Deepa Mani is a Melbourne-based entrepreneur, artist, and founder who brings together the worlds of culture, creativity, and conscious business. As the Founder and Artistic Director of Chandralaya School of Dance and the Founder of POC Beauty, her work is deeply rooted in identity, representation, and purpose.
What began as a personal journey — navigating spaces where she often felt unseen — has evolved into a mission to create what she once searched for. Through her dance, she preserves and reimagines tradition; through her beauty brand, she champions skin-first products designed for people of colour.
At the heart of everything she builds is a quiet but powerful intention: to ensure that others feel seen, celebrated, and at home in their own skin.
What is it like running two different businesses, Chandralaya School of Dance and POC Beauty?
Running Chandralaya School of Dance and POC Beauty at the same time is both deeply fulfilling and incredibly demanding. They are very different worlds, but both come from the same place within me — a need to create, to express, and to build spaces where people feel seen.
Chandralaya is where I stay connected to tradition. It’s grounded, disciplined, and built on years of practice and the Guru (Teacher)–Shishya (Student) relationship. It requires patience, presence, and a deep emotional investment in each student’s journey.
POC Beauty, on the other hand, moves at a completely different pace. It’s fast, dynamic, and constantly evolving. From formulation to branding to building a business, it challenges me to think strategically and move quickly.
Balancing both means constantly shifting between two mindsets — one rooted in tradition and teaching, and the other in modern entrepreneurship and growth. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding.
At the heart of it, both are extensions of who I am. One allows me to preserve my heritage, and the other allows me to reimagine it in a way that feels relevant today.
What were some challenges that you’ve had to overcome in starting POC Beauty? And what learnings did you take away from those challenges?
Starting Proud of Colour (POC) Beauty has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done, but it has also come with its fair share of challenges.
One of the biggest challenges was building something in an industry I didn’t originally come from. Beauty is incredibly competitive, and there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes — from formulation and manufacturing to compliance and positioning. I had to learn quickly, ask the right questions, and be comfortable not knowing everything at the start.
Another challenge was staying true to my vision while navigating external opinions. When you’re building something purpose-led, especially around representation, there are often pressures to dilute it to make it more “mainstream.”
I remember being advised by an industry mentor to change the name of the brand, as they felt it wouldn’t resonate with the market. It wasn’t easy to hear, but I chose to trust my instincts and stay anchored in why I started.
For me, the name — and everything it stood for — was intentional. It reflected the very community I was building for. That moment taught me an important lesson: not all advice, even from experienced voices, is aligned with your vision. Sometimes, you have to back yourself and build what feels true, not just what feels safe.
Cash flow and scaling have also been real challenges. Building a physical product brand requires upfront investment, and growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line. It taught me to be resourceful, to prioritise carefully, and to think long-term rather than chasing quick wins.
The biggest learning for me has been this: you don’t need to have it all figured out to start — but you do need clarity on your purpose. That clarity becomes your anchor when things feel uncertain. And over time, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about pushing harder all the time — it’s about staying consistent, adapting when needed, and continuing to show up with intention.
Why do you think that there’s still such a big gap to fill when it comes to beauty and skincare for melanin skin?
I think the gap still exists because, for a long time, beauty wasn’t built with melanin-rich skin at the centre — it was added on as an afterthought.
For decades, products were formulated, tested, and marketed primarily for a narrow set of skin tones and concerns. Melanin skin was either grouped together as one category or expected to adapt to what already existed. That’s why we’ve seen issues like poor shade ranges, formulations that don’t sit well on deeper tones, or products that ignore concerns like hyperpigmentation, sensitivity, and barrier health.
There’s also a deeper layer to it — representation. When you don’t see yourself reflected in product development, campaigns, or leadership, your needs are often misunderstood or overlooked entirely.
Even today, while the conversation has improved, a lot of innovation is still surface-level — expanding shade ranges rather than truly rethinking formulation from the ground up.
For me, the gap exists because the industry is still catching up to something very simple: melanin-rich skin is not niche — it’s diverse, nuanced, and deserves to be understood in its own right.
Do you believe in ‘work-life’ balance? What are some of your tips when it comes to finding that balance?
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced “perfect” work-life balance — especially not while building two businesses. For me, it’s less about balance and more about integration. There are seasons where one part of my life needs more attention than the other, and I’ve learned to be okay with that.
What has helped is being intentional with my time and energy. I’ve become more conscious about what truly needs my attention and what can wait. Not everything is urgent, even if it feels that way at the moment.
I also try to create small pockets of reset — whether it’s stepping away for a walk, spending time with my family, or just having moments where I’m not constantly “on.” Those pauses make a big difference.
And most importantly, I’ve learned to be kinder to myself. Some days are incredibly productive, and others are slower — and that’s okay. Balance, for me, isn’t about doing everything perfectly every day, but about showing up consistently without burning out.
What are some words of wisdom that you can impart to young girls and women about learning to accept their natural beauty?
I think the most important thing to remember is that beauty was never meant to be something you earn — it’s something you already carry.
For so long, many of us have been taught to look outward for validation, to measure ourselves against standards that were never created with us in mind. But the real shift happens when you start looking inward and recognising that your features, your skin, your story — all of it is uniquely yours, and that in itself is enough.
Learning to accept your natural beauty doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey of unlearning — letting go of comparison, of perfection, and of the idea that you need to change to be worthy.
Surround yourself with spaces and people that reflect you, that celebrate you, and that remind you of your worth. And most importantly, be gentle with yourself.
Because when you start to see yourself clearly — not through the lens of the world, but through your own — that’s where true confidence begins.
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