Trisha Shetty is a 29-year-old young dynamic Indian activist, a feminist fighting for gender equality through her organization SheSays. Trisha in a recent Ted Talk told how she was sexually abused at the young age of 10 by a man known to her. The abuse left deep scars on Trisha’s mind. She suffered from post-traumatic disorder and till the age of 18 took a number of anti-depressants and sleeping pills. One day after seeing her abuser living a normal happy life she decided to see herself as a survivor instead of seeing herself as a victim and a weak person. She studied and became a lawyer. Today, Trisha is representing young women across the globe who underwent some form of abuse and is fighting for women’s basic human rights, women representation and preventing sexual assaults on women.
The great work being done by Trisha has been honored by the United Nations, US President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II and French President Emmanuel Macron. Trisha is the President of the Steering Committee of the Paris Peace Forum– an international summit launched in 2018, by the French President to promote good global governance. Trisha joined the Global Leadership Advisory Council of the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live in 2018. In the same year, she was included in India’s “7 Most Powerful Warriors” by the India Today magazine and was one the recipients of the Vogue India Woman of the Year Award.
“As women we are often expected to speak politely in the face of discrimination, to dress “modestly” to make others “comfortable”, to not claim too much space. I’ve lost jobs, been called names because I’ve rejected this B…S… But I will continue to claim my agency. “
Trisha Shetty
Trisha Shetty was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra India. She did her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology. She also did an LLB from the University of Mumbai. In 2018, Trisha got the honor of being selected as an Obama Foundation Scholar to complete a 1-year specialized training, educational and mentorship program at Columbia University in New York, USA. Trisha founded SheSays organization in August 2015 to advocate gender equality in India.
In 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chose Trisha Shetty along with 17 youth leaders to eradicate gender inequality in the world by 2030. In 2017, Trisha was among the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the categories Pioneer Women and Social Entrepreneur. She was listed by India Today among 50 Most Influential Changemakers in 2018. Trisha Shetty was the keynote speaker at the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, 2017.
In June 2018, Trisha got the privilege of being inducted into the final Queen’s Young Leader Cohort by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. She got special training and mentorship under this program and later got the honor of being invited to a reception hosted by Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street.
Trisha Shetty contributed to the Sunday Times bestseller, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (2018), a collection of short stories by activists and female leaders. Trisha helped Michelle Obama to launch the Global Girls Alliance under the Obama Foundation.
Trisha Shetty is the woman who has shown to the world that a person just needs to look within himself to find his hidden strength. We should not let any person rob us of our happiness and strength. She went on to become the best and strongest version of herself when things went wrong in her life. She is truly an inspiration to all the women going through tough times in life. I hope she keeps spreading positivity in the world around her. You are such a wonderful woman Trisha!
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