via GIPHY
I hate to be the bearer of bad news to nosy people everywhere, but guess what? Your silly rules are outdated. Women are no longer paying heed to your age-old stereotypes and instead doing what they want to do. PUMA’s new campaign celebrates all such Propah Ladies who choose to be themselves oh-so-unapologetically.
And to celebrate that, and women everywhere, we have a made list of the OG Propah Ladies who have defied all expectations and serve as an inspiration to all women.
1. Smita Patil
In an age when actresses were just expected to be pretty faces and not much else, Smita Patil defied the norm. She was not just actor. She was also an outspoken feminist, and chose movies that resonated with the issues she wanted to speak about. How propah an actor!
2. PT Usha
When in 1990, PT Usha took a 4 year break from athletics to get married and start a family at the height of her powers, many thought that her career was over. But she made a comeback for the ages, winning silver in the Asian Games in 1994, and silencing her doubters. She ended up running for another 4 years, and retired on her own terms.
3. Rekha
Rekha has always been an icon of walking off the beaten path and doing whatever she thinks is right. This OG Propah lady has played strong characters in various movies and has been one of the highest paid actresses of her time. However, time and again, she has been judged for wearing sindoor even after her husband’s death. But does she care a bit about what the world thinks? Nope. Rekha has always fought patriarchy with utter grace and power.
4. Mary Kom
Mary Kom, India's pride and glory has cemented her position as a role model for women everywhere. However, throughout her journey she had been written off multiple times. She was written off when she married and became a mother. She was written off after winning her 6th championship at the age of 35. But she kept going ahead and became the first boxer (male or female) to win 8 World Championships — a legit Propah Lady!
5. Duttee Chand
India's first openly gay athlete, Dutee Chand, is an inspiration for all of us. She not only defied expectations by winning on the international stage while coming from a small village in Odisha, but also defied society's expectations of her by fearlessly coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. All of this while continuing to set and break records all over the place.
6. Anjali Lama
Society has long held very strict standards of what feminine beauty should look like. And then Anjali Lama comes along and shatters those standards by becoming the first transgender woman to walk the ramp at Lakmé Fashion Week. And now she inspires a new generation of propah ladies!