Mini WOW Fearless Dancer, Singer, Multi-tasker, Queens, New York City, USA

I’ve watched Ms. Isabelle (Anjana) Zachariah blossom from an adorably fearless kid into an equally impressive and fearless teenager. Anjana’s number one fan and my good friend Ms. Devika Zachariah has always proudly showed us her daughter’s trophies, medals and certificates of distinction, but I’m even more thrilled that Anjana has grown into a kind-hearted and caring human, bound to conquer anything she puts her mind to.

For as long as I’ve known her, Anjana has excelled at Indian dance, unafraid of performing in front of large crowds. She has a gorgeous voice and has been trained in classical Indian singing by her father, also a performer. To add, Anjana has done karate, taught herself guitar and has also become a cheer captain. She also continues to make us proud with awards for academics and outstanding achievements in school.

If there was ever a mini WOW Woman, who is destined to grow into a contributing member of a society, it is her. For now, I have to pause and remember that she is a lovely teenager, who has a beautiful view on the world, full of wonder about the possibilities and with an over the moon crush on Harry Styles.

I am glad to be a witness to Anjana’s journey, excited to support and cheer from afar and honour not only Anjana but her family whose efforts helped nurture such a magnificent mini WOW Woman.

1. Name.

Isabelle Zachariah but my family and most of my friends call me Anjana.

2. Where are you from and how do you think your background shapes you as a human?

I was born in New York City but my parents are from Guyana and Kerala, India. I think my background makes me different because I have a chance to experience not one but two very different cultures. While I get to participate in all the rituals of Hinduism, I also learn about Christianity and I feel this makes me more diverse.

My friends are also from different countries so I have the opportunity to learn about their diverse cultural customs as well. My best friend is actually from Tamil Nadu and we always talk about the differences in our religions.

3. What makes you feel happy in life?

I feel happy when I spend time with family and friends. We always find some way to laugh and have fun. I also love music. My dad and aunt are musicians and dancers so music has always been a significant part of my life. I love to sing and dance. I have been dancing for about 12 years and have been signing virtually my entire life. I dance in a style of dance called Bharatanatyam. It is one of the widely recognized eight forms of Indian classical dance; others being Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri and Sattriya. It expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas. I also sing Carnatic music (a system of music commonly associated with South India). I love dancing with my aunt because it makes me feel closer to her.

I also feel happy when I do karate. I treat it as a stress reliever where I can release all my pent up anxiety in a one hour class. It makes me feel free.

I also love to cheer. I’m am cheer captain of the JV cheerleading team at my school. I can also play the guitar and some piano. I love to read and watch TV. I’m currently watching American horror story. When I feel carefree is when I feel the happiest.

4. What is the hardest thing you had to do in life?

The hardest thing I’ve had to experience rather than do was when I was in the hospital. The entire experience was extremely difficult and scary, especially because I was so young. I hated the shots and all the routine check ins. I would say this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but I survived and am stronger now as a result.

5. Where is your most favourite place on earth?

My favorite place on earth is in a dance class. During COVID-related quarantine, dance has been mostly online. But recently I have been going back slowly with one of my best friends and I forgot just how happy it makes me feel to dance with someone I love. The feeing of contentment when you both achieve a hard step and you did it together!

I especially love the feeling of performing on stage with my best friends. All our hard work and practice pays off as soon as the spotlights hits us and we are free to show who we really are. I love the feeling of being up on stage with the people I love. It gives me joy.

My other favorite place on earth would be the mall. I love to go shopping and just walk around my favorite stores. I would happily spend an entire afternoon eating at the food court and walking around H&M.

6. If you could have one superpower, which would you choose and why?

If I could have one superpower it would be telekinesis. I have always been fascinated by it. I think it’s a great superpower and I think Its underrated. I can also be extremely lazy sometimes and would love to be able to summon whatever I need with my mind.

7. What extracurricular activities are you most proud of and why?

I’m involved in a lot. As I mentioned I do Indian classical dance, learn Carnatic music as well as sing on my own time. I’m in the Long Island sounds group in my school. I dance on my own time as well and I am cheer captain of the cheerleading team at my school. I play guitar and am learning online.

I do karate, although I haven’t been able to attend because of COVID. I am a brown belt. I used to play piano but I found a better interest on guitar. However I know the basics of piano. I am proud of all these activities because I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I can say that I possess these skills.

8. If you could change something about your city to make it better, what would it be?

If I could change something about New York City it would be the way people treat each other. Not to be cliché about it, but I truly believe that if we treated others with kindness the world would be a better place. The world is full of so much hate when it should be filled with love.

With everything going in our city and community regarding Black Lives Matter protests, I hope there will come an end to injustice and discrimination, as everyone deserves the chance to be treated equally.

Something I feel strongly about are the equal rights and treatment for the LGBTQ+ community. I personally feel that everyone should be proud of who they are and should not have to explain themselves.

Lastly, something that needs to change is constant normalization of women as an inferior gender. People generally pass off this subject as normal because that’s how it’s been for years but I think that needs to change. So many great women have made a difference in our city and my community and that needs to be recognized.

9. If you could change something about our planet to make it better, what would it be?

If I could change something about our planet it would be the way we care for it. The pollution is killing our planet and one day we won’t have a place to call home. People seem to treat the problem of global warming as a joke but I believe that if we don’t take action now, the next generation of kids won’t get to see or experience nature or our planet the same way we can.

10. What are you reading now? What is your favourite book?

At the moment I’m at reading Looking for Alaska by John Green and A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. My favorite book is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green because I love the genre of tragic romance.

11. Who is your most favourite adult and why? Which girls/women/female characters (real life or in books/movies/on TV inspire you?)

My favorite adult in my life is my aunt. She inspires me every single day and I want to be just like her when I grow up. My favorite adult in general is Harry Styles. I fully believe in everything he stands for. He has taught me to be myself and love myself no matter what the judgment may be from others. He also inspires me every day to treat others in a way I myself wish to be treated.

Historically, Martin Luther King Jr fully inspired me to stand up for what I believe in and fight for what matters. His attempts to make the word a better place for humanity has left an amazing legacy and his dream will hopefully always live on.

12. What do you want to learn about in the world and where would you like to visit?

I would like to learn about topics in the medical field so that one day I would be able to deliver or save a life. From this world I want to learn about something that would enable me to contribute to its beauty.

I would also love to visit Paris or London one day.

13. How old will you turn next year?

Next year, or rather this year I will be turning 16.

14. What are the three top wishes you want to come true?

The three top wishes on my bucket list at the moment are (1) to go to college, (2) meet Harry Styles, and (3) fall in love.

15. What are three best qualities you like about yourself and why?

Three qualities I like about myself are:

• my determination to finish something once I’ve started it

• my punctuality and how I need to achieve something on time

• the fact that I am a perfectionist

16. If you could transform into an animal of your choice, which would it be and why?

If I could transform into an animal I would be a dog because I would love to sit around and sleep without stress or worries and receive love 24/7.

17. What is your advice for other girls (your age or younger)?

My advice to younger girls is if you want to achieve a goal, set smaller goals first. Once you’ve achieved those, work your way up.

I’ve learned that you can’t accomplish a long term goal in a day. That’s why I set goals for myself every day which I know I can achieve. This helps me feel invincible.