Body language: Varshita Thatavarthi on embracing her curves her and her dark chocolate complexion

Apart from being a breathtaking Sabyasachi muse, Varshita Thatavarthi seems to nail every campaign she is part of. Whatever fashion demands of her, she seems to give in completely while standing her ground. But owning herself didn’t come easy to Thatavarthi. “I didn’t always have a healthy relationship with my body,” recalls the model. “As a South Indian kid growing up in Delhi, I was often bullied in school for my skin colour. That really took a toll on me as a child and made me very conscious and insecure from the beginning.”

In her late teens, Thatavarthi was diagnosed with hypothyroidism—a deficiency of thyroid hormones that can cause excessive weight gain. “I have battled body weight issues for a while now, and despite being an advocate for body positivity and using my platform for it, I still face challenges concerning my weight. It’s still an everyday battle, but I can definitely say I’ve come a very long way on this journey.” Working in an industry that still seems to favour the fair and petite, Thatavarthi, through hate and criticism, has made a wonderful place for herself. “Over the years, I have actively disassociated myself from people or things that would trigger those emotions of insecurity or unworthiness. In short, I don’t respond to trolls or even engage too much with the level of praise I get sometimes for my work in fashion. I don’t want anything to get into my head, whether it’s good or bad,” she says. Distancing herself from the noise has helped her get closer to her own being. “I have now slowly and over some time come to love parts of me that I felt most disassociated with growing up. I now love my dark chocolate complexion and wouldn’t try to change it. My dark, huge hips and my pouty smile, I love it all on most days. Then again, I’m only human. Some days are not great.”

For someone who was rejected for modelling gigs for the longest time, Thatavarthi is taking time to settle into the acceptance that seems to have found her. She’s been taking care of herself like never before. “Over the last year, since I’ve moved to New York, I have been actively doing yoga because it also helps me with my thyroid problem. I find it to be very relaxing and helpful without having to make it into rigorous activities that bore me. I love to walk here a lot just as anyone else.” These words from a model sound horridly refreshing. Thatavarthi doesn’t boast an extensive beauty routine either, just a laid-back, intuitive approach that a lot of us are shamelessly subscribing to. “I follow some simple skincare rituals that my grandmother passed on to me. Like oil pulling, besan and honey face masks, champi on Sundays, and I keep myself hydrated.” As someone whose body is constantly at work, Thatavarthi’s favourite quality about herself is her sense of humour. “I’m often told that I’m quite funny. I really pride myself on that!” she giggles.

Lead image credit: Ankur Maniar, Saurabh Bishwas, Agnidhra Ray

This article first appeared in Harper's Bazaar India, August 2024, print edition. 

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