"Young girls today don’t feel like brown skin is less beautiful..."
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan graces Vogue India’s November/December 2025 issue, reflecting on her evolution from Netflix’s breakout star to one of Hollywood’s most self-assured young voices.
The Tamil-Canadian actor opens up about her heritage, her mentors and redefining what representation truly means.
Ramakrishnan, who first captured hearts as Devi Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever (2020), has since built an impressive and diverse portfolio.
She has voiced characters in My Little Pony, Big Mouth and Pixar’s Turning Red (2022), describing the experience as “literally a dream” for a kid raised on animation.
Her love for voiceover work stems partly from her father and from finding comfort in animated characters she could actually relate to.
“This is sad,” she says, “but growing up, I could relate more to a cartoon dog than white Disney Channel kids.”
Her childhood was also filled with Tamil films that shaped her sense of identity and belonging.
“I’m a big fan of Pokkiri. What a great soundtrack. And Chandramukhi, I’ve always loved,” she recalls fondly.
Now, as an actor navigating the global cinema scene, she’s drawn to storytelling that transcends trends.
“I don’t want to watch some artsy-fartsy film because some film bro recommended it to me,” she jokes, adding that she’s recently enjoyed exploring Korean and Thai cinema.
Despite being thrust into fame at a young age, Maitreyi remains grounded in her values and self-awareness.
She acknowledges that coming of age in an industry that amplifies insecurities can be daunting, but she credits her growth to the people who’ve guided her.
Sharp lines and sweeping motion. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan steps into custom Manish Malhotra for Vogue India’s November cover shoot. pic.twitter.com/pz0dVifBPF
— VOGUE India (@VOGUEIndia) October 22, 2025
She names Mindy Kaling, Niecy Nash and Hasan Minhaj as mentors, alongside Teen Vogue’s “wise and brilliant” editor-in-chief Versha Sharma, whom she’s known since she was 18.
Ramakrishnan also reflects on beauty standards and the importance of self-acceptance as a brown woman in Hollywood.
“My mom never made me feel bad about myself. She always told me I’m beautiful,” she says.
Unlike many young South Asian girls, she was never told to stay out of the sun.
“But despite my parents’ best efforts, they can’t control society. They can’t control what’s said at school or what you see in the media,” she admits.
She believes progress is unfolding, citing the impact of shows and characters that celebrate brown beauty.
“Hopefully, with the creation of shows like Never Have I Ever and with the rise of my baddie Lara Raj from Katseye, young girls today don’t feel like brown skin is less beautiful than white,” she says proudly.
Her admiration for Lara Raj, the bold brown-skinned lead of Katseye, underscores her passion for seeing multifaceted South Asian women take centre stage.
For the Vogue India cover, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan wears a custom Manish Malhotra corset and skirt, exuding a powerful blend of tradition and modernity.
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