Are you ready to celebrate? In addition to it being Women’s History Month, tomorrow marks both International Women’s Day and Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors. Keeping in line with these themes, today we’re recognizing powerful women from both the past and present. You’ll also get a look into our special Holi editorial shoot. Cheers to an exciting week!

– Rosh

Lilly Singh Calls Out Brown Men

Lilly Singh is over it. Born in Toronto to Punjabi-Sikh immigrants, Singh began her career in comedy on YouTube, where she eventually grew to become one of the highest paid women on the platform. Despite the success she’s since found as a rapper, bestselling author, NBC late-night talk show host, and more, many South Asians still consider Singh a controversial choice when it comes to representation.

Now, she’s firing back. Over the weekend, Singh took to her Instagram stories to express frustration at the lack of support she gets from the brown community, and specifically brown men. Her 4 minutes of hot takes, which she made permanently available as a reel, now has close to a million views.

Singh isn’t saying you should support her just because she’s brown, but she does ask that her criticism at least be constructive.

Singh describes how some brown men get upset by her success and public recognition, criticizing out of insecurity rather than merit. She says the South Asian community should know well that being a woman at her level doesn’t come easy, and it’s only made harder when her own community is hateful. Finally, she calls on the supportive men she knows to speak up about the disservice, because, “If you don’t rally for me, who the f will?”

The video sparked a mixed reaction. Many women in particular praised Singh and resonated with her struggles. Other people disagreed and suggested the importance of vocally disapproval since, whether we like it or not, Singh is one of the very few South Asian women we have as mainstream representation in the West and should be held accountable to that standard.

Singh notes in her caption, “You know when we can start being uber critical and privileged with our opinions? When we don’t have a problem getting into rooms, on tv shows, getting funding and seeing ourselves represented in countless industries. Until then, you are simply going against our chances… Let’s dedicate ourselves to ensuring that WE are not an obstacle on our OWN journey to growth. Less bakwaas please."

POPSHIFT HOLI is this Saturday in LA

We did a fun editorial shoot in honor of our first POPSHIFT HOLI. Here’s a sneak peek!

See the caption below for event details.

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Sophia Duleep Singh: The Could-Have-Been Kohinoor Heiress and Activist

Sophia Duleep Singh was many things: a princess, a socialite, a potential heiress to the Kohinoor... But beyond the glitz and the glamor was also a feminist icon, a leading suffragette who remained loyal to her Indian heritage despite her Hampton Court upbringing – courtesy of her godmother, Queen Victoria.

Born in 1876, Singh inherited her royal title from her father’s side. She was the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, who was infamously forced to abdicate his kingdom and relinquish the Kohinoor diamond to the East India Company at the age of 11. Although he, and later Sophia, were well cared for and lived lavishly as British subjects, they grew disillusioned with the lifestyle, resenting their European surroundings for its reminder of what was lost from India.

A trip to India awakened the princess up to colonial injustice, prompting her to trade in her party-attending, socialite lifestyle for an anarchy-encouraging, suffragette one. Singh supported bomb manufacturers, refused to pay her taxes, and played an instrumental role in a mass protest that saw nearly 300 women injured by the police – later known as Black Friday. Still, her royal connections kept her from being arrested during her lifetime of rebellion. She continued her activism until her final day in 1948, peacefully passing away in her sleep, having lived to witness both Indian independence and her right to vote.

Other Notable News

• Karajee Singh Gaba is the first Sikh model to sign with Louis Vuitton.

• Bill Gates is blogging about his India tour, where he’s driving electric rickshaws and learning to make khichdi.

• Muzzle released a new track “Get Away.”

• Karan Soni is voicing Spider-Man India in the animated feature “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

• Deepika Padukone adds Qatar Airways to her growing resume of global ambassador positions.

Written and Edited by Roshni Rekha