Lara Raj: More Than A Bindi

I’ve always believed that fashion is more than just clothes — it’s one of the most powerful ways to tell our own stories. For me, no one embodies that truth quite like Lara Raj from Katseye.

Here’s why: 

Lara Raj doesn’t just wear a bindi — she owns it. But what exactly is a bindi? A bindi is a dot worn on the forehead between the eyebrows by women in South Asian cultures, often representing wisdom, spirituality, and beauty. However, Lara wearing a bindi is more than just a decorative piece worn for style: it’s pride, heritage, and self-expression.

Whenever I watch a Katseye music video or award show performance, I always notice Lara wearing her bindi like a piece of home. It reminds me that we should all be celebrating our roots — weaving our culture and identity into our everyday style more often.

Representation

Lara proves that fashion isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a canvas for heritage and identity. As someone who grew up between cultures, I know what it’s like to hesitate before wearing something that feels too ethnic or too cultural in a Western space. And that’s why I adore Lara Raj. She uses a cultural fashion symbol, like the bindi, as a tool to break barriers and to represent a new generation of South Asians. The goal is for South Asian culture to be not just recognised but admired and celebrated. 

Lara’s style reminds me that blending heritage into fashion can make you stand out for all the right reasons. 

Styling the Statement 

The bindi is playful and versatile, and Lara Raj knows how to rock it in different ways. Lara perfectly balances the bindi with her edgy, contemporary outfits. Her looks are proof that tradition and modernity can co-exist-and I'm here for it. Whether it’s a simple red dot, a cluster of gold, or sparkly jewels, the bindi can add individual flair and character to a look, as well as culture. 

But Lara isn’t the only one who reminds us that fashion can be heritage in motion. Across cultures, there are countless people weaving their identity into their looks. From African headwraps styled in bold prints, Japanese Kimonos reimagined as statement jackets, to Spanish-inspired flamenco ruffles on dresses, cultural fashion is becoming more visible, and I love it!

Why it matters

Watching Lara wear her culture so boldly is truly inspiring to me, and I know it is for so many other young South Asian women. Lara Raj is a trailblazer for us — she wears her culture proudly in Western media, and that truly resonates and empowers me, and so many others. She’s representing the underrepresented in a way that feels authentic.

“Thank you, Lara,” we all say in unison!

If you’re looking for a way to add personality to your everyday looks, take a page from Lara Raj’s book.

The lesson we learned from Lara: be bold, combine tradition and trends — and own it. Ultimately, be the representation you never had.

And if you’re ready to sprinkle a little Lara-level confidence into your own wardrobe, these Fizzypicks will help you channel that main-character, culture-coded magic every day.