‘…aur ahista kijiye baatein, dhadkane koi sun raha hoga’…if you grew up listening to this soulful ghazal by Pankaj Udhas there are chances that you remember the pavadai (half saree)clad, long-haired, dusky beauty from the music video too. That beauty was Sameera Reddy.
That video was her debut and it got her noticed and how!
Sameera Reddy then graduated to become a film actress who, after a few Bollywood and South Indian films, then disappeared from the scene.
When the Pandemic confined us to our homes, everyone took to and connected via social media. It was during that period, via one of my feeds on Instagram, I came across a post by Sameera Reddy.
She was heavily pregnant with her 2nd child then and I remember thinking how gorgeous she looked. I began following her and scrolled through her previous posts. I have continued following her since then and have grown to admire this woman who has the courage to be herself, in a world where everyone is trying to be like someone else.
She owns herself:
White hair, stretch marks, extra weight, pigmented skin, and every other ‘flaw’ we brush under the carpet, Sameera not only embraces them but is not shy about showing them and talking about them. I love the confidence with which she owns every bit of herself, happily and proudly. What is even more impressive is that she continues working on her health and appearance even as she loves who she is.
Saas-Bahu relationship;
Most Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law relationships are conventionally strained. Sameera has redefined her saas-bahu relationship. Her Saas, Manjiri Varde, is a style icon by herself and they come together to make hilarious videos that warm your heart. #MessyMama and #SassySaasu are the hashtags they go by. What is even more welcoming is that this Saas-Bahu duo has inspired many other Influencers to make similar videos with their mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
She is all for the truth;
Sameera shows life as it is, no glossing over, no falsehood. She promotes body positivity, mental health, and being comfortable in your own skin. She laughs at herself, never shies away from sharing bloopers and goof-ups, and refuses to project perfection.
She doesn’t preach;
If you think an account like hers must be all about ‘inspiring’ and ‘motivational’ jargon, you are in for a surprise. Sameera walks the talk and her actions speak louder than her words. It is very unlikely that you will scroll through her account without a smile on your face.
She loves herself as she is and has reinvented herself;
My biggest takeaway from following Sameera is that you can reinvent yourself, no matter at which stage of life you are or at what age you are. The love, fame, recognition, and acceptance she has now, by being completely herself, is perhaps more than anything she may have received as an actress who was almost perfect. This strong advocate of self-love teaches you that loving yourself makes others love you too.
Apart from all these, I respect the fact that she doesn’t collaborate with any and every brand. The ones she chooses to work with fit very well with her profile and niche, which is why her collaborations are very natural and believable.
In the world of Social Media Influencers who gloss over everything, Sameera Reddy is an accidental Influencer who is influencing people the right way.
Thank you, Sameera! May your tribe increase!
