SHARAN DHALIWAL

editor-in-chief, burnt roti

Sharan has created a space for South Asians to feel visible in zine culture. Through its blog and print issues, Burnt Roti acts as a safe space to explore under-discussed subjects like sexuality, mental health, anti-blackness, and female agency. It’s named after her first act of rebellion.

Sharan herself used the Burnt Roti blog to come out as bisexual, and publicly own her queer identity. She has continued to centre LGBTQ+ stories since, and supporting queer POC communities is now a key focus of the magazine and her own activism. Out of this Sharan founded Middlesex Pride, a celebration of queer, multicultural community in and around where she grew up. She is also the creator and host of Oh Queer Cupid: a queer speed dating night where people are not restricted by the usual categories of gender or sexuality. Elsewhere Sharan has contributed to HuffPost, gal-dem, Metro and Broccoli Content, appeared onstage at Cannes Lions Live, and was named on the BBC 100 list of influential women. She is currently writing her debut non-fiction book, Burning My Roti: a memoir-meets-guidebook for South Asian women, present and future.