Breaking Barriers: Leeza Mangaldas and the Rise of Sexual Wellness in India
Written by: Alvira Dsouza
The Foundery: South Asian Innovators Shaping our World
The world of beauty & wellness is brimming with cultural richness, with ancient wisdom from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean shaping everything from ingredients to rituals. Yet, POC (People of Color) founders often go unseen in the mainstream beauty industry. The Foundery changes that narrative.
Here, we celebrate the visionary entrepreneurs of color transforming beauty, wellness and lifestyle on a global scale. Discover their stories, groundbreaking brands, and the inspiration they bring to the industry. Get ready to be empowered, enlightened, and introduced to the future of beauty – one innovative founder at a time.
We caught up with Leeza Mangaldas, founder of Leezu’s, a brand dedicated to breaking down the barriers surrounding women’s sexual wellness and self-pleasure. Here’s what she had to say about creating a positive dialogue and empowering women to embrace their desires.
At The Beautiful Societies, we not only strive to bring you the best of beauty but also bring you stories of groundbreaking founders in the wellness brands so you can learn how they built their businesses.
How has your brand helped shift the conversation around women’s sexual wellness and self-pleasure?
At Leezu’s, we aim to dismantle the stigma surrounding sexual wellness, especially for women. From the beginning, our mission has been to create a space that celebrates pleasure without judgment.
Through innovative products like Pyaari, a dual-ended clitoral massager, and engaging educational content on social media, we empower women to explore their bodies and take control of their pleasure.
“We also navigated strict content and advertising policies from tech giants like Meta and Instagram, which often censor sexual wellness products. ”
We believe that sex should be a joyful, self-affirming experience, not a source of shame.
By normalizing these conversations, we provide the tools and information women need to navigate their desires confidently.
Could you share the core philosophy behind your brand and how it aligns with modern women’s wellness needs?
At the heart of Leezu’s is a commitment to creating inclusive, pleasure-positive products that meet the diverse needs of today’s women. We believe everyone deserves the freedom to embrace their sexual pleasure without societal judgment.
Our high-quality, easy-to-use products address common concerns, such as discomfort and difficulty achieving orgasm—topics that many women still find challenging to discuss.
By championing body autonomy and normalizing self-pleasure, we aim to foster a culture where women feel empowered to explore their desires and prioritize their well-being.
What challenges did you face while bringing these innovative products to market, and how did you overcome them?
One of our biggest hurdles has been the cultural stigma surrounding sexual pleasure in India.
While everyone seeks pleasure, discussing or purchasing products like vibrators and lubricants often carries shame, particularly for women.
We also navigated strict content and advertising policies from tech giants like Meta and Instagram, which often censor sexual wellness products.
To overcome these challenges, we employed creative marketing strategies, such as discreet packaging and a focus on educational, pleasure-positive messaging. Our persistence and passion have been essential in ensuring our products reach those who need them most.
