While planning our annual Women Of The Year (WOTY) awards, which bring together prolific women achievers for a night packed with glamour and excellence, we decided to spotlight these new rock stars who have leveraged their popularity and platform to effect change in their industries. Take model-of-the moment Nidhi Sunil, who takes the role of an inclusivity champion in her stride, or legendary actor Salma Hayek, who made a prolific film career for herself while making a multilayered statement on ageism and diversity.
On our line-up are those whose ambitions revolve around a better planet and a tangible impact for its inhabitants. At 15, scientist Gitanjali Rao is the youngest ever winner at WOTY while the oldest, Jane Goodall, at 87, is the most resilient face of hope. Propelled by the times, our winners are redefining the world we live in by using their talent to break barriers in science, arts, business, sports and beyond.
Relevant and irrepressible, meet our stars of 2021.
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
PV SINDHU
On performance anxiety and finals phobia
The annual BWF World Championships has been badminton star PV Sindhu’s biggest sporting challenge. Between 2013 and 2018, she won two bronze and silver medals each in the World Championships, but the gold consistently eluded her.
This story is from the November 2021 edition of VOGUE India.
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 November 2021 edition of VOGUE India.
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
The Real Deal
Triptii Dimri's unfiltered spirit shines through as she races ahead on her journey to the field of stars.
Mrs.Prada
Almost everyone refers to Miuccia Prada in the most formal of ways, but she herself has never been one to stand on ceremony. WENDELL STEAVENSON meets a designer who has built an empire in her own image: iconic, iconoclastic and enormously influential.
Happily ever laughter
South Asians have long clamoured for a seat at the comedy table. Now, Vidura BR, Sabeen Sadiq, Hari Kondabolu and Abby Govindan are in on all the jokes
Anchors aweigh
Having moved houses almost every year of her life, KALYANI ADHAV's experiences are proof that home is not a place, it's a feeling
Console sisters
India's female gamers are rewriting the age-old narrative that views women as objects of desire or damsels in need of saving.
Soft serve
His untimely disappearance from the big screen nine years ago may have caused serious heartburn, but Imran Khan is ready to pick up where he left off-with a few upgrades.
The end of olitter?
Or are we just at the beginning—of a new era of microplastic-free, perfectly-healthy-to-eat sparkle. TAMAR ADLER reports on glitz to feel good about
Smooth operator
Can retinol pack the wrinkle-reducing power without the irritation? Chloe Malle test-drives a new generation of kinder formulas rebooting the superstar skincare ingredient
The great gamble
At the Gucci Ancora showcase in Singapore, Vogue India got within a hair’s breadth of Sabato De Sarno’s debut collection. ROCHELLE PINTO reports on the new direction
Blue jean baby
LEE X Suneet Varma's collaboration featuring Sara Ali Khan merges classic denim with Indian couture.