Letting Go of Ambitions
Married at the age of 18 in the remote village of Nandurbar, North-Western Maharashtra, the young bride sat rolling out large ‘puranpolis’ – a Marathi delicacy. The task was to prove her culinary skills before 100 women from the community who had gathered to assess her, believing she would fail.
Dr. Rekha’s ‘puranpolis’ excelled even those of well-trained cooks, while her heart soaked in tears as the school principal’s words at her wedding reception rang in her ears, fresh and clear, “Good to see you as a bride, but being selected in the national team was a big chance for you. We were expecting you at the basketball court leading our team”.
Rebuilding Dreams
Had it not been Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, giving up her dreams and following the social norms of early marriage would have been enough for any other girl from the interiors of India to wrap up all her dreams and submit before the laws of a patriarchal society. For Dr. Rekha, however, the blow further kindled an urge to do something that would create a meaningful impact.
In her words, “I come from a tribal area in the North-Western part of Maharashtra called Nandurbar. There, exposure was limited and girls did not have much encouragement to venture out on their own. However, once I did my cousin’s wedding makeup when I was 14, which turned out exceptionally well. That was the beginning of a new dream for me, to be in the beauty business”.
Mumbai Beckons
“I came to Mumbai for better educational opportunities for my children, along with a hidden dream to pursue a life in the beauty industry. Getting an initial break was a huge challenge. Mumbai was a new city, and I didn’t know anyone here. It was a major shift for me, from my rural lifestyle to the urban one.
Those days were tough! I found it difficult to enter and understand the workings of the beauty industry. In the year 2004, I came across Rémy Laure, a French skincare line and an international brand. Interestingly, I was chosen to represent the brand in India, and this was a turning point in my life. There has been no looking back ever since”.
Rural Housewife to an International Business Leader
Every journey has a purpose. Read her life story that proves nothing is impossible.
Letting Go of Ambitions
Married at the age of 18 in the remote village of Nandurbar, North-Western Maharashtra, the young bride sat rolling out large ‘puranpolis’ – a Marathi delicacy. The task was to prove her culinary skills before 100 women from the community who had gathered to assess her, believing she would fail.
Read More
Dr. Rekha’s ‘puranpolis’ excelled even those of well-trained cooks, while her heart soaked in tears as the school principal’s words at her wedding reception rang in her ears, fresh and clear, “Good to see you as a bride, but being selected in the national team was a big chance for you. We were expecting you at the basketball court leading our team”.
Rebuilding Dreams
Had it not been Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, giving up her dreams and following the social norms of early marriage would have been enough for any other girl from the interiors of India to wrap up all her dreams and submit before the laws of a patriarchal society. For Dr. Rekha, however, the blow further kindled an urge to do something that would create a meaningful impact.
Read More
In her words, “I come from a tribal area in the North-Western part of Maharashtra called Nandurbar. There, exposure was limited and girls did not have much encouragement to venture out on their own. However, once I did my cousin’s wedding makeup when I was 14, which turned out exceptionally well. That was the beginning of a new dream for me, to be in the beauty business”.
Mumbai Beckons
“I came to Mumbai for better educational opportunities for my children, along with a hidden dream to pursue a life in the beauty industry. Getting an initial break was a huge challenge. Mumbai was a new city, and I didn’t know anyone here. It was a major shift for me, from my rural lifestyle to the urban one.
Read More
Those days were tough! I found it difficult to enter and understand the workings of the beauty industry. In the year 2004, I came across Rémy Laure, a French skincare line and an international brand. Interestingly, I was chosen to represent the brand in India, and this was a turning point in my life. There has been no looking back ever since”.
Letting Go of Ambitions
Married at the age of 18 in the remote village of Nandurbar, North-Western Maharashtra, the young bride sat rolling out large ‘puranpolis’ – a Marathi delicacy. The task was to prove her culinary skills before 100 women from the community who had gathered to assess her, believing she would fail.
Read More
Dr. Rekha’s ‘puranpolis’ excelled even those of well-trained cooks, while her heart soaked in tears as the school principal’s words at her wedding reception rang in her ears, fresh and clear, “Good to see you as a bride, but being selected in the national team was a big chance for you. We were expecting you at the basketball court leading our team”.
Rebuilding Dreams
Had it not been Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, giving up her dreams and following the social norms of early marriage would have been enough for any other girl from the interiors of India to wrap up all her dreams and submit before the laws of a patriarchal society. For Dr. Rekha, however, the blow further kindled an urge to do something that would create a meaningful impact.
Read More
In her words, “I come from a tribal area in the North-Western part of Maharashtra called Nandurbar. There, exposure was limited and girls did not have much encouragement to venture out on their own. However, once I did my cousin’s wedding makeup when I was 14, which turned out exceptionally well. That was the beginning of a new dream for me, to be in the beauty business”.
Mumbai Beckons
“I came to Mumbai for better educational opportunities for my children, along with a hidden dream to pursue a life in the beauty industry. Getting an initial break was a huge challenge. Mumbai was a new city, and I didn’t know anyone here. It was a major shift for me, from my rural lifestyle to the urban one.
Read More
Those days were tough! I found it difficult to enter and understand the workings of the beauty industry. In the year 2004, I came across Rémy Laure, a French skincare line and an international brand. Interestingly, I was chosen to represent the brand in India, and this was a turning point in my life. There has been no looking back ever since”.
Rural Housewife to an International Business Leader
Every journey has a purpose. Read her life story that proves nothing is impossible.