What happens when you're too dark to be Miss India... but not American enough to be Miss America?

In this deeply vulnerable and powerful episode of The Brave Table, I sit down with Nina Davuluri—activist, entrepreneur, and the first Indian-American Miss America. She takes us behind the scenes of her viral win, the backlash, and how colorism shaped her identity, her advocacy, and her new documentary COMPLEXion.

From growing up in a world that worshipped whiteness to dismantling billion-dollar beauty brands’ skin-whitening products, Nina doesn’t hold back. If you’ve ever felt not enough—too dark, too loud, too ambitious—this one’s for you.

What you'll get out of this episode…

• The shocking moment that shaped Nina’s awareness of colorism

• What really happened the night she won Miss America

• The real cost of fitting into beauty ideals in Western and South Asian cultures

• How Nina helped push major beauty brands like Unilever, L’Oréal, and Johnson & Johnson to drop or rebrand whitening products

• Her advice for healing self-worth and reclaiming beauty on your own terms

• How her relationship with her now-fiancé reminds us that true connection sees beyond appearance, fame, or ability

Connect with Nina

WEB / https://www.ninadavuluri.com

IG / https://www.instagram.com/ninadavuluri

YT / https://www.youtube.com/@Nina.Davuluri

WATCH COMPLEXITY / https://www.amazon.com/COMPLEXion-Nina-Davuluri/dp/B0B8KZ32BG

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Follow along for more tips, community, and resources to brave a better you!

YOUTUBE / @TheBraveTable

IG / @neetabhushan

IG / @thebravetable

TIKTOK / @neeta.bhushan

WEB / https://neetabhushan.com

If you loved this episode, check out…

Ep. #235: Why An Alcohol-Free Lifestyle is the Health Trend We Need Now with Aishwarya Balaji (Apple | Spotify | YouTube)

Ep. #184: Dealing with loved ones addiction, alcohol abuse, and how to be there for them with Mindy Hofman (Apple | Spotify)

Ep. #319: Breaking the Quiet Asian Stereotype—Loudly with Dr. Lalitaa & Simone Heng (Apple | Spotify | YouTube)

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Dr. Neeta Bhushan is a 5x award-winning author, emotional health advocate, and host of The Brave Table podcast. CEO of Highest Self Institute and author of That Sucked, Now What, she’s been featured in Forbes, ABC, and more. A former dentist turned global speaker, Neeta’s work blends psychology, ancient wisdom, and resilience from her own life experiences. She's also a mom, wellness lover, and chai enthusiast.