Since I shaved my head I’ve found times when I’ve really not felt feminine. I stopped shaving and that made me feel unfeminine at times too. I realised (and am still realising) that femininity is not defined by how I look or act and that being a woman can’t be boxed. 

My body isn’t conventional. My hips dip in the ‘wrong places’. I’m an Indian woman with no hair.

Growing up I’ve been surrounded by women, strong ones, loud ones, fierce ones. So, for me, the picture of femininity is someone who is unapologetic, someone who shouts for what they believe in.

There are so many things about me that aren’t socially normal. But ever since noticing and starting to love these parts of me, I’ve started to feel more feminine. 

The idea of being a woman and having to be smaller and quieter, to be thinner and "look good" is something I never saw in the people around me, I only saw it in the media. It wasn’t helpful for my confidence, but it means that when I picture femininity, I see it in all its forms and I see the power that comes with it. 

Being an actor, media pressure is still something that I occasionally struggle with. Being a size 18, being brown, having a buzz cut, these aren't things that I saw a whole lot of growing up. So, for me, the more I get to act, on stage and on screen, the more I’m giving a different and more inclusive face to femininity in the industry.