Fashion magazines, guilty of a very ugly past have appropriated empowerment & ethics in recent years. Back in April 2010, Vogue India’s cover titled The Dawn of Dusk was covered in large-scale media as the most prominent voice in India against beauty ideals and prejudice. “ELLE stands for: diversity, inclusiveness and empowerment” reads the magazine’s description. How well has the leading Indian fashion magazines fared in putting their words to action? Here’s the diversity report of representation of beauty and women in Indian fashion magazine covers in 2017.

Magazines Analysed: ELLE, GRAZIA, HARPER’S BAZAAR, VERVE & VOGUE

TOTAL NUMBER OF WOMEN REPRESENTED: 72

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Total Women” percent=”91″ active_bar_color=”#494949″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

VOGUE: 21 Women / 5 Men
ELLE: 12 Women / 0 Men
GRAZIA: 16 Women / 1 Man
HARPER’S BAZAAR: 12 Women / 0 Men
VERVE: 11 Women / 1 Man

AVERAGE AGE: 33

YOUNGEST 5:

Madhulika Sharma, Model, Age: 19
Navya Nanda, Grand-daughter of Bollywood actors, Age:20
Lottie Moss, Model, Age: 20
Urvashi Umaro, Model, Age: 20
Kendall Jenner, Model, Age: 22

OLDEST 5:

Iris Apfel, Businesswoman & interior designer, Age: 96
Jaya Bachchan, Actor, Age: 69
Sridevi, Actor, Age: 54
Nita Ambani, Businesswoman, Age:54
Padma Lakshmi, Model turned TV Host, Age: 47

REPRESENTATION OF DARK/BLACK SKINNED WOMEN: ZERO

COLONIAL WHITE SKIN HANGOVER?

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_pie_chart_pie width=”300″ height=”300″ chart_value_1=”46″ chart_color_1=”#F5CAC3″ chart_legend_1=”Light Skin” chart_value_2=”26″ chart_color_2=”#A95D58″ chart_legend_2=”Brown Skin” chart_value_3=”0″ chart_color_3=”#000000″ chart_legend_3=”Dark Skin”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Light Skinned Women: 46 (of total 72) or 64%

Brown Skinned Women: 26 (of total 72) or 36%

Dark Skinned Women: 0 (of total 72) or 0%

PERCENTAGE OF LIGHT SKINNED WOMEN

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Verve” percent=”72″ active_bar_color=”#494949″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Grazia” percent=”69″ active_bar_color=”#494949″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Total” percent=”64″ active_bar_color=”#000000″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Vogue” percent=”61″ active_bar_color=”#494949″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Elle” percent=”54″ active_bar_color=”#494949″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_progress_bar title_tag=”h3″ title=”Harper’s Bazaar” percent=”54″ active_bar_color=”#494949″ inactive_bar_color=”#bcbcbc”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

100% of the foreign origin women were white skinned.

INDIAN FASHION MAGAZINES CHASE GORA MEMSAABS WHEN THE COVER STAR IS FOREIGNER OF NON INDIAN DIASPORA.

UNREALISTIC BODY IDEALS

50-60% WOMEN ARE PLUS SIZE IN REAL LIFE WHEREAS 78% INDIAN FASHION MAGAZINE COVER GIRLS FEATURED SLIM/SKINNY/PETITE BODIES.

0% PLUS SIZE WOMEN WERE FEATURED IN INDIAN FASHION MAGAZINE COVERS IN 2017.

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ONLY VERVE MAGAZINE FEATURED MORE WOMEN OF MEDIUM BUILD BODIES (6) THAN SLIM/SKINNY/PETITE BODY (5).

ELLE

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GRAZIA

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HARPER’S BAZAAR

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VERVE

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VOGUE

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ARE SUCCESSFUL STYLISH BEAUTIFUL INDIAN WOMEN FOUND ONLY IN BOLLYWOOD?

PROFESSIONAL MODELS, THE REAL BODY & FACE OF FASHION INDUSTRY (REPRESENTING A MEAGRE 26% OF THE COVER GIRLS) WERE SIDELINED TO BOLLYWOOD LOBBY (62.5% OF ALL COVER GIRLS).

[vc_row][vc_column][qodef_pie_chart_doughnut width=”300″ height=”400″ chart_value_1=”45″ chart_color_1=”#A8DADC” chart_legend_1=”Bollywood” chart_value_2=”19″ chart_color_2=”#457B9D” chart_legend_2=”Model” chart_value_3=”3″ chart_color_3=”#1D3557″ chart_legend_3=”Actor (Non-Bollywood)” chart_value_4=”2″ chart_color_4=”#4A4C51″ chart_legend_4=”Sportsperson” chart_value_5=”2″ chart_color_5=”#51272E” chart_legend_5=”Businesswoman” chart_value_6=”1″ chart_color_6=”#E63946″ chart_legend_6=”Architect”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

REPRESENTATION OF BOLLYWOOD WOMEN*

*Includes daughters & wives of Bollywood stars featured on the cover.

VOGUE: 76%
ELLE: 58%
GRAZIA: 69%
HARPER’S BAZAAR: 33%
VERVE: 63%

NEPOTISM MUCH? 1 OF EVERY 2 BOLLYWOOD WOMEN FEATURED ON VOGUE COVER ARE STARKIDS BORN INTO BOLLYWOOD FAMILIES.

REPRESENTATION OF NON-BOLLYWOOD INDIAN ACTORS: ZERO

REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN FROM NORTH EAST INDIA: ZERO

UPDATE: The following article was shortlisted among the top 20 fashion blogposts of the week Feb 8th, 2018 by Independent Fashion Blogger community. Read the stories below:

Links à la Mode, February 8th, 2018:

Aesthetic Distance: Moviepass Is A Must-Have For All Movie Lovers
A Girl in LA: My Night Out Essentials
A Housewife in Heels: Matching My Mini
April Was Here: Mommy and Me Valentine’s Day Casual Outfit + Valentine’s Day Date Ideas with Your Kids
Britt + Whit: 2018 Reflection & Goals
Cammeo Head to Toe: My Week in Style: Favorite Floral Dresses for Valentine’s Day
Chicago Petite Blog: The One Trick Petite Bloggers Swear By to Look Taller
Dangerously Me: #OOTD: Why Do I Blog?
Eboni Curls: The Northern Curls
Five Foot Nothing Shopping: Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas
Fashion to Live: Under the Stars in Tampa Heights
Gabriella Lundgren: Tobi – A Classic Top with a Detail
Gutterfashion: Thrifted: All About Capsule Wardrobes
Have Clothes, Will Travel: A Subtle Valentine’s Day Look
I’m a Norbyah: Upcycling Clothing: Make Your Clothes Work For You
LunaVida Blog: Casual To The Core | Cardigan + Tank + Ripped Jeans + Converse
Online Personal Stylist: How to Wear Black & White
Purushu Arie: Diversity Report: Representation of Indian Women on Fashion Magazine Covers
Rosa Diana: Ruffle Slit Pink Sweatshirt
Tales of Two Blog: 5 Days in Munich with Day Trips
The Glamour Pursuit: Lady in Red | Faux Fur Coat & Felt Beret

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Diversity Report: Representation of Women in Indian Fashion Magazine Covers in 2017