It’s not everyday that you wake up to powerful, motivating feminist content with an empowering narrative. Guess today is our lucky day ’cause we happened to come across an imagery so badass, so powerful, it might have us charged enough to slide through the rest of the week. This image is of a beautiful brown woman decked up in jewellery and a gorgeous lehenga and posing for the camera. But here’s the twist–she’s breastfeeding while she poses!
In honour of World Breastfeeding Week, fashion influencer Shayoon Mendeluk bared it all for an exclusive interview with the digital platform Brown Girl Magazine in what has to be the most stunning symbolism of female liberation combined with the au naturale phenomenon that is breastfeeding. Shayoon has family roots in India and Pakistan but has lived all over the world in her 33 years.
Raising a family in Ibiza, Spain, she practices healing through Reiki, channeling, prana, and quantum healing hypnosis among other techniques at The Light Force Center, Enchanting Luxury Wellness Apothecary & Boutique. But Shayoon isn’t your regular desi girl. She is the antithesis to all things conservative, shy, and fearful. She is her own individual and breaks stereotypes daily to practise what she believes in, and not what our families or society coerce us into. She surely managed to raise quite a lot of eyebrows especially given that female bodies, our sexuality, and the very natural act of breastfeeding are considered taboos in our society.
Here’s an excerpt from the caption to the post in Shayoon’s own words that she dedicated to all the ‘desis’: “Living in fear causes and manifests into illness and disease. Fear is a disease. You don’t have to be pressured into a career, a relationship or any of that bs because your parents want that for you. It’s emotional blackmail. Do you, do what makes you happy or you will live the life you’re trying to escape forever.”
“You hold the power to EVERYTHING. Your mind and body is the strongest thing you have, and when trained and used properly, can generate anything you want. Don’t worry about the past, or the future because they don’t f****** exist. Find your purpose. The purpose of life is to live your purpose!! Heal, grow, and then help others do the same!” she added.
Images like these not only open conservations about women owning their bodies, motherhood, and body confidence, but also the importance for young women around the world to be able to raise their voices for what they truly believe in. The sexist and misogynistic obligations that our culture puts on us can go f**k themselves!
Photo credits Shayoon Mendeluk and Brown Girl Magazine.
