Behind The Beauty with Ankita Katuri
- May 8
- 6 min read
Updated: May 9
As a social media creator with the extraordinary ability to pair rare finds in both outfits and jewels with the eye of a collector and the soul of an artist, Ankita Katuri's move into jewelry design was almost inevitable. It is in the quiet moments, after all, where she finds the most peace — a fact that comes through clearly in the jewelry she both creates and curates for her brand, Kita Katuri. "Whether it is in the way a gemstone is set or a light hits the corner of my house,' Katuri says, 'I am inspired — and driven — by the slow life."
This desire for an unhurried pace of life runs through both her roles as a business owner and mother. "Alizè means 'joyful'," Katuri shares of her daughter's name. "And while I picked it up mainly because it sounds so pretty and the meaning behind it sounded so hopeful, she turned out exactly that and more. My daughter is my life's biggest miracle and I hope that she grows up loving herself for who she is, and never conforming to someone else's definition of beauty or perfection." That hope lives on in the small rituals that she and Alizè share between them everyday. "One of my favorite things about our relationship is that every night before we go to sleep, she insists that we discuss how our day went; specifically, what I did after I dropped her off to school," Katuri tells me. "It's this little rhythm that we have where we ensure that the other feels truly seen, and I love that."
It's a rhythm that says a lot about who Katuri is — someone who moves through the world with intention, and who is quietly, deliberately passing that on.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
It’s a bit of a juggle! It usually starts with the chaos of the school run and making sure my dogs get their walks and are fed. Once the house is quiet, I switch into work mode —coordinating with my team for shipments, checking in on production, styling pieces in my home studio, or offering jewellery styling consultations to clients to help them choose the right pieces. I usually try to sneak a workout in somewhere between all of that. Evenings are for family; my five-year-old and I whip up dinner together, which is always incredible fun. Once dinner is wrapped up, we read books together, which is a very relaxing ritual for both of us. Once she’s asleep, I treat myself to a quiet moment with a glass of wine or a good coffee!
Motherhood can reshape the way we see ourselves. How has becoming a mother changed your relationship with beauty, confidence, and self-expression?
It’s made me much more intentional! Before, beauty felt like something I had to do but now it’s more about how I feel. My confidence doesn't come from being perfect anymore; it comes from knowing I can manage a business and a household and still show up as myself. I think in all aspects now, I’ve shifted to investing in quality that actually lasts, whether that’s my relationships or material possessions.
What has raising a daughter taught you about softness, strength, and femininity?
It’s very important to me to raise my daughter as her own person — I don’t want blind obedience. I actually appreciate when she calls me out if I raise my voice; it’s a different approach from how our generation may have been parented, but I truly believe children deserve respect, as opposed to always being taught to respect adults whether that respect is earned or not.
Instead of teaching her to listen to me out of a fear of consequences, I constantly seek to engage in a dialogue with her. I think children are far more intuitive than we give them credit for. I want her to see the femininity in both the grit of running a brand and the softness of a quiet afternoon at home. You don't have to choose one over the other.
What kind of woman do you hope your daughter grows up seeing in you?
I carry the profound responsibility of knowing that while she may not always 'listen' to me, she is definitely always watching me. She’s using my life as the guidebook for what she can or cannot do in her own. Because of that, I try to be as kind to myself as I want her to be to herself, and I aim to exude the same joy, confidence, and strength that I hope she will carry someday. Ultimately, I hope she sees a woman who is whole. I want her to know that being a mother is a huge part of me, but I also have my own passions, my own business, and my own voice. I want her to see that it’s possible to be fiercely independent and deeply connected to family at the same time.
How do you make time for yourself as a mother, even if in small ways?
In very small, deliberate windows. Sometimes it’s just the ten minutes I spend making a proper South Indian filter coffee, or a quick jump-rope session. Those little rituals keep me from feeling like I'm just 'reacting' to the world all day.
What does your beauty routine look like? How has it changed since becoming a mother?
It has definitely become more intentional. I keep it rather simple with a doctor-prescribed routine of Tretinoin, Azelaic acid, a clean moisturizer, and of course, SPF. Currently, I’m using The Face Shop's Tea Tree Pore Cream for my face and Cetaphil's Restoraderm for my body, which I often layer over Forest Essentials body oils for extra nourishment. My go-to sunscreen at the moment is the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel with SPF 50 from Isntree.
What are the non-negotiables that help you feel like yourself on a busy day?
Movement and a moment of quiet. If I don't make it to the gym, I’ll at least try to get my 10k steps. Sometimes, it’s as simple as plopping down for a quiet cup of coffee with something relaxing playing in the background. I also make sure to wear at least one piece of jewelry that I love. It’s a small, tactile reminder of my own identity — a way to stay connected to who I am outside of everything else I have to be in a day.
What do you hope to teach your daughter about self-worth and appearance as she grows up?
I want her to reject ever-changing beauty standards. I hope she grows up knowing, deep inside her bones, that no one can ever dictate how she should or should not look. I hope she loves every bit of herself for the absolute miracle she is. I want her to understand that beauty has very little to do with "perfect" facial features and everything to do with how much she likes herself — especially in a world that often tries to convince her not to. Her self-worth will be determined by the chances she takes and by her ability to believe in herself. Ultimately, I want her to see appearance as a form of self-expression and joy, something she does for herself rather than a way to seek validation from others.
What’s one beauty or wellness lesson you’d love to pass down to her someday?
I think it would be to just slow down. In a world that’s always rushing, there is so much power in taking the time to do things well, even if it’s something as simple as brewing a cup of coffee or just being fully present in a conversation. Have little routines you love sprinkled throughout the day, they become such vital anchors in a dizzily spinning world.
What has motherhood revealed about you that surprised you the most?
How much I could actually handle! Between raising a child and taking care of three dogs - two of which are seniors, I think I surprised myself with my own patience. I love that I can switch between being creative and being a very practical, numbers-driven business owner. It revealed a level of resilience I didn't fully realize I had until I was balancing it all on my own. I also love how much being a mother drives me to do better; my ultimate high would be to leave a solid, meaningful brand as a legacy for my child.
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