I used to avoid parts of Indian culture growing up. not because I didn't love them, but because loving them felt unsafe. Being bullied, mispronounced, laughed at, or treated like an outsider in America made me learn how to shrink myself early, like straightening my hair and avoiding wearing traditional clothes, For a long time, I thought distance was protection. But watching newer generations reclaim desi girlhood with tenderness and confidence has been unexpectedly healing. Seeing girls oil each other's hair, wear saris to 'regular' events, speak their languages out loud, and treat tradition not as something embarrassing but as something beautiful makes me realize how much was taken from and how much is still ours to take back. There's something powerful about choosing what once felt forced.🇮🇳🪷❤️ - video by @Shraesht Chitkara models: @Ameya @Pigglywiggly saris by: @rah🇧🇩 pleated by: Puja - #desigirlhood #southasian #indiangirl #mallu #telugu