The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan 385: What Miss America Never Told You: Colorism, Courage & Finding Love with Nina Davuluri
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
Breathe better with JASPR
As a mama healing from mold toxicity, air quality has become deeply personal for me. JASPR removes 97.1% of mold in just 1 hour. Use code BRAVE for $400 OFF: https://jaspr.co/brave
Want more?
✨ Buy 2, Get 1 FREE – Chai Tonics Holiday Bundle is here! Gift (or keep!) our signature blends—Focus Flow + Rose Ritual—when you buy 2 blends, you’ll get 1 FREE. Use code HOLIDAY to get yours now at https://bit.ly/trychaitonics
🌿 Need focus, recovery, or balance? Take my FREE quiz to find your perfect wellness boost → neetabhushan.com/chaiquiz
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)
To receive a free gift, email a screenshot of your 5-star review of The Brave Table to support@globalgrit.co 😘
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.