Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAnahat Singh: Squash sensation making India proud on global stage

Anahat Singh: Squash sensation making India proud on global stage

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(September 8, 2023) It was the sound of the ball hitting the wall that made Anahat Singh fall in love with squash. As a youngster, she accompanied her elder sister Amira, who was one of the country’s top-rated under-19 players, for her squash matches. At the age of eight, her passion for squash grew so much that like her sister, she picked up the squash racquet. At the age of 14, she became the youngest athlete to represent India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and this August, she clinched a gold in the U-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championships.

Anahat Singh

But squash wasn’t her first love. At six years of age, she first saw PV Sindhu play at the India Open in Delhi, and soon became fascinated with the sport. So much so that she started to pursue squash and even won a handful of youth-level tournaments in Delhi. With supportive parents, who themselves played hockey in their youth, Anahat and Amira were always encouraged to follow their passion. But soon she bartered her badminton racquet for a squash racquet. “Anahat loved badminton but as parents, we used to travel with Amira for tournaments and Anahat did not want to be left alone in the house. That played a big part in her switching to squash from badminton,” Anahat’s mother Tani Vadehra told PTI. Her sister soon started coaching Anahat, and later under the guidance of former national-level squash players Amjad Khan and Ashraf Hussein, Anahat was ready to take on the world of squash.

In no time, Anahat claimed the title of India’s top-ranked player in the under-11 category. Progressing to the under-13 category, she not only secured the No. 1 position in India but also ascended to the pinnacle in both the Asian and European rankings. In 2019, she rose to prominence by securing the gold medal in the under-11 girls’ category at the British Open squash tournament, marking a historic achievement for India. Later the same year, she clinched a bronze medal at the Asian junior championships.

Throughout 2020, Anahat Singh, a student at the British School in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri, collected silver medals at both the British and Malaysian Junior Open tournaments. However, the global outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted her progress. Anahat’s return to the squash court was triumphant as she claimed the junior (under-15) squash title at the 2021 US Open in Philadelphia, making her the inaugural Indian female champion across any age division at the US Open. The following year, 2022, proved to be even more remarkable. Adding to her impressive collection, Anahat secured titles at the German and Dutch Open tournaments. Additionally, she clinched the under-15 gold medal at the Asian junior squash championships held in Thailand in June. Currently training under French coach Stephane Galifi, 15-year-old Anahat won the gold medal in the U-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championships.

✨ Let your day end on a wonderful note with this amazing update folks ✨

➡️ 15 yrs young Anahat Singh is U-17 Asian Squash Champion.
➡️ Anahat becomes 1st ever Indian female Squash player to win this title (U17 category).
➡️Last year, Anahat had won U-15 Asian title. pic.twitter.com/q5s4HzluVD

— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) August 20, 2023

Anahat Singh’s journey in the world of squash has been nothing short of extraordinary. With her unwavering determination, remarkable skills, and a trail of victories that have shattered records and crossed borders, she has truly left an indelible mark on the sport. From her historic wins on prestigious stages to her constant pursuit of excellence, Anahat has become a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes and a pride for her nation. As she continues to redefine the limits of achievement in squash, there is no doubt that her legacy will continue to shine brightly and motivate generations to come.

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Published on 08, Sep 2023

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Vinusha MK: The little entrepreneur’s sweet and savoury journey of Four Seasons Pastry

(November 22, 2022) When as a nine-year-old, Vinusha MK, was seeking an internship in baking and approached hotels and bakeries, she was turned down by all, owing to her age. It was Nina Reddy, joint managing director of Savera Hotel, the oldest four-star hotel in Chennai who recognised the passion and talent in the kid and agreed to her request. Now at 12, Chennai girl, Vinusha has been an entrepreneur for the last three years, running her business venture, Four Seasons Pastry profitably, selling 5000+ cupcakes, and other confectionery until now. [caption id="attachment_24485" align="aligncenter" width="707"] Vinusha MK[/caption] It was in 2019 that she established her business, and since then the young entrepreneur has not looked back. Such is the expertise that she has developed in both baking and entrepreneurship that the class seven student gets invited to address college students who are much older than her. “I have recently been to Vellore Institute of Technology and PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore to address food technology and retail management students,” she tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_24477" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Vinusha during a talk at VIT[/caption] The journey of baking Talking about how it all began, Vinusha remarks, “A few years

who are much older than her. “I have recently been to Vellore Institute of Technology and PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore to address food technology and retail management students,” she tells Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_24477" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Vinusha during a talk at VIT[/caption]

The journey of baking

Talking about how it all began, Vinusha remarks, “A few years ago I had developed a keen interest in watching videos on baking and one day on my mother’s birthday tried making a cake in a pressure cooker. Surprisingly, it turned out well.” This successful experiment in the kitchen built great confidence in her to do more such experiments. “I got so obsessed with it that I started constantly thinking and talking about baking. That’s when my parents bought me an oven and enrolled me in a baking class,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_24467" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Cupcakes made by Vinusha[/caption]

The youngest learner in the batch of her baking class learned the craft amidst much older batch mates, either newly married women or young professionals. However, after the short course ended, Vinusha’s urge to learn more surfaced. She approached multiple hotels and bakeries for an internship in baking but got turned down by all. “They thought I was too small for it.”

Luck prevailed

During one of the festive carnivals where the little baker had set up a stall to sell her goods, she got an opportunity to meet Savera Hotel’s, Nina Reddy. This proved to be a turning point in her entrepreneurial journey. So impressed was Nina with Vinusha’s efforts that she readily agreed to the little girl’s request for an internship in the kitchen of her hotel.

[caption id="attachment_24468" align="aligncenter" width="699"] Vinusha with Nina Reddy, joint managing director of Savera Hotel, Chennai[/caption]

“It was a great opportunity for me,” The kitchen of the magnificent hotel opened up horizons for Vinusha. “The majority of knowledge that I have acquired about baking is thankfully because of the opportunity to learn in Savera’s Kitchen,” tells she.

Stepping into the entrepreneur’s shoes

Vinusha wanted to take her passion for baking even further. “I was always fascinated by the word ‘entrepreneur’ and wanted to know all about it so that I can be one myself.” Her chemical engineer father and homemaker mother proved supportive once again.

“My parents took me to an entrepreneurs’ workshop where I met lots of entrepreneurs Their stories and ideas were so inspiring that I wanted to plunge into entrepreneurship instantly,” says the student of Ology Tech School.

[caption id="attachment_24470" align="aligncenter" width="765"] Vinusha during an internship at Winner's Bakery[/caption]

Shortly after, the then-nine-year-old Vinusha launched Four Seasons Pastry in 2019. Since then, she has been steadily catering to orders of customized cakes, cupcakes, brownies, blondies, and chocolates. Her clients place the order either through her website or social media handles, and the products are delivered to their homes.

Though baking is solely handled by Vinusha, it’s only when she is hard-pressed for the time that her mother chips in to help. “Diwali and Christmas are the period of maximum business for us. Other than selling confectionaries, I hold workshops for those who want to learn how to bake,” she says.

Diversifying the business

The young entrepreneur also sells baking kits. “My ‘Do it Yourself Baking Kits’ are for youngsters in the age group of seven to 14 who want to bake independently.’ It contains all the ingredients in the right measurement so that kids can make cupcakes, blondies, and cookies without compromising on the taste.

The kit contains recipes and useful information about the science of baking along with the ingredients.

[caption id="attachment_24466" align="aligncenter" width="561"] Vinusha with her 'Do it Yourself' baking kit[/caption]

While Vinusha’s baking kits can be delivered across India, her chocolates are available within Tamil Nādu, and cakes, pastries, and cupcakes orders are catered across Chennai. Her mother who ran a play school earlier has shut it down to manage Vinusha’s entrepreneurial goals and busy schedule, accompanying her to all the venues to which she is invited as a trainer or guest speaker.

“Social media helped us a lot in connecting to people. All the clientele I have got is purely organic, there have been no investments in marketing so far,” she informs.

Powerful inspirations and big dreams

The budding entrepreneur talks about a whole list of people who inspire her. From CK Ranganathan the Founder Chairman of CavinKare, Zoho founder, Sridhar Vembu, and Suresh Sambandam, founder of Kissflow to Thyrocare founder Arokiaswamy Velumani, Vinusha ardently follows their leadership mantras. ‘Despite being super successful they are mostly down-to-earth people and this is what I like about them,” she says.

The young entrepreneur has got immense support from Geetanjali Sasikumar, director of Ology Tech School, who has even offered her the opportunity of scholarship to study in the school.

‘I want to make my brand bigger in the future,” tells the multi-tasker who manages her studies and her business venture by meticulously dedicating time to both. When it comes to her personal favorites, it’s all about chocolate. “I love my brownies, chocolate cupcakes, and Choco-lava cake the most,” she says.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Fighting spirit: Pooja Nagpal trains rural girls in self-defence

(December 13, 2022) "Didi, I need to protect myself." Pooja Nagpal was taken aback, to say the least, by the diminutive teenager who stood before her, hand in a sling. The girl, Neha, had been beaten by a family member and knew she had to learn to defend herself. Pooja, an Indian-American activist with a second-level black belt in Taekwondo, is the founder of For a Change, Defend, a non-profit that teaches girls self-defence techniques. In 2013, soon after the Nirbhaya tragedy, Pooja arrived in the upper mountain areas of Himachal Pradesh, to take a crash course in self-defence for young girls there. A determination to prevail "Neha’s grandmother had told her that girls can't laugh, her brother got more food from her, she had been told that there was no point in girls being educated past the ninth grade, that she had to wear a veil when guests came home. How does anyone have an ounce of confidence in that environment," Pooja demands. From that point on, Neha became her most dedicated student, staying back after class to ask questions, determined to perfect every kick and punch. On Independence Day that year, 250 of Pooja's students demonstrated in front of an

rmined to perfect every kick and punch.

On Independence Day that year, 250 of Pooja's students demonstrated in front of an audience. Neha, who was holding the Indian flag in her hand, addressed the crowd, saying, "The time is now. We need to start fighting for women's equality. Parents, teachers, and family members need to understand the power that girls can bring to the future of India." Pooja, who was watching, realised at that moment the true power that a fighting spirit can bring.

[caption id="attachment_25318" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Pooja Nagpal[/caption]

Pooja opens her ted talk in Manhattan Beach with a kick and a 'kihap', which is a traditional shout and rapid exhalation of breath used in Taekwondo. The sound is as essential to the kick as the movement itself, a means to concentrate a martial artist's power. "It is a declaration of one's fighting spirit and the determination to prevail," she told her audience.

Discovering India

Pooja's parents were both born in India and hers was a "bilingual household," the young Global Indian explains. Growing up in Manhattan Beach in the United States, she would listen eagerly as her parents told her stories of the rich, Indian culture, of the "rush of colours and festivities and the euphoria." More than anything else, however, she loved Indian mythology. She was in awe of the Goddess Durga, who rode into battle on a lion and destroyed demons, who was the protector of all living things. She loved the elegance of Goddess Saraswati, seated atop a white lotus, the Goddess of learning and knowledge. "Growing up," she says, "These were my superheroes. They are powerful women with a unique, symbolic fighting spirit who help and protect the vulnerable."

As she grew older, however, the enchantment of Indian mythology gave way to a hidden dark side. She heard stories of violence and discrimination against women and girls. "There are girls who were defeated before they had begun to dream. They are stripped of their fighting spirit. The determination is not to prevail, but to survive." In 2012, the stories she had heard became more real and frightening than she could have imagined, with the Nirbhaya tragedy rocking the country - and the world. She knew something had to be done.

The time to act

"How could this happen in a country so beautiful and so magical," she asked. Activists around the world swung into action, all fighting for women's safety and rights. They worked to raise awareness, towards strength in numbers and changes at the legislative level. Pooja felt this could only be one part of the solution.

[caption id="attachment_25316" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Pooja Nagpal[/caption]

While it was a wonderful effort, the fact remained that women continue to face violence every day and, in most cases, there are no repercussions for the perpetrators. In India, women are unsafe both in private and public spaces, with violence meted out in various forms, including eve-teasing, domestic violence, mental and physical torture, and marital rape. And it was a problem, she soon learned, that was not exclusive to developing countries; there was domestic violence everywhere, from Los Angeles to Ladakh.

Training girls in rural India

In 2013, trying to earn her 'Gold Award for Girl Scouts, Pooja travelled to Himachal Pradesh with her sister, to teach self-defence at a village there. She arrived there to find young girls giggling and chatting together, much like she did with her friends back home. Pooja was, however, starkly aware of the fact that their "futures were worlds apart."

Pooja was wary at first, she was not sure how she would be received in a remote, rural region in a developing country. To her surprise, she was welcomed. "I was determined to give the girls what a kihap had given me," she said, in her TEDx Talk. "A fighting spirit and the determination to prevail." She worked flexibility, physical strength, self-defence, and mental confidence into her curriculum, spending around three hours a day training the girls.

The girls were weak - physically and mentally. She taught them the kihap. "As the weeks went on, they became louder and stronger," she recalled, smiling. After class, they would sit down to discuss role models, or the girls would make speeches to their classmates. "Many of these girls had never been asked, 'What do you want to be when you grow up'?" When she asked a 14-year-old, Rakhi, what she wanted to be, the girl's eyes were downcast. She was married, she said. She would be a housewife.

For A Change, Defend

The following year, Pooja Nagpal created her non-profit, For a Change, Defend. She returned to various rural schools in India, turning down offers from private schools that wanted her to teach martial arts lessons. "I wished to teach lower income girls, especially in rural areas that tend to be those that need the most help, since, in these areas, cases mostly go unreported,” she said.

Pooja also worked with Kiran Bedi, as she trained over 500 girls and women in various villages and slums. Bedi gave her a valuable piece of advice. "Start with six girls, then go to 60, then 600. Soon, you will have a six million-girl revolution. There is power in acting and power in activism." She watched the young girls she trained transform before her eyes. "They learned a fighting spirit and a determination to prevail. None of this could have been done without the kihap."

Reading Time: 6 mins

Indian American musician SANJ blends classical Carnatic with R&B

(April 29, 2023) In the pulsating heart of New York, where music is as much the soul of the city as its towering skyscrapers, a new rhythm is emerging. It is a melody woven from the threads of two vastly different worlds, of ancient traditions and modern dreams. Indian American musician Sanjana Nayak, better known as SANJ, is bringing the East and West together through her music. Making waves with her new latest album 'Nightingale', the youngster's journey as a musician has been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. However, her persistence and determination have helped her rise above her uncertainties, and produce some soul-stirring numbers. The Global Indian, who is trained in Carnatic music, believes her music pushes the boundaries of traditional fusion music, highlighting her creative ethos in a way she hasn’t tapped into before. "My music can best be described as R&B with sultry flows, intertwined with my Desi-Carnatic roots. I would say that my music is targeted towards those wanting to hear more worldly music that treads the cross-cultural balance of R&B and Bollywood, subtly and seamlessly. My music also highlights my creative ethos in a way I haven’t tapped into before," the musician said

R&B with sultry flows, intertwined with my Desi-Carnatic roots. I would say that my music is targeted towards those wanting to hear more worldly music that treads the cross-cultural balance of R&B and Bollywood, subtly and seamlessly. My music also highlights my creative ethos in a way I haven’t tapped into before," the musician said in an interview.

Growing up with music

Born in Jacksonville, Florida to Indian parents, the musician moved around a lot from city to city - going from Richmond to Chicago. "Growing up, my parents were pretty strict about grades, social life, etc. But they were always supportive and pushed me towards becoming a better musician, which I’m really grateful for. I played violin as a child," she said.

SANJ grew up training in the Carnatic-style of vocals since the age of four. Bollywood music and bhajans were always playing in her house, especially when her grandparents were around. Her initial inspiration for truly enjoying music as both a listener and a musician was the soundtracks of movies like Veer Zaara and Devdas. "But on the other end, I also was inspired by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Mary J Blige, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Trey Songz, and Coldplay when I was young as well, and this helped me develop that duality of styles that you hear in my music now," SANJ informed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS89FXLigpE

But, her childhood was not all happy. "My suburb was almost 70 percent white back then, so it was tough growing up there for a while," she shared, adding, "I experienced a lot of racism and bullying, especially in my middle school years. I think these experiences shaped the pride I have for my culture now and the due diligence I put in to showcase it as much as possible from the perspective of a first-generation South Indian woman in the US."

Breaking stereotypes

While many South Asian kids her age were picking up STEM career paths, SANJ was pretty sure that she wanted to pursue music professionally even while she was in high school. Calling herself a 'rebel', the young musician believes that there is a place for South Asians in the fields of entertainment, art, and other non-STEM fields. She shared, "In fact, I think in the last year or two I’ve been seeing more and more of us come out of the shadows. I think it’s important to be in a line of work where you can support yourself and you’re not struggling daily to feed yourself, but I also think that it’s possible to pursue lucrative creative paths as a career if you put the work in. It’s also so important to not pursue a field just because other people are telling you to do so – your time, happiness, and untouched passions are not worth the sacrifice."

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So, soon after finishing her school, the youngster told her parents about her career choice. Even though they were quite supportive, there was one condition. "My family always supported my endeavours in music, as long as I could support myself. I’m lucky enough to have found a full-time role in advertising at Google, which helps me leverage my creative mind and network to successfully pursue my music career as well," she shared.

Blending traditions

In the months to come, SANJ worked in advertising strategy at Google, and by night, she's a vibrant performer lighting up venues across New York City. This balance was more than just a work-life equilibrium, it was a manifestation of her commitment to music. In her breakthrough EP ‘At Dusk’, the musician included the song ‘Cloudmind’, which was her take on experimental Desi R&B, and it did overwhelmingly well with over 300k+ streams across platforms. "TikTok mashups of my favorite trending music with Bollywood songs, and those also went viral. I kept up the mashups for about a year, and saw 10x growth across all of my platforms," the musician said, adding, "It was amazing to see the reception my community received, but also people outside of the South Asian community had towards this type of fusion music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MADOCAH0y4

Talking about her new album, 'Nightingale', the musician said, "This album is an ode to my Desi R&B sound, including samples from Devdas and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, but also Hindi lyricism and Indian sounds that I crafted myself. I hope to be able to tour this album, and spread it to as much of the world as possible."

The musician plans on creating some amazing music for her audience going ahead. "Being able to incorporate that into Western music– it’s been a dream of mine. It’s what I’m going to continue to break boundaries in. This is just the beginning,” SANJ said.

Follow SANJ on Instagram and YouTube

Reading Time: 6 mins

Arunima Sen: The innovator solving the world’s pressing problems

(September 5, 2024) "Kalpana Chawla's story inspired many people. She came from a small town but nothing could beat her determination to dream big and achieve it. At a time when her field was largely male-dominated, she broke stereotypes to convert her dreams into a reality. Little did she know that she would inspire millions of girls like me, who were forced to back off from their dreams or not." That's how innovator and technologist Arunima Sen begins her TedX Talk. The girl whose curiosity about science and technology led her to become an innovator and a designer, is now finding solutions to the world's most pressing problems. From developing a device that determines micronutrient levels in the human body using hair strands to building a prototype of an energy-efficient solar hybrid bus to a green building, the 23-year-old is keen to find answers. The STEM enthusiast, who aspires to work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Goals, was named a 2020 Global Teen Leader of the We Are Family Foundation and is one of The Mars Generation’s 24 under 24 Innovators in STEAM and Space. An innate love for science Growing up in Bengaluru, Sen was always surrounded by

c="https://stage.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/10/arunima1.jpg" alt="Arunima Sen | Global Indian" width="613" height="633" />

An innate love for science

Growing up in Bengaluru, Sen was always surrounded by discussions on varied scientific research projects, thanks to her parents, who worked at the Indian Space Research Organisation. The environment helped ignite a scientific temper and fanned her curiosity. This early interest in science found her gravitating toward global problems, for which she decided to find solutions using STEM. As she tended to her autistic brother's special needs, she would often ponder over the various problems that humans face, and try to look for solutions. For this, she would spend hours reading on the internet about scientific advancements. As she did her research, she found that technology is at the root of everything, and when combined with engineering, it can positively impact society. "As youngsters, we are the future of this country and the world. We need to come up with solutions," she told a daily.

Solving global problems

As early as Class 10, she was selected for The Junior Academy conducted by The New York Academy of Sciences - a program meant for teenagers interested in science and finding solutions to different problems. Her first project was measuring the micronutrients in a person's body, for developing countries like South Africa, India, and South-East Asia, providing data on health problems is essential. Sen, who believes that micronutrients play an important role in health, worked on a prototype called Arduino Pro Mini that gives an exact measure of micronutrients in the body. "We wanted to make this method non-invasive, so what we do is collect strands of hair and dip them in a particular chemical solution. Once the solution absorbs the nutrients from the hair, it is analysed via spectrophotometry. To put it in layman's terms, we measure the wavelength that the nutrients emit using spectrophotometry. By observing these wavelengths, we get to know if there is a deficiency of micro-nutrients or not," she told edexlive.

[caption id="attachment_23347" align="aligncenter" width="422"] Arunima Sen with PM Narendra Modi while receiving Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar[/caption]

The Global Indian collaborated with like-minded students from Poland, Finland, and the USA to develop a cost-effective device. "It is small and has a spectral response range of 320-1000 mm, a range that works for all micronutrients that our project is working with. It is designed to be used either via Bluetooth with a compatible phone or a tablet or with an integrated touchscreen display to allow use in the most varied conditions,” Arunima said in an interview. Her research will help patients in India on a micro level.

Creating impact

Apart from it, she also worked on Homestead Greens - the high-rise buildings that can save energy and lower the emission of carbon - with students from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Norway, and Romania. While living in a locality that had frequent power cuts, she realised it wasn't a green building and produced a lot of carbon dioxide, thus adding to global warming. That's when she decided to work on a prototype of a building that was energy efficient as well as helped with harvesting rainwater - a design meant for commercial and non-commercial purposes. "One part of the building wall is covered with solar panels that help in trapping a lot of natural energy. We also have automatic lights that turn off or become dim when you leave the room. The building will also have a trellis of vines and climbers that run down the building. These plants will be watered by the rainwater harvesting system. This helps us save over a thousand litres of water," she added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=38&v=XjVlvH5LV_E&feature=emb_title

The recipient of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, who is pursuing her bachelor's in Computer Science and Physics from Ashoka University, is also a Yale Young Global Scholar of Yale University and a member of the Junior academy of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Even during the pandemic, she didn't put brakes on her work. During an interaction with the press, Arunima said, "I am currently being mentored by professionals from Sidewalk Labs — an urban innovation company working to make cities more sustainable and affordable for all. Since the pandemic had brought many discussions and assignments to a halt, my friend and I are working to resume it soon."

Arunima's journey is a powerful demonstration of the impact that determination, curiosity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge can have. Despite the challenges she faced, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible, using her passion for science and technology to address some of the world's most pressing issues. Her work is not just about innovation; it is about making a tangible difference in the lives of people and the environment. She is a true changemaker, proving that age is no barrier to making a global impact.

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From UP’s Barnawa to Cannes in France: Nancy Tyagi’s journey of dreams

(June 7, 2024) Among the numerous top international celebrities who walked the Cannes red carpet this year was an unusual debut by Nancy Tyagi, from Barnawa village in Uttar Pradesh. The 23-year-old turned heads with her self-made pink gown at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, becoming an overnight sensation. With 2.5 million followers on Instagram, she boasts several brand endorsements and has garnered popularity and appreciation from even the celebrities. The Delhi-based influencer captured hearts after representing India on the global stage at Cannes 2024, showcasing her self-designed and self-stitched outfits. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindia) “Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a debutant feels surreal. I poured my heart and soul into creating this pink gown, which took 30 days, 1,000 meters of fabric, and weighs over 20kg,” Nancy shared with her fans soon after her Cannes debut. “The journey has been intense, but every moment was worth it. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the love and support from all of you. This is a dream come true, and I hope my creation dazzles you as much as your support has inspired

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A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindia)

“Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a debutant feels surreal. I poured my heart and soul into creating this pink gown, which took 30 days, 1,000 meters of fabric, and weighs over 20kg,” Nancy shared with her fans soon after her Cannes debut. “The journey has been intense, but every moment was worth it. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the love and support from all of you. This is a dream come true, and I hope my creation dazzles you as much as your support has inspired me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” she added.

Stumbling into dress designing

Nancy had never imagined her life would turn into such a fairy tale when she decided to move to New Delhi from her hometown with the goal of clearing the UPSC exams. While moving from her small town of Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, all her relatives and neighbours told her parents that the money they were investing in her coaching could be better used to marry her off. However, her parents did not pay heed to such advice. Nancy’s mother and younger brother joined her, while her father stayed back to take care of their cab service business.

Life took an unexpected turn, when the lockdown interrupted her UPSC preparations, and the savings meant for her education started getting used up for everyday expenditures. Her father had given the family three lakh rupees for studies and rent, and was in no position to send more with his business being affected by the lockdown at the time. Her mother found a job in a factory, which was exhausting. Every evening, when she would return home covered in coal dust, Nancy's heart would break.

The arts graduate and her brother even worked at a call centre for a month and left the job when they were not paid any salary. However, the unpleasant circumstances opened a new door, one that led to her true passion - dress designing. Despite lacking formal training or a fashion degree, Nancy began creating outfits from scratch using an old sewing machine that was gifted to her mother at the time of her wedding.

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A post shared by Nancy Tyagi (@nancytyagi___)

“When we had just about a lakh of savings left, I decided to quickly buy a camera and start making videos and reels for Instagram to showcase my talent in dress designing. I thought that even if my plan didn't work out, I would have no regrets about not trying.”

Inspired by influencers, she wore her dresses to showcase the designs while her brother directed and shot her videos. They hoped their content creation endeavour would be successful someday, leading to brand deals and earning opportunities, so that they could give their mother a break from her unhappy job.

Getting success – an uphill task

For one year, they struggled to increase their views, which remained in the mere hundreds. Nancy decided to try something different and started adding dance elements to her videos, even though she didn't know much about dancing.

To increase her following, she began recreating dresses of celebrities and influencers using clothes bought from local shops. Through trial and error, she crafted elaborate outfits inspired by icons like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and many others. "I have never learned stitching," she says. "When I was a child, I used to stitch my dolls' clothes. I had bags full of clothes for my dolls. Using the same steps I started stitching my own clothes."

She modelled the outfits herself and danced to Bollywood numbers to make the videos interesting. People initially found her content weird and started making memes. She faced harsh trolls and body shaming. Relatives called to scold her, saying, "Look what you have done. People are making fun of you."

[caption id="attachment_38135" align="aligncenter" width="515"] Nancy Tyagi[/caption]

Undeterred, Nancy continued. Gradually, her follower count started increasing as she and her brother got into the groove of content creation. Once she started gaining popularity, people stopped body shaming her and calling her "skinny," and began appreciating her designs. "Complaining relatives stopped calling. Now I call them to share my success," she said in an interview.

“Earlier, I didn’t have the money to purchase a better sewing machine, but now I have got used to using it for two to three years. Even though I have the money now, I don’t think I need to buy a new one immediately,” she said. However, she made some purchases with her own money - something she couldn’t have imagined a few years ago - such as an iPhone.

The Cannes charisma

Brut India, a fast-growing digital video publisher, took notice of the rising star and promoted her talent by sharing her story with their audience. They even gave her a life-changing chance to be part of the Brut India Squad at Cannes.

Due to visa issues, her brother's plans to fly to Cannes were stalled at the last moment. It was the first time she was on a professional venture without her brother Manu. However, managing well without him gave her confidence that she could handle things on her own. “I had not gone anywhere without Manu but went straight to France without him,” she smiled.

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Flying abroad to one of the fashion world’s most prestigious events to showcase her couture, and that too on a business class ticket, has been an unbelievable experience that has filled Nancy with new energy. “Now I don’t want to copy or recreate. It will be my designs only,” said the designer upon her return. Many people including fashion icon Sonam Kapoor have asked her to design something for her. Nancy is more than happy.

Nancy Tyagi's journey from Barnawa to the Cannes red carpet epitomises the power of passion, determination, and resilience. Despite financial struggles, societal pressures, and harsh criticism, she transformed her dreams into reality through courage and creativity. Her success as a self-taught fashion designer, and journey to the global stage, highlights that with the courage to follow one's passions and the resilience to overcome challenges, anything is achievable. Nancy's story inspires to remain focussed on one’s dreams and steadfast in the face of adversity. Her story proves that true dedication can lead to extraordinary accomplishments.

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