For eight editions of the HerZindagi Cover Lady, we found voices and creators that were doing things differently. From women’s sexual health expert Dr Cuterus to lifestyle creator Insha Ghaii, finance educator Neha Nagar, and several others, each Cover Lady brought with her a story rooted in resilience, courage, triumph, and personal growth. They also all had different niches and expertise.
But somewhere along this journey, we wanted to do something different for the January cover.
The essence of a Cover Lady isn’t limited to a profession, a platform, or a follower count. It exists in everyday lives, in quiet resilience, in battles fought away from the spotlight, in a deep belief in oneself and in stories that often go unheard.
Every woman is a Cover Lady in their own right. Every woman has a story that’s unique; struggles she’s dealt with, how she’s been triumphant, and more. So to begin 2026, we asked our readers to tell us their cover story. What followed was stories of honesty and vulnerability, with self-love at the core of most of these journeys. Women overcoming insecurities – those shaped by comparisons, societal dictates, and a patriarchal society – to emerge stronger. Each of these journeys were shaped by a belief in their own selves, convictions and abilities. They were shaped by radical self-love.
For January, we’re doing things differently. There isn’t just one face, or one story. For this edition, they’re all our Cover Ladies.
Kavya Mukhija
Making Access Visible
Born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, Kavya Mukhija grew up navigating a world that consistently underestimated her, often through their mindsets and sometimes in the way our cities are designed.
“When I was growing up, my parents were repeatedly told that educating me would be futile. Because I use a wheelchair, people assumed my future would be limited, dependent, and confined,” she recounted. “Schools were inaccessible, public transport was unreliable, and attitudes were often worse than infrastructure.”
Refusing to be confined by systems not built for her, she pursued higher education across borders, becoming the first wheelchair user from India to study at UCL as a Chevening Scholar. From the United Nations to global policy rooms, Kavya has turned lived experience into advocacy, pushing for caregiver visas, inclusive education, and disability-aware policymaking.
“My biggest strength is my ability to make people understand disability, not through fear or pity, but through connection,” she said.
A Diana Award recipient, she is a Cover Lady because her story isn’t about “overcoming” disability, but about insisting every day that the world do better.
Nicole Concessao
Choosing Passion, Taking Space
For Nicole Concessao, growth has meant choosing alignment over certainty. From quitting a full-time job to building a career rooted in dance, she turned a lifelong passion into a language of confidence, expression, and storytelling. She now enjoys around 900k followers on Instagram.
In an industry shaped by visibility and judgement, Nicole learned to move past self-doubt by showing up consistently and creating work she loves. Dance remains both her anchor and her escape.
“Dance means so many different things to me. At first, it was a hobby, something I did for fun,” she explained. “It soon became a mode of income, where things became more professional, training became mandatory, and creativity became essential. Through all of these, I have always found an escape in dance and performance. It has helped me express emotions I couldn’t always put into words. To the women who will be reading this – Girl! Do it for yourself!”
Nicole is a Cover Lady because she represents women who are still figuring it out, choosing themselves again and again, and unapologetically taking space while doing what sets their soul in motion.
Akanksha Kommirelly
Consistency In A World That Constantly Changes
In an industry defined by algorithms, trends, and burnout, Akanksha Kommirelly’s biggest achievement is simple yet rare: she stayed. She started out in 2019, and has seen the internet landscape change and shift, in many unexpected ways. Today, Akanksha has built a thriving community of 200K plus on YouTube and 180K plus on Instagram.
For over six years, the beauty and lifestyle creator has chosen discipline over motivation and consistency over comfort.
“One of my biggest hurdles has always been that I’m very emotional and very sensitive. Earlier, I used to let my mood decide my work a lot,” she highlighted. “Especially when you’re your own boss, nobody is checking on you, nobody is asking if you worked today or not.” She eventually started putting more faith in discipline, over motivation.
From Forbes recognition to a TED Talk, milestones were plenty, but it was resilience that sustained her career. Now an entrepreneur, she’s building a fashion brand rooted in “no-pressure dressing”, which features wardrobe essentials that are timeless, effortless, and real. Akanksha is a Cover Lady because she proves that self-trust and quiet persistence are powerful forms of success.
