If you’re a non-white woman, how many skin whitening products have you come across? Quick, GO!! (You all thought of Fair & Lovely, didn’t you?) Want to know what a fabulous international supermodel thinks about this?

Meet Lakshmi Menon, runway star, fashion editorial darling, face of Hermès, and a native of Bangalore, India. When it comes skin color and beauty, she would know of what she speaks. And sweet heavens above, does she ever!! Post-colonial hangups, “wheatish” complexions, Lakshmi lays it out:

Poor Stylist Keegan Singh is as dazzled by her intelligence as we are, and can barely keep up! Thoughtful, articulate, and really, really nice (our Iggy production crew raved about how unfussy she was about lighting and makeup…speaking of which, I don’t think she’s wearing any!)  Lakshmi blows away the notion that beauty and brains can’t cohabit.  We’re too impressed to feel jealous. Dammit.

Lakshmi Menon in Vogue India

If the embeded video of the interview doesn’t open, go here to see the full thing.  In part 2, Lakshmi and Keegan talk about their backgrounds, fashion trends, and how they began their careers.