One for her

Designer Sanjana Jon and former Miss California, Jennipha Nielsen shoot for a calendar espousing the cause of women empowerment

For a cause: Sanjana Jon with Jennipha Nielsen.

Women empowerment is a leading social cause in India. As it requires continual action for a gender equal society, a number of celebrities have invested their time and resources, time and again, for the cause. At a farmhouse in Gurgaon, Sanjana Jon, noted New York-based Fashion Designer and former Miss California, Jennipha Nielsen got together to shoot for a calendar around the theme of women empowerment.

For a long while in news in defence of the alleged-sexual assault case against her brother, Sanjana has been working for a number of social causes under a larger community of ‘Love and Light’. A campaign for creating awareness about empowering women was initiated by her in 2009. As she brought along a number of celebrities on board, she now works with about 100 noted names.

She asserts, “To cater to the problem of female foeticide and infanticide, poor education of women and other related issues, people who are looked up to in the society, can really make a difference.” Noting that India is greatly inspired by cinema and cricket, she is working with a number of actors and cricketers.

At the shoot, Sanjana and Jennipha with three little girls, Pari, Hazel and Khushi, modelled for the calendar in varied costumes and aesthetic flavour.

In between photo shoots, Jennipha, who is working with the UN as an independent advocate, describes her association with the campaign. “I am working on independent projects in India to promote the Millennium goals of the UN.” Her enthusiasm to make a difference got her on board in the Love and Light campaign. With much gratitude, Sanjana adds, “If a California girl can have so much compassion towards a societal problem of India, why can’t we Indians have the same zeal towards it?”

Jennipha, having worked in India , recognises and is astonished by how men are increasingly standing up to transform the existing gender unequal society. She along with Sanjana opines that change begins from home and the youth today are the catalyst for change.

The photo shoot will continue with more celebrities and is due for the end of this year. Sanjana plans to take the campaign forward at the grass root level.