For over six decades, Femina has served as a cultural bellwether for the evolving Indian woman. Launched in July 1959 by The Times Group, India’s oldest English women’s lifestyle journal transitioned from a domestic guide into a glossy modern institution, championing women who choose to "Be Unstoppable."
Unlike traditional film glossies like Filmfare or Stardust, which thrive on industry gossip and set reports, Femina intentionally maintains a distinct editorial identity. When Bollywood stars grace its cover, the lens shifts entirely. Actors are not framed as cinematic commodities, but as high-achieving women, fashion icons, and wellness pioneers. Legends like Rekha appear not to answer movie-set rumors, but to discuss personal philosophy, ageless style, and self-reinvention.
Over 1,500 issues later, Femina’s journey reflects India's social transformation. Under legendary long-serving editors like Vimla Patil - who steered the publication for two decades while building the flagship Femina Miss India pageant - and Sathya Saran in the 1990s, the magazine balanced high fashion with social consciousness, personal finance, and career independence.
While initially published as a fortnightly, Femina adapted to modern media consumption by shifting to a monthly print schedule alongside a massive digital ecosystem. Today, under current Editor-in-Chief Ambika Muttoo, the brand commands millions of digital readers via femina.in and powers major industry events like the Femina Beauty Awards.
Femina remains an enduring symbol of female empowerment in India, a lifestyle magazine that defined what it meant to be a modern Indian woman long before the mainstream caught on.
Vogue invested millions in archiving all its print editions - sadly, Femina hasn't done that yet. Several memorable covers and feature and photoshoots, lost in some archive somewhere. These are the only few and far between cover shots of Rekha on the cover we could find online - we are hunting for more...
