Million Amazing Women

Million Amazing Women ^[1] is a global photographic expedition aimed at capturing one million portraits of women from all 195 countries.^[2] Bharadwaj Dayala will travel across the globe to photograph women from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life. The project is a tribute to the women of the world and their inspiring stories. The aim is to create not only a timeless archive of a million beautiful faces but also their strength, resilience, and achievements, preserving their stories for future generations.

Celebrate Diversity: Capture portraits of women from all walks of life, backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures - from daily laborers, professionals, and community leaders, to global icons, showcasing their unique stories.

Empower Women: Showcase and spotlight the achievements of women making meaningful contributions to their local communities and beyond.

Preserve Stories: Create a lasting visual archive that documents the lives and triumphs of women for future generations.

Drive Change: Collaborate with local and global women empowerment organizations to highlight various issues, support their initiatives, and advocate for gender equality.

Million Amazing Women is an extended road expedition covering all 195 countries across 7 continents.^[4] It is a longterm women empowerment project with an estimated timespan of 12 years.^[5] This is not a project to collect a million photographs but Bharadwaj Dayala and his team will actually travel extensively in each country, documenting women in their natural environments.

Environmental portraits of the Women will be photographed in their local settings, showcasing their culture, identity, and environment. Each portrait will carry a story, capturing the woman’s journey, the problems faced, and how she is coping with them. Traditional attire and cultural elements will be highlighted to reflect the rich diversity of each country and region. All the photographs will be displayed on the Million Amazing Women website and promoted on various social media platforms, creating an unprecedented digital collection accessible to a global audience.

To recognize and promote the efforts of the global women, "The Most Amazing Women" Awards will be presented:

Weekly Awards – Focused on recognizing local women making a difference in their communities.

Annual Awards – Honoring extraordinary women and their initiatives - providing wider exposure and recognition for reaching a broad international audience.

The aim is to create a visible and lasting impact. Bring a global attention to women-led initiatives and grassroots organizations, helping them gain the recognition they deserve. Building Connections to help women and their organizations connect with sponsors, nonprofits, and funding sources to support their work. Creating awareness about existing problems and possible solutions. Creating a Global Network of Inspiring Women to show that they are not alone and that their initiatives will be supported by global women.

Million Amazing Women is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to cultural documentation without commercial benefits to the team. Funding is expected from sponsors, philanthropic grants, and institutional partnerships, and cultural organizations supporting the mission without seeking commercial benefits.

The project was officially announced on January 10, 2025. ^[6]

The Million Amazing Women project was officially flagged off on 7th March 2025 by Her Highness Rajmata Subhangini Raje Ranjitsinh Gaekwad from the majestic Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat. This historic moment marked the beginning of the world’s largest photography expedition, launched from one of India’s most iconic royal residences. With the blessings and presence of the Gaekwad royal family, the project commenced its journey to capture one million portraits of women across 195 countries, symbolizing a powerful blend of tradition, empowerment, and global cultural celebration.

The journey has already begun in India and for the next 12 years, Bharadwaj Dayala, and his team will be alternating between corners of India and different countries across the world covering 7 continents and 195 countries. Over the course of 12 years, the journey will systematically move through different regions, countries, and continents, capturing one million portraits and sharing the incredible stories of women worldwide.

The Million Amazing Women project is a son’s tribute to his mother, Kusuma Dayala, whose strength, resilience, and love shaped Bharadwaj Dayala’s journey. Born into a modest middle-class family, she devoted her life to raising five children, Chandrasekhar, Krishna, Bharadwaj, Gowri, and Jalajakshi, instilling in them education, discipline, and courage. Her unwavering support inspired Bharadwaj to dream big, leading him to become the first Indian to ride solo around the world—a journey that laid the foundation for this project.

Since she is no longer with us and Million Amazing Women is dedicated to capturing the portraits of living women, Kusuma holds the eternal position of Portrait Number 000—a tribute to the unseen yet ever-present women whose quiet strength shapes the world.

The first portrait of the Million Amazing Women project holds deep historical and emotional significance as Bharadwaj Dayala captured the portrait of Her Highness Rajmata Shubhangini Raje Ranjitsinh Gaekwad inside the majestic Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. A symbol of royalty, tradition, and service, Rajmata Saheb embodies the essence of what makes a woman truly amazing. Born into the noble Maratha family of Gwalior in 1945, she is not only the Rajmata of Baroda but also a lifelong patron of cultural preservation, women’s welfare, and education.

Her commitment to reviving dying weaving traditions, especially Chanderis, has earned her national acclaim, while her leadership in women’s empowerment, healthcare, and sustainable development has touched countless lives. From serving as President of the Mahila Sahakari Bank to leading organizations like Maharani Shantadevi Hospital and SOCLEEN, Rajmata Saheb has been a force for social change. As Chancellor of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and an advocate for education for all, especially for the girl child, she reflects the very values of strength, resilience, and beauty that this project seeks to honor.

This inaugural portrait, steeped in heritage and compassion, sets the perfect tone for a journey that will celebrate women who shape the world—beginning with a woman who has dedicated her life to service, tradition, and empowerment.