Global K-Pop superstars Katseye won their first VMA on Sept. 7 for their Billboard-charting song ‘Touch’ – but one member of the group turned heads with her bold red carpet fashion even before the performance.
Indian-American member, Lara Raj, arrived at the VMAs outfitted in a maang tikka, a traditional Indian hair ornament, and henna-decorated hands.
Lara is the only South Asian member of the group and takes pride in showcasing her Indian culture. Despite being relatively new to the pop scene, Lara has taken strides in platforming her community.
The Indian community has a history of being misrepresented or simply erased in Western media. One example is the music video for Madonna’s 1998 song “Frozen,” where she appropriates Indian culture through wearing Henna on her hands. Or the countless times Gwen Stefani wore a bindi on her forehead because it was ‘in style.’ And, of course, Iggy Azalea’s Bollywood-inspired outfits and dance moves in the music video for her song “Bounce” back in 2013.
Issues with representation for marginalized communities in the media continue to be a pressing matter as the Trump administration amplifies its attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
During his first days in office, President Trump signed an executive order dismantling DEI programs across the country. He referred to them as “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.” So, Lara’s stand against the Western gaze is all the more significant.
In July, American Eagle released a controversial campaign with actress Sydney Sweeney, which received public backlash after viewers claimed it promoted eugenics and the sexualization of women.
Just weeks after the American Eagle advertisement dropped, Gap released a campaign with Katseye, which received a much more positive reaction in the media. The girl group’s ad was praised for its inclusion of the song “Milkshake” by Kelis, a diverse cast of dancers, and its fun choreography. Among her counterparts, Lara gained attention for proudly wearing a nose ring, bindi, and Om necklace.
One fan took to Instagram to share her appreciation, writing, “Representation matters. Beauty is universal. Oh and @lararajj has great jeans.”
And Katseye wasn’t the only act bringing diversity to the stage at the VMAs this year. The show also saw another form of representation and protest later in the night with Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of her song “Tears.”
The singer took to the stage with drag queens and LGBTQ+ performers, and backup dancers. Towards the end of the performance, the dancers held up signs that said “Protect the Dolls” and “In Trans We Trust”.
This year’s VMAs weren’t just another music awards show – they were a platform for marginalized groups to express themselves on a global scale.
Katseye will go on their North American tour later this month, with their first performance in Los Angeles on Sept. 18.
Popline News 