Unplucked and Unfiltered: Jesmeen Kaur Deo on Body Hair Stigma, Beauty Norms, and TJ Powar Has Something to Prove

On this episode of Characters Like Us, we sit down with author Jesmeen Kaur Deo to talk all things writing, representation, and redefining beauty. Jesmeen shares the inspiration behind her debut novel TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, a powerful story that challenges body hair stigma and South Asian beauty standards. We also get a sneak peek into her upcoming book Reasons We Break, explore her writing journey, creative process, and the importance of telling stories that feel personal, authentic, and empowering. If you’ve ever felt like the outsider in your own story, this conversation is for you. 🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on inclusive storytelling! Follow Jesmeen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jdeowrites/ and check out her debut novel TJ POWAR HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE on our Bookshop Page! https://bookshop.org/p/books/tj-powar-has-something-to-prove-jesmeen-kaur-deo/17502931?aid=113809&ean=9780593403396&listref=books-by-our-guests-characters-like-us ⏳ TIMESTAMPS ⌛️ 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:35 - Numbered Narratives00:15:29 - Influence of Body Hair Representation in Media00:16:33 - Body Hair Stigma in South Asian Communities00:17:41 - Writing about Body Hair Stigma00:22:26 - Importance of Authenticity Readers00:25:34 - Body Hair Stigma and Transness00:27:57 - Writing Community and Support00:30:00 - Balancing Writing with Other Careers00:30:44 - Changing Publishers and Genres00:32:54 - Balancing Writing with a Full-Time Job00:34:24 - Writing Process for 'Reasons We Break'00:39:03 - Closing Remarks and Reflections on Writing ImpactThis video comes with captions and a transcript. Characters Like Us is a podcast dedicated to exploring the craft of diverse and inclusive writing in the books that we read and write. 💫 Enjoyed this episode? 💫 Join our Patreon / https://patreon.com/CharactersLikeUs Buy Jesmeen's book on our bookshop / https://bookshop.org/shop/clu 🌻 Follow Geetanshi 🌻: Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/gee.tan.shi/ YouTube / https://www.youtube.com/@Geetanshi-Sharma ✨ Follow Anvita ✨: YouTube / @anvitascorner Instagram / http://instagram.com/anvitascorner 📚 Follow Characters Like Us 📚: Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/characterslikeuspod/ Business Email: [email protected] Music by Hafijur Rahman from Pixabay. Sound Effects from Pixabay.