'I would see not just in American media, but in Indian media, which actually hurts me more, that fair was considered beautiful. And it was the only thing considered beautiful. I felt like I had to look like that to ever be accepted or thought of as beautiful or to find friendship or love. I love my skin colour so much now that I really, really want girls, men, anyone growing up today to recognise that.'

Deepica Mutyala knew from a young age that she would shrug off the expectations place on her and instead forge her own path. That vision - combined with a steely determination and courage to follow her gut instinct - propelled her up the career ladder which started in Ohio working at Victoria's Secret, and sees her currently at the helm of the community and cosmetics company, Live Tinted.

In today's episode, we talk about how she has achieved so much so quickly, what the cost of working at that intensity is, how her parents responded to her not taking the route they'd hoped she might when younger, and why she decided she had to leave New York.

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.