YAMINI COOMAR
WHAT ARE SOME EVENTS THAT HAVE IMPACTED HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A WOMAN?
"Back in India, where I come from and where I lived for like almost 12 years, women there get harassed often and if you know, a lot of rape cases happen every single day in India. So I used to feel really insecure with what I used to wear whenever I used to go outside, or generally just feel afraid and scared. I used to regret being a girl a lot of times because I couldn’t go out and have a walk, which is something that I really loved doing but I couldn’t do it. "
TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR FUTURE PLANS AND DREAMS...
"So initially I wanted to become a doctor because I really enjoy Biology but then once I interned under one for a month, I realised it’s not really my thing because they focus a lot on their work and less on their personal life… and I don’t think I would be able to do that very well. So I started to look into physiotherapy because it’s not as demanding, so now I want to become a physiotherapist."
DO YOU HAVE A ROLE MODEL, SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO?
"Well, there’s this woman called Malala and she was basically shot in the head… Unlike most people, she didn’t get scared, she took it in a really confident manner and spoke about it. It really empowered me as a young girl because these days, in Muslim communities, back then women weren’t really respected. Seeing her really being respected made me feel good."
IF YOU WERE TO BE PORTRAYED IN A PORTRAIT OF YOURSELF, HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
"I would want you to take a portrait of me where I’m just being myself, where I’m natural and not self-conscious."
