by Ajaita Saini
Mindy Kaling is an Emmy nominated actress, comedian, producer, and writer. She’s most famous for her work as Kelly Kapoor on The
Mindy Kaling in Vogue
Office and Mindy Lahiri on The Mindy Project. However, she is also known for looking a lot different than most comedians and actors out there.
In an appearance on Jimmey Kimmel Live, she discussed the remarks she received after an interview with Vogue, where she said she’s “always trying to lose fifteen pounds. But I never need to be skinny. I don’t want to be skinny. I’m constantly in a state of self-improvement.” People cheered her on afterward with bizarre compliments, calling her courageous for not subscribing to the ideals of beauty.
Out of all things to call her a hero for–taking the role of a feminist protagonist on her show, best-selling books, being a role model to teenage girls everywhere, not to mention her work with Google’s Made with Code–she’s considered a hero for wearing a dress with her midriff showing. But honestly, revealing an inch of midriff doesn’t make Mindy Kaling a hero, it just makes her a normal woman who enjoys clothes like the rest of us. Why don’t other celebrities receive the same “praise”?
“It’s interesting to me that it’s considered revolutionary to not be a model and to be in love on a TV show” – Mindy Kaling
I personally adore Mindy Kaling. Not just because of the flood of relief I feel to see a South Indian actress on American television, but because of the fact that she’s accepting of who she is as a person and doesn’t hide the “imperfections” that make her a human.
I’m quite a chubby person myself. Cheeks that could belong to chipmunks, an obvious belly, and thighs that jiggle. Many times when I call myself chubby, my friends feel obliged to say “You’re perfectly thin! Stop undermining yourself!” Hold on–since when was I undermining myself? And since when was calling myself chubby equate to me being ugly?
It’s interesting to see how size has always set the standards for beauty. For the longest time, having a fuller, heavier body was preferred (because it was a sign of wealth), and not until recently have thinner, slim bodies been favored and encouraged. How did the social norm go from one notion to the complete opposite? I think that in the 21st century, the media has instilled the message that- hey if you’re a size 0, only then are you worthy to look good in that dress. Meanwhile, us sizes 10 and up should only be left with baggy, lackluster clothing until we’ve applied countless diets and pills to achieve some self- worth.
I always get asked, “Where do you get your confidence?” I think people are well meaning, but it’s pretty insulting. Because what it means to me is, “You, Mindy Kaling, have all the trappings of a very marginalized person. You’re not skinny, you’re not white, you’re a woman. Why on earth would you feel like you’re worth anything?” – Mindy Kaling
So where does that leave each of us in the eyes of everyone else? On one hand, we find ourselves trying to instill the idea that personality and capability are what matter, and that we shouldn’t be so quick to judge people based on appearance. On the other hand, we can’t help but cheer when we see an “average” woman on screen. We find ourselves acknowledging the disparity of the situation and appreciative of the fact that we finally get to see a more realistic view of reality in our models and actors.
Rather than focusing entirely on the difference of women like Mindy—rather than calling them “body image heroes–we should celebrate the overall growing diversity of young women in the media. We’re in a time when in the media, practically all women look perfect- and were altered to look that way. We rejoice at seeing people on screen who look more “normal” than model-like because we’re tired of seeing people that have been recreated to look like something they’re not. The reason people like Mindy Kaling deserve to be seen as pioneers isn’t because they succeeded despite being “imperfect,” but they continue to increase diversity. She isn’t breaking barriers because she’s chubby, but simply because she doesn’t take anyone’s shit and is amazing at what she does.
Mindy Kaling is NOT a “body image hero,” because the label shouldn’t exist in the first place- all it does is praise a woman for getting out of bed and looking like herself. Mindy is a hero for being a successful actor, comedian, writer nonpareil. Above all, her tenacity, audacious drive, and unique flair makes her a role model to girls and a champion for aspiring women everywhere.
For THAT, Mindy Kaling, we salute you.