is that you have to one, always sit in good lighting, sit in front of a window. I think that’s the best. And as you sit in front of the window, you automatically tend to look good. And second, it is actually this is the main point, That you have to stop overthinking it. However, you are seeing yourself on the screen. Trust me, you’re looking a hundred times better because we’re constantly overanalysing over criticizing our face, our features. So the key is I sometimes appreciate myself I’m constantly smiling, when I’m editing my own videos because I appreciate myself.
Sometimes I tell myself, oh, my God, I looked good instead of seeing No ya, and this angle wasn’t great. It’s just about that change in the shift in the mentality and the mind-set. Not be bothered by how I’m looking. I’m going to be bothered by the content I’m making. So I think that shift needs to be made for all of the influences and creators. Please focus on your content, get your individuality.
There have already been others already a certain person representing something, be yourself. I want to see your individuality come into the picture and make content that you’re proud of that adds value to your life. Only then you will be able to kind of additional value to somebody else’s life. And what are you standing for? What is your purpose for doing anything? I mean, those are a few of the questions that you need to ask yourself as a content creator.
Namita Nayyar
Your view on the ideology that the modeling industry is it only for skinny and tall girls?
Ms. Sakshi Sindwani:
That’s definitely changing. I’m a plus-sized model. I’m working for a lot of really good editorial brands. So that’s definitely changing. It’s slow, it’s not there yet. Otherwise, I would have a lot more work. I definitely believe that if I were just a model, I wouldn’t have a lot of work. But because I’m a content creator, first sort of situation, I have the work that I have. because there aren’t enough brands still who are doing plus size. And we’re accepting fuller ladies and, kind of representing in the campaigns. So we’re heading in the direction.
It’s slow, but we’re definitely heading there. So that’s good. But is it there yet? Are we fully inclusive? Not at all. I think us far from it. A lot of work needs to be done, but we’re in the right direction. And no, I don’t think the modeling industry is any more there for skinny girls and all girls. I think, yes, there is a huge majority who still likes that.
And when there is a campaign, you will see that majority, 90 percent would be skinny and tall girls. But that 10 percent, some of the really good designers are now going for unique faces. Even if it’s short, tall, it doesn’t matter, but just unique features. And I think it’s a damn good place. Like people are getting bisexuals, transgender, acid attack victims, Shorter girls, skinnier midsize plus size, all of that. So there’s definitely inclusive diversity coming in. Like I said, it’s slow, but it’s definitely coming in.
Namita Nayyar:
Sakshi you are an inspiration for all women out there to live their dreams, Women Fitness India applauds you, Your message for our readers on why it is important to be fit mentally and then physically
Ms.Sakshi Sindwani:
It is so important just for your own well-being. I think in order to stay happy, positive, active, you need to care about fitness and you need to care about what goes inside your body. Your body is truly your temple. If your body is in an unfit condition, what can you do? What can you achieve in your life? And I’m a true hustler. And how have I become this hustler? Because I care about what goes inside my body and what do I do with my body.
So it’s super, extremely important. No matter what size you are, don’t work out to look a certain way, always work out because fitness is so much more important than changing your body type. That’s never the key. Love who you are, but also focus on growing every single day. And I think fitness is all about, fitness for me is happiness. And I think that’s how everybody should see it. Once you get once you start. Your journey towards fitness, it’s a happy, happy journey, you’re constantly happy, you’re smiling, endorphins are releasing. But fitness really is an addiction. Once you start, you can’t stop. And I haven’t stopped. I don’t plan to stop.
And even though I’m a plus-sized girl super body positive, I still don’t stop working on my body. It’s almost every single day
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2020 Women Fitness Org