Trisha Shetty wants you to recognise your own power

Trisha Shetty always knew she was going to be a loud voice in the space of women’s empowerment. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, the activist knew all too well the deafening cost of silence. “I told myself to be brave enough to start my foundation, SheSays, along with other amazing young unapologetic feminists,” she says.

Shetty’s work has been instrumental in sanitation, digital literacy and improving safety for women in public spaces has won her a place among the pathbreaking women featured in the sixth edition of Levi’s #ISHAPEMYWORLD initiative. She joins modern inspirations like comedian Sumukhi Suresh, journalist Faye D’Souza and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, among other, who made the tough decisions and fought to shape their world, and change others’ world view.

“When you start, you’re really idealistic, thinking change must happen, I will bring change. You don’t show up knowing you will win, you show up because not doing that has a very big cost,” says Shetty, acknowledging the uphill path she’s had to tread. “But then there are those moment where a father of a four-year-old child calls to tell you that after fighting for your years, the rapist has been convicted and he won’t abuse another child again. So you show up for those small little wins.”

In a short film for Levi’s, Shetty shares her mantra that every woman would benefit from: “Well done. You are strong, and you hold power to directly influence change.”