Mahak Mithani danced her way into our lives this summer in a whirlwind of energy around everything she touched from tech, to dance, to cooking to fashion! We loved getting to know this tiny powerhouse and hearing about her Canada to Texas to Canada to Texas moves and how she uses her creative outlets to cope with change and to stay in touch with her community. What Bollywood star did Mahak dazzle with a dance performance? Read on to find out!
Tell us a little about you.
I’ll be a sophomore at Texas A&M University in the fall. I was born in Toronto, Canada, but I now live in Houston. I study Computer Science, but I have many interests outside of the classroom. I’m a dance teacher and choreographer at Bollywood Shake, as well as a captain of the A&M Bollywood dance team, Akh Mastani! Dancing has been my passion for many years, and I feel that choreography requires a lot of the same skills and processes as engineering. When I graduate from college, I hope to have an awesome job in the tech field, and attend culinary school after work. I watch Food Network religiously and love to cook for my friends and family!
Tell us about what you’re wearing.
My mom got this shalwar kameez for me from Pakistan. It’s a traditional dress, comprised of a long top (kameez), pants (shalwar), and a scarf (dupatta). I love wearing it because it looks so elegant and the length gives me another excuse to wear heels. My culture is a huge part of who I am, and I embrace it every chance I get, whether it be through dance, food, or clothes. In my imaginary world, I’m a Bollywood star, so I take any chance I get to dress like one!
This outfit brings back memories for me because I wore this dress on my three-year anniversary with my boyfriend. I got it from H&M, which is one of my favorite stores, because it’s cute, affordable, and the name is my boyfriend’s and my initials! The watch was a gift from him on our one-year anniversary. He got down on one knee and held up the watch as a prom-posal. I paired the outfit with a blue blazer for color and cream-colored heels because I’m in denial that I’m 5’3”.
How did your style evolve to what it is now?
My dad is a software engineer for a chain of department stores, which is where I get my passion for coding as well as access to clothes (yay, employee discount!). When it came time for me to decide what to do for the rest of my life, I knew I wanted a career in which I could express myself through the clothes I wear. No uniforms, no strict dress codes, and no scrubs.
Business casual is probably my favorite way to dress. I love going to thrift shops and buying fun a-line skirts and dresses (as vintage/thrift addicts AND a-line dress fans, we say, hallelujah!) Blazers are my favorite thing to wear because they make me feel confident, professional, and provide warmth in a cold office!
Do you have any style icons or favorite brands?
I love wayfarers. I prefer glasses to contacts - they are a sort of security blanket for me, and I find myself reaching to slide them up to the bridge of my nose during awkward situations. (Sometimes I use a specific finger to slide them up when I am particularly angered by someone, but want to be as subtle as possible.)
People wear 3D glasses on Halloween to resemble a nerd. I wear them despite already being one! I have pairs in tortoise, black and white (I’m very proud of the trifecta).
My nail polish was delivered to me in my first Ipsy cosmetics bag subscription. I’m not too adventurous with makeup (I wear enough to not look dead in the mornings), so I decided to give Ipsy a try. It’s customized to your facial features and personal preferences! I usually go with nude shades or French manicures, so when I received the Aurora Gel Effect Nail Polish in 4 Alarm Fire, I was a little apprehensive and thought it would make me look unprofessional. And then I said “LOL” and promptly applied two coats.
Any advice for a young person thinking about getting into a STEM field?
Don’t think twice, just go for it! Embrace all the different aspects of you that make you different from everyone else in the field, because that’s how innovation happens. When I first started coding, I was intimidated by everyone else who had been doing this for years. Don’t lose the faith you have in yourself. You’ve gotten this far, why not see what else you’re capable of? We live in an era where technology is continuously evolving and impacting billions of lives every day. Seize every opportunity to contribute to it!
What would you say is the project you’ve done that you’re proudest of?
Choreography has become a creative outlet for me over the past several years. I’ve pieced together dances for kids as young as three, to adults older than fifty! I love when my dance company puts on a show, as it gives me an opportunity to showcase all the work I’ve done in the recent months. The greatest moment for me was when we were able to fly Bollywood actress, Preity Zinta, in from India to watch our show! We were able to dance on stage with her for a bit, and our performance was featured on Fox News! It’s a cool feeling to stand next to someone you’ve only ever admired on screen, and sort of reverse the roles, so now you’re the one performing while they watch and applaud!
What is the best way (if any) for people to follow you on social media?
Check out my personal website(mahakmithani.com) or my facebook, instagram or youtube :)
Mahak, you are already a Bollywood star in our eyes! We’re so glad we got a chance to meet you before Bollywood snaps you up as its first CTO/actress/choreographer. Thank you for sharing all of these amazing facets of yourself with us, and see you on the big screen!
If you or someone you know want to be featured on Fibonacci Sequins, please contact us and we’ll figure out a way to make it happen!
Love,
Dona & Beth