"I want to work towards building a world where disability is not equated to failure, to misery or to just struggles!"Vasu Primlani, comedianWhen Delhi’s Vasu Primlani got the Nari Shakti Puruskar by the President of India last year, she became the first comedian to be awarded the prestigious honour. But one thing is for sure — I always get up!" she posted recently, sending goosebumps to all her fans and well-wishers across the nation. It was somatic therapy that helped her recover. Strength was induced within her only because she kept her eyes, mind and ears all wide open — and kept learning at every occasion. Yes, I was upset and nervous, but it was more about reorienting myself and my career goals, now that this was happening, rather than the feeling of my world crashing down," she explains. The reason, she says, was family. Stand-up comedy is only a facet in Nidhi’s work in the disability sector. "I was full of self-hatred and shame.Shares Sofia, who is currently in Japan says, "2016 was a great year for women-centric communication -- be it films, TV, digital or advertisements.  She was most recently in the news again for using her music to protest peacefully against the proposal of SasikalaNatrajan to become Chief Minister of the state, urging the generally ignorant younger strata of the society to become more politically aware. And I’m in this business not for any profits either, as I only demand minimal charges. With her designs now receiving acclaim from across the nation, it was not an easy task to introduce the concept of adaptive clothing in fashion industry, she says. But things were never hunky-dory for her.Priyanka Chopra, actressPeeCee’s star has been shining bright, ever since her debut in Hollywood shot her to international fame. She shot to fame when her make-up tutorial went viral on the Internet where she teamed up with the NGO Make Love Not Scars to highlight the life-altering effects of acid attacks."Sofia Ashraf, musicianThis rapper and musician occupies cult status in the hearts of several youngsters across the country – from her ‘Kodaikanal Won’t’ exploits against Dow Chemicals to playing an active role in the Justice Rocks social movement. It was only after years of grooming that she was able to stand straight and tall, style herself and dress in accordance to the occasion."Vaishali Shadangule, fashion designerAs an 18-year-old, with a dream to make a mark in the world of fashion, she ran away from her hometown in Vidisha, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, to Bhopal. People from across the country are placing their orders with me and and it’s a great feeling," Shalini explains. Through my series "Sista from The South", I hope to address the issues, insecurities and ideologies of a modern South Indian woman.Initially, it was not an easy ride for Rupa with not-so-willing trainers."Pursuing fashion was still an ambitious dream, when Vaishali reached Mumbai in 1999 and found work in an export house. She had to battle a lot of personal issues, including low self-esteem. She wants girls everywhere to stand on their own and not depend on anyone for their living. "There was not any particular phase when I decided to be a designer, rather it all happened organically. When making clothes for the disabled, it requires many trials and alterations continuously to get the final result right. Already in a financial crisis, her feeble English and unfamiliarity with the fashion circles made the going more tough. I began the year with a video that normalises acne and tells you that it’s ‘No Big Deal’. So, I strongly feel that backing of the family is a must for a girl. I wasn’t very confident I could do it initially since each disabled person has a different kind of body.Garnering a vociferous fan base (as Shekhar Suman found out recently) despite going against every rule in the ‘traditional heroine’ playbook, Kangana is fast becoming the quintessential ambassador for women as someone who dared to be not just be the leading lady of their films - but also their own lives.Presser foot pin