Meet our first Pride storytellers

It’s our pleasure to introduce you to Amit Shah (he/him) and Aditya Madiraju (he/him). Amit and Aditya are New Jersey-based partners (married for over 5 years), South Asian creators, and the first storytellers we’re spotlighting in our #OWNYOURGLOW x PRIDE initiative.

Amit (@amit_aatma) is a creative director and entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to South Asian performing arts and education. His company, AATMA Performing Arts, is globally recognized and has tremendous accolades with the press and media. Aditya (@adityamadiraju) is a finance professional and makeup/skincare creator with a massively dedicated social media following.

We invited Amit and Aditya to share their stories with us and now we’re sharing them with you. Here’s what they had to say:

Amit & Aditya tell their stories:

AAVRANI: How has your relationship with yourself and your confidence evolved over time?

Amit Shah: My relationship with myself has gotten so much better with age. I’ve always struggled with confidence, and it wasn’t until I met Aditya where I really started feeling good in my skin. I’ve always been a perfectionist, and I am highly critical of myself and my accomplishments. Aditya taught me to live more in the moment and own what I bring to the table. I learned to love my flaws and take responsibility for who I am. I think you also just become more in tune with yourself as you age, and I feel better about who I am now than I have ever before.

AAVRANI: What does being your most authentic self look like? Feel like?

Aditya Madiraju: I am a finance risk data professional with a passion for skincare/makeup. It takes a lot of effort and planning to finish my daytime job and then sit in a studio until 2am to create looks, but it’s my passion and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. When I think of me being my most authentic self, it’s when I’m in my home studio and experimenting with makeup. It feels amazing; I feel liberated, and I think I have the confidence to take on any challenge in life because I am not afraid to be me.

AAVRANI: What does #OWNYOURGLOW mean to you? How do you #OWNYOURGLOW?

Amit: Owning your glow is nothing more than loving who you are. It’s such a simple concept, but most people struggle with it. We all envy what someone else has, but there’s nothing more powerful or sexy than being yourself unapologetically.

AAVRANI: How are you taking care of yourself? What does self care mean to you?

Aditya: I never used to prioritize self-care because I genuinely thought it wasn’t a necessity. I think being on social media in the last couple of years has changed what self-care means for most of us. I prioritize my health now, both mentally and physically. I take breaks when I need and I indulge in rituals/pamper sessions even if I feel I don’t “deserve” them. Whether it’s a small coffee break, a little hiatus from social media, or creating a piece of art that I will never share with anyone is my idea of self-care. I think my dogs take up my whole life. There is no love that can compare to the love your chosen family has for you. I am a big advocate of self-care now and if that means we must disconnect from updates on the ‘gram, then so be it!

AAVRANI: How has your relationship with your partner impacted your personal journey/evolution?

Amit: The biggest difference Aditya made to myself was teaching me not to take anything too seriously. For most of my life, I thought life was this battleground where you had to fight the world to make a mark for yourself. Aditya taught me to relax, enjoy the small things in life, and love the journey, not the destination.

Aditya: I came out to my parents after I met Amit (my husband). It feels different. I feel safe that I have a support system. Growing up as a closeted gay kid, you dream of such stuff, but never do you think you can make it your reality. I think I manifested it before everyone started using the term “manifestation”. I feel confident, empowered, and I trust my instincts. Having a partner who understands you at an emotional level is very important. I feel blessed to have found one who gets me!

AAVRANI: Okay, last question. What's your favorite South Asian at-home ritual?

Amit: My family takes their chai way too seriously, but I love when we have our late-night chai/gossip sessions. We eat dinner early, so a hot cup of chai and a nice face mask is the perfect ending to the day.

Aditya: That would be creating a homemade face and body mask. I come from the state of Andhra Pradesh, and Nalugu (a mix of turmeric powder, chanaga pindi/besan, and water/essential oils) is smeared on the bride and the groom as a tradition. My mom used to make sure I did that every Sunday (it’s a great exfoliator). I still try to keep up with that when I can, but the Glow Activating Exfoliator does the trick! I want to pass it on to our kids and every Sunday will be an exfoliation day in the “SHAHDIRAJU” household! 

Building a more equitable world for LGBTQ+ folx:

In partnership with Amit and Aditya, we’ll be donating $1 for each ''like'' on their instagram post (up to $1,000) to support their charity of choice, The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization and the worlds largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. Head on over to Amit or Aditya’s Instagram to participate. Want to donate to The Trevor Project directly? Head on over to their donation page.

Challenging expectations means there is no standard in beauty. Join us as we celebrate members of the South Asian LGBTQ+ community and give back to their favorite charities. As we continue to share stories, you are encouraged to give us your thoughts, express your feelings, ask questions, and everything in between by emailing us at hello@aavrani.com or DMing us on Instagram @AAVRANI.

#OWNYOURGLOW