Bengali creator Preeti Sarkar, face of L'Oréal Paris Chai Latte shade, hosts fan meetup in Kolkata

The gathering brought Sarkar together with her followers for conversations and activities, giving them a chance to meet beyond social media, according to the organisers.

Sarkar said she was grateful to the brand for choosing her to appear on the pack.

During the campaign, Sarkar spoke about early struggles after moving to Kolkata to pursue acting, including an upsetting audition that made her question whether she belonged in the industry.

She also said she faced criticism of her appearance during a brand shoot, which revived long-standing insecurities.

Sarkar recalled that as a child she pretended to act in advertisements with a red digital camera her father had bought her, and said she is proud of that younger version of herself.

She said the same person who was once made to feel insecure about her looks has become the face of an international hair colour brand.

"Never let someone else's beauty standards decide how big you can dream," Sarkar said.

The afternoon included Chai Latte Bingo, Kulhad Pong and do-it-yourself charm-making, along with refreshments, photographs and informal conversations with fellow creators and friends.

The organisers said the event focused on individuality, resilience and self-expression, and on challenging conventional beauty standards.