FINDING HOME
Ever since I came out as a gay man at age 22, I learnt that lesbian love stories were hard to come by. There’s a list that most of my queer women friends could recite immediately: Blue Is the Warmest Color, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, I Can't Think Straight, Imagine Me & You, Carol, among others. But, these films are mostly downers, loaded with the struggles of coming out, conversion therapy, the murmurs of ostracisation and the need to bottle up the idea of self-exploration. Lesbian love stories rarely, if ever, have storylines with uplifting conclusions. But, when I recently interviewed Haima Simoes and Shruti Venkatesh, I realised there are always exceptions – love stories that are so heartwarming that it’s a shame they don’t get documented on celluloid. “We met in college. Haima was my senior. We were fortunate to be part of an extremely liberating experience as our college was very queer-friendly,” says Venkatesh. The women, who have been together for over three years now, work as programme coordinators for One Future Collective, a feminist youth-led, not-for-profit organisation that works on building compassionate youth social leadership in India, and are occasional models.
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Grazia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Grazia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
NEW ROLE, NEW RULE
As the first Indian woman to win two Michelin stars and a new mother, chef Garima Arora shares her recipe to a well-rounded life full of flavours, tradition, and ambition
HUMBLE HERITAGE
India’s multicultural facets and diverse approach to food, fashion, and life has inspired many, and this brand is paying the ultimate tribute to the country
CLEAN SLATE
What are the beauty secrets of Gen Z representative Khushi Kapoor, the firstever ambassador of a much-loved Korean beauty brand?
PORE PERFECTION
What is oil gritting and why is everyone talking about it?
ELEVATING QUIET LUXURY
This Italian fashion house is consistent in its efforts to make subdued luxury look cool
A LOVE LIKE THIS
After a picturesque show that got everyone talking, Amrita Khanna and Gursi Singh of Lovebirds speak about their new collection
SOME KIND OF BRILLIANCE
How do you detail a sparkling four-decade long career journey in a half-hour chat? By uncovering the things that matter the most: A passion for design, a love for gemstones, and a dream of wanderlust. In what is probably her 40th visit to the country for Bulgari’s A Roman Holi gala), Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari’s Creative Director, talks to Grazia about the things that she holds closest
STRAIGHT-TALKING
Going beyond being a nod to tradition, embracing our heritage is an exploration of timeless craft, details Monica Shah of luxury label JADE
Label ALERT
This month, form and fabric shape different philosophies on dressing
YOUNG CONNOISSEURS
Meet Rudritara Shroff, the 16-year-old who brought together revered names in Indian art to create artworks that aid neonatal growth