We’re all born naked and the rest is drag. Those are lyrics from drag superstar RuPaul’s song ‘Born Naked’ and a line frequently quoted on his show RuPaul’s Drag Race. The words, as per her own declaration, have changed Mumbai-based comedian Supriya Joshi’s life. “It essentially means you can be anybody,” she says right after squealing Miss Vanjie, a famous contestant’s name. “It was like a light bulb moment [when I heard them] and I have never looked back.” The comedian, who was bullied her entire childhood and well into her late teens, accepting her physical appearance took a long journey. It’s one that hasn’t quite ended yet.
Growing up, Joshi was never exposed to anyone she could relate to in the mainstream. She was constantly bombarded with negativity. “All I heard was that I’m not good, I’m ugly or I’m disgusting,” she reminisces. The message was received and stayed embedded. The constant hammering hasn’t ceded yet. So much so, that there are still days when she doesn’t like how she looks. But thanks to Rupaul’s life lessons, there’s been a shift. “I watched these fat queens [on the show],” she laughs. “All of them are fierce competitors and they love themselves and their bodies.” Joshi will pay it forward this weekend with a talk titled ‘How To Love Yourself When You Are Asked Not To’. As a self-admitted bad planner, there’s no guarantee of Rupaul talk, so you’ll just have to be there to find out. Joshi will, however, talk about her own experiences and engage with the audience.
As a comedian, she’s often in the spotlight, making her an easy target for Internet trolls. But the barrage of constant insults about her physical appearance though hasn’t dampened her swagger. “I am now at a place where I love my self and I can say it out loud, especially when people like me are expected not to,” she says. “There are so many like me who will hear [that this Sunday] and find strength in that and begin their own journey toward self acceptance and self love.” Reaching out is one of the reasons Joshi, unlike her peers, deliberately makes it a point to document the low moments in her life on social media.
While her confidence is obvious in our conversation, Joshi’s journey is far from over. The effects of bullying and years of conditioning hardly vanish without a trace. Although her panic attacks have significantly reduced, the social anxiety remains. “I still don’t really like going out that much,” she laughs at how it directly contradicts her chosen profession. “You can be anybody and still feel shitty about yourself.” Nonetheless, she’s hoping to become more approachable as the next step in her journey. And we could all take a leaf out of Joshi’s book parting with words from the very wise RuPaul: 'If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?’
Supriya Joshi drops some truth bombs
Start watching Rupaul’s Drag Race, your mind will expand and so will your vocabulary.
Take small steps towards learning who you are and don’t hold yourself back from doing the things you want to do, unless it’s killing somebody. Then you should definitely hold yourself back.
Who gives a sh** who’s laughing at you? You’ll never see them again.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
If you think ‘I can’t do this because I’m fat and ugly’, then that moment is gone and it will never happen again and you might regret it.
How To Love Yourself When You Are Asked Not To will take place on Sunday June 10 at Kala Studio, Khar West at 5 p.m. Entry is priced at ₹150; more details at 9892075622