From Ballgowns To Red Carpets, Everything You Want To Know About Attending The Cannes Film Festival From Masoom Minawala

Bazaar got the exclusive chance to interview entrepreneur, global influencer and digital content creator Masoom Minawala on what it’s like to experience the joie de vivre of Cannes, arguably the French Riviera’s most glamorous event…

The epitome of fashion in India, Masoom Minawala is an influencer of fashion in the best sense. Whether it’s her cutting-edge style incorporating culture with ace designers or creating an accessible platform to empower women-led Indian brands – Belgium-based Masoom Minawala is making an impression and a fashionable one at that.

Debuting her career as a blogger with Miss Style Fiesta in 2010, Masoom has since come a long way. From collaborating with luxury labels and attending fashion weeks for Hermes, Dior and Salvatore Ferragamo, to being listed on CNN’s ‘20 under 40’ list – Masoom has amassed a massive social-media following (resulting in over 20+ million impressions across social platforms) in her own right.

This past 2021 Cannes Film Festival, Masoom made an impression of her own. The Indian influencer made waves with her fashion sense on the global stage of Cannes. We got the chance to ask Masoom about her action-packed experience – the rollercoaster of emotions of walking the red carpet, how she chose THE dress and what her day-day looked like. Brace yourself for a thrilling ride on what it’s like to go to Cannes…

Tell us about your style journey, and how you’ve since evolved.

Born and raised in Bombay, I began my journey almost ten and a half years ago, before Instagram, when content creation was very different. I created my Style Fiesta blog that revolved around fashion, tips, daily outfits and whatnot. It was long-format content from which I went on creating 30-second videos on Instagram.

Because the internet has evolved so much since I first started, I’ve had to be extremely adaptable. When creating any content, I always follow four principles for my audience: Educate, Help, Inspire and Entertain. This has helped me build a great connection with my community for which I will be forever grateful.

What was it like when you got the invitation to walk at the Cannes Film Festival this year post pandemic?

I was elated. Even though I had walked the red carpet earlier in 2019, returning to such a global platform on such a large scale, especially in the aftermath of a pandemic, felt like starting new all over again. I honestly forgot how these events felt until I arrived in Cannes. My heart was filled with gratitude and pride for the opportunity to represent India on such a grand scale.

How did you prepare yourself before you arrived?

I think the most preparation was constantly reminding myself that this wasn’t about me, but rather about representing the Indian community on a global stage. I wanted to make certain that my platform is a place where I can share my personal perspectives as a result of my journey. I wanted to take my community on this journey and show them everything that was going on behind the scenes of the glam and glitz. 

What were your first impressions of the festival?

I find it to be quite overwhelming because in a concentrated space you see so many well-known celebrities and public figures. It’s a festival that celebrates film and fashion in such a glorified way.

Walk us through your day! Did you manage to get any sleep? 

I always make it a point to get a good night’s sleep the night before a big event. I slept well and drank plenty of water. I ate plenty of fruits and nuts. I always need carbs before a big moment so I had a big bowl of pasta right before getting ready for the red carpet.

I spent the day planning my content, communicating with my team about what needed to be done, and completing a quick shoot in the morning. After I finished my shoot, I did a 15-minute meditation before my beauty team arrived to start the prep.

Who was your stylist and how did you choose your dress? Anything in particular serve as your inspiration?

For me, the message is far more important than my appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021, and it has long been my mission to use my platform to elevate Indian fashion and bring it to a global stage. I had the perfect opportunity to do it, so I chose an outfit by veteran designer Manish Malhotra, one of India’s leading couture designers.

I chose a saree because it is one of my favorite silhouettes that I would like to see represented, acknowledged, and celebrated around the world. Another thing to note is that this was a small step on my part to make it a more recognized in today’s modern fashion world. Meagan Concessio styled the entire look.

How many gowns did you end up wearing and which was your favorite?

I did have a couple of interviews and shoots planned during my time in Cannes but I wore at least 4-5 gowns.

I loved the off-white gown I wore by Issa Hesso, an emerging Lebanese designer. It had a unique silhouette and structure that I had never seen before. It was a white pleated structured gown that gave me the confidence that a dress should.

What is it like right before you step on the red carpet? 

I was extremely nervous before walking the red carpet, but I was also excited. I remember telling myself just a few seconds before, ‘You got this, deal with this moment with confidence and grace.’ I’m doing it for all the Indian women who will know that if they dream big enough, they can come here someday. So, yes, that was the feeling. It was simply incredible. I felt ecstatic. I was bursting at the seams with energy.

Any words of advice you’d offer to someone about to walk across the main stage of Cannes?  

There is only one you and that’s your superpower. You must remember that when it comes to big moments, such as walking the red carpet, you must own it. You must believe it. When you’re chasing a goal, you have to completely embody that feeling.

Did you get a chance to watch any films? Any of them you love?

The movie I watched was Tout S’est Bien Passé.

Will you go back next year?

I would love to go back next year and hope I do.

Words by Masoom Minawala, Edited by Vibha Mehta

Images Courtesy of Masoom Minawala