KATSEYE member Lara Raj has addressed the online debate over her Paris Fashion Week debut. After some social media users criticised her styling as disrespectful to Hindu customs, she took to Instagram to explain what the choice meant to her. She described the red mark as kumkum, not a marital symbol.
Lara attended Loewe's show on October 2 with bandmate Megan Skiendiel, wearing a sunshine-yellow dress styled with traditional Indian accessories. The red streak in her hairline drew immediate attention. Some questioned whether sindoor, traditionally associated with marriage in many Hindu communities, should become a fashion accessory on a global runway. Others read the mark as an expression of her heritage.
Sindoor typically runs along the hair parting as a marital sign in many Indian traditions, while kumkum serves broader ritual purposes and is used by people of any marital status. Lara, who has Tamil roots, clarified the mark as kumkum during an interview at the event. She also said it was inspired by Bollywood actress Rekha.
In her Instagram post, Lara said that wearing her dress with Indian jewellery and kumkum made her feel confident and beautiful. She said kumkum has been part of her life since childhood, a sacred blessing she grew up receiving from her family during puja and aarti. She also described it as a symbol of intuition, strength and divine feminine energy.
She said she admired how both women who inspired the look embrace Indian beauty with individuality and confidence, and called the moment a way to celebrate her heritage. The post also thanked Loewe and her Megan.
Reactions have stayed split. One Instagram user called the look a "diaspora identity crisis", and another described it as "performative sindoor". Supporters countered that she was simply owning an identity she has spoken about often. Defenders pointed to temple customs common in South Indian communities and her long record of wearing bindis, Om necklaces and other Indian elements. Some commenters also argued that the mark should be read as aesthetic choice rather than a statement about marriage.
As KATSEYE's global profile grows, Lara's choice to wear her heritage openly will likely keep drawing both praise and scrutiny.