From identity to inclusivity: How India’s beauty icons redefined the conversation at Amazon Beautyverse

In the kaleidoscopic world of beauty, no single definition can hold. This truth echoed through every word, every story, and every laugh shared on stage at Amazon Beautyverse 2025, during the panel titled "Redefining Indian Beauty: Icons, Influencers & Inclusivity", moderated by Rasna Bhasin, editor, Bazaar India. 

Bringing together icons like Neena Gupta, Sushant Divgikar, and Zahid Khan, director, Central Shopping Experience, Amazon India, the panel explored how beauty in India is no longer confined to the pages of glossy magazines or filtered through narrow ideals. Instead, it is as diverse, dynamic, and unboxed as the people who shape it.

For Neena Gupta, beauty is both delightfully simple and deeply profound. “Kajal and lipstick—that’s it,” she smiled, reinstating that beauty is intrinsically tied to confidence. “When you feel you look good, you can do anything,” she added. Her philosophy, as effortlessly as her signature look, is proof that self-assurance, not perfection, is what truly shines.

Sushant Divgikar, artist, drag icon, and motivational speaker, brought fire and tenderness in equal measure to the panel. “Beauty is about identity and visibility,” they said. “It’s no longer about limitation—it’s about celebration.” With charm and candour, Divgikar spoke of breaking free from societal expectations and rejecting the notion that gender, skin tone, or orientation should dictate self-worth. Their message was clear: beauty belongs to everyone.

Adding a business lens to the discussion, Zahid Khan revealed how Amazon is helping democratise beauty in India, not just through expansive product access but by building inclusive communities. From AI-powered virtual try-ons to creator-led shopping experiences on Amazon Live, the platform is reshaping how beauty is discovered, experienced, and embraced across every pin code, price point, and preference.

Building on this, Khan added, “For the longest time, fairer was considered better,” reflecting on how stereotypes are breaking today. “At Amazon, we’re very purposeful about the content we put out, ensuring it carries the right message. Honestly, a lot of credit goes to the creators. Products promoting inclusivity were always available, but people didn’t adopt them until creators started talking about these topics in a relatable, authentic way, in languages and styles that truly connect with customers. We’re extremely customer-obsessed, so we ensure our content feels real and relevant to them. Once that happens, the products naturally fly off the shelves, and long-held myths and stereotypes begin to break. Relatability is key—and it’s thanks to voices like Sushant’s and Neena ji’s that we’re seeing this shift unfold.”

As the panel proceeded, Neena Gupta shared how age has freed her to experiment—whether it’s overlining her lips or seeking the perfect non-sticky gloss. “Even now, I’m still learning, still playing,” she said. Divgikar, too, reflected on early battles with identity, and how the freedom to choose fluorescent shoes or bold lipstick became small but powerful acts of defiance.

Perhaps the most striking takeaway came from the shared insistence that beauty should never be about fear—fear of judgment, of difference, of not fitting in. Instead, as the panel underscored, beauty is about joy. About choice. About liberation.

In a world still learning to embrace its multiplicity, Amazon Beautyverse 2025 stood as a reminder: beauty is limitless, and so are we.

All images: Amazon India

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