Pakistan’s emerging TV sensation, Iqra Aziz, has been winning hearts since she stepped foot in the industry. She shines through her versatile roles. From essaying the role of the wife of a mentally challenged man in “Ranjha Ranjha,” to playing the uber fun, likable main lead in “Suno Chanda,” she has been mastering her characters on screen. Off-screen, she credits her endearing personality to being raised by a single mother, who was Pakistan’s first female Careem driver. Aziz shares her authentic, bare-faced self on her YouTube channel as a mom, daughter, wife, model, and of course, an actress ..read more

During the pandemic, some actors unexpectedly found themselves soaring to new heights of success, and Charithra Chandran is a prime example. From her debut in Amazon’s “Alex Rider” to her portrayal as the younger Sharma sister in season two of Netflix’s “Bridgerton“, the former Oxford graduate has proven her versatility and talent, time after time. Now, she takes on a new challenge by making her debut on London’s West End, where she commands the stage solo in “Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon”. In the 80-minute, one-woman show originally based on Rosie Day’s play, Chandran portrays a ..read more

If tourists and travel bloggers haven’t said this enough already, I’ll say it again: Pakistan is a country rich in culture and craft that is diverse, distinct, and unique, all at the same time. Yet that richness seldom makes it past the confines of its home. There are obviously multiple factors involved — political instability, limited technological development and access, and a system that severely lacks organization. But there is no dearth of talent — including some who have defied all odds stacked against them to shine on a global stage. And among those is renowned fashion designer Mohsin N ..read more

Tell us about yourself? What did life look like before you embarked on the journey to create “Advice from America?”  My name is Imran Nuri and I’m 26 years old. I was born and raised in Ohio. My parents are immigrants from India, and so I’ve grown up in multiple cultures and upbringings. I had always been creative, but never prioritized creativity. Rather, I’ve always expressed my creativity on the side through painting and photography as a hobby. This was true throughout high school and college. While I have always loved the business aspect of things, who I really am is a creative. I ha ..read more

Last month, the largest South Asian collegiate conference in North America brought hundreds of South Asian youths to New Haven, Connecticut. From February 9th to February 11th, over 500 people congregated on Yale’s campus for a weekend of panels and other events, including a gala and food workshop. The attendees represented over 30 colleges. The formidable line-up of speakers ranged from award-winning filmmaker Vibha Bakshi and actress Avantika to UN Chief of Global Economic Moderating Hamid Rashid. Members of the South Asian Youth Initiative — the organizing force behind the conference — whil ..read more

While her family celebrated traditional festivities, an early-teen Sarvani Kolachana sat isolated in a room with her used sanitary napkins. Her trash, her meals and her body were to remain separate for that day.  Kolachana’s mom explained that practices deeming menstruating women impure originated because the burden on women was high. Forcing them into a separate room, at least for a week, gave them space and a moment to relax. According to Kolachana, it gave a rationale for why the rituals came into being, but in today’s times the rationale is a problematic interpretation. “They teach yo ..read more

It is 2017. A young South Asian writer, Amisha “Amy” Padnani, has just started a new role at the New York Times, navigating her commute through the hustle and bustle of Times Square. New York City’s liveliness is the antithesis of her role at New York Times— as a writer on the Obituaries team. Padnani spends her days researching those who have passed away in the basement of the Times building. Before long, Padnani notices a slew of emails from readers who question the lack of women and minority representation in obituaries. As a young woman of color herself, Padnani feels a kindred spirit with ..read more

“A Nice Indian Boy” premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival, it received two standing ovations and positive reviews. The movie is currently waiting for a distribution partner. Reminding us why we all grew up loving DDLJ or ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ Roshan Sethi’s ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ is the sweet rom-com our hearts need in this tragic world. Set in California’s Indian-American community the film, based on the play by Madhuri Shekar, celebrates the chaotic reality of having an immigrant family and the “bigness” of love. ? Getting to the point right away, ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ in ..read more

Nirali Chauhan (she/her) is a first-generation Gujarati-American living in Chicago. Known for her appearance on “The Great American Baking Show,” Chauhan is overcoming a past traumatic brain injury (TBI), the consequence of a roadside accident. [Read Related: Rishi Snacks: Creating Space For The Disabled One Snack At A Time] As a medical student and certified meditation teacher, Nirali is passionate about helping others on their own personal journeys of healing and joy. Brown Girl Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Nirali to discuss her lived experience, her TBI journey and the impo ..read more

Ramadan is finally here which means it’s time to reset, reflect, pray and spend time gathering with family. It’s also a time of fasting from dawn to sunset which may feel challenging to balance with lifestyle, work, and/or school. Depending on your schedule and health goals, movement and nutrition is crucial to manage during the month of Ramadan. Want to use this time to focus on your own nutrition? Unsure how to get through the month? Here are a few movement-based, nutritional and sleep-related health hacks to get you through Ramadan. Better yet, add these tools for a healthy routine througho ..read more