After successfully battling with cancer, Sheetal Gupta migrated back to India from the USA and started her women’s western wear shop. With her zeal and hard work, her store, offering latest and trendy western outfits for all sizes, has garnered instant success and popularity.

Sheetal Gupta is the Founder and Owner of Bella 21, a premium women’s western wear store based in Udaipur.

Gupta explains that the store’s name holds a special meaning; "Bella" symbolizes “Beauty”, while "21" represents “Youth”, reflecting the idea of staying “Forever Young”.

Established just three months ago, Bella 21, offering a diverse collection of trendy, stylish, and high-quality western apparel, has quickly gained popularity in the market. The store caters to a wide range of sizes, from small to plus-size, ensuring inclusivity for all women. Sourcing its collections from various countries, Bella 21 brings an exclusive and contemporary fashion experience to Udaipur and surrounding areas.

Though based in Udaipur, Bella 21 has already attracted customers from different cities, expanding its reach beyond its local presence. Sheetal says that she understands that every customer has unique expectations, and she is committed to fulfilling them by curating a collection that blends style, comfort, and quality.

Sheetal Gupta started the showroom in a small space of just 250 sq. ft. Today, the venture is expanding with a new branch covering 1,250 sq. ft. This upcoming store will feature an international theme, bringing a unique shopping experience to Udaipur that customers will love. She shares her happiness and satisfaction with her decision to start this business.

Entrepreneur Sheetal Gupta shares that she started Bella 21 after moving back to India from the USA. She mentions having many Spanish friends and a deep appreciation for the Spanish language. She fondly recalls discussing the store’s name with her husband who suggested 'Bella 21,' inspired by her love for Spanish culture.

When Sheetal was considering starting a women’s clothing store, she interacted with various women to understand the market and how to move forward, especially since she had returned to Udaipur after a long time. Through these conversations, she received different insights, such as the fact that Western Wear in Udaipur was mostly available in smaller sizes, with limited options for plus-size women. Additionally, the quality and designs did not always meet expectations. Realizing this gap in the market, she decided to address this gap in her store, ensuring that women of all sizes could find trendy, high-quality western wear to their satisfaction.

After conducting in-depth research, Sheetal ensured that Bella 21 offered high-quality clothing with unique designs in all sizes, including XL, XXL, XXXL and more. This has allowed women of different body types to find stylish western wear that fits them well, helping them feel confident and comfortable in their outfits

Sheetal Gupta points out that some women hesitate to wear western outfits, believing they are only meant for younger individuals. Many feel that wearing western wear after 40 might make them look odd or invite judgment from society. Addressing this mindset, Sheetal encourages women to embrace fashion at any age, emphasizing that confidence is the key to carrying any outfit. She assures them that wearing stylish clothes can help them stand out and express themselves freely. Through her store, she inspires women to step out of their shells and experiment with western wear without hesitation

Soon, Bella 21 would be expanding its offerings by launching a new segment for young girls below the age of 16, as its current collection caters to women and girls above 16. Additionally, the store will introduce a stylish children's western wear line, featuring trendy outfits imported from different countries. Along with this, Sheetal Gupta is also introducing an Indo-western wear segment, hoping that customers will appreciate the unique fusion of styles and the quality of clothing the store  provides.

Reflecting on her early life, Founder of Bella 21 Sheetal Gupta shares that she completed her schooling at Rajasthan Mahila Vidyalaya (RMV) and pursued her M.A. from Bhupal Nobles College (BN College). She excelled in academics and achieved high scores.

After completing her education, Sheetal Gupta got married in 2005. In 2006, she left Udaipur and later moved to the USA to advance her career. She shares that she and her family were well-settled with stable jobs in the US when an unexpected event changed their lives- Sheetal was diagnosed with cancer. Her treatment lasted for three years, and after overcoming this challenging phase, they decided to return to India with their family.

She shares that moving back to India and starting afresh was a challenging decision. They wondered how they would rebuild their lives, but they faced the challenge with confidence. Ultimately, they sold their properties in the US and made the move back to India.

After returning to India, they took a break to adjust themselves before deciding whether to pursue jobs or start a business. Sheetal suggested starting a business, believing it would offer long-term growth compared to a job. This idea eventually led to the creation of Bella 21.

Sheetal had started her professional career with Amazon, working 12-hour night shifts. She later joined the company where her husband was employed, managing packaging for 13 hours a day. Eventually, she started working as a cashier at Walmart, where she gained valuable experience in customer interaction, relationship building, and the importance of greeting customers with a smile.

Sheetal shares that her experience in handling and managing customers has been invaluable in running her business. It has helped her interact more effectively and build strong relationships with customers. She recalls how people often ask where she was from, as her accent and way of speaking didn’t match the Udaipur or Mewari accent. Many found it hard to believe she was from Udaipur. She would explain that her time in America helped her enhance her personality and interpersonal skills, teaching her the importance of always greeting customers with a smile and maintaining a calm, friendly demeanor.

Bella 21 owner Sheetal Gupta further emphasizes that this learning is significantly contributing to the success of Bella 21, highlighting that she is able to interact and understand the customer’s requirements more effectively. She states that the customers always provide positive feedback stating that the things they were not able to find in Udaipur, they are now able to get from her store. Many of her customers not only come to buy anything, but they just come to meet her.

Sheetal Gupta shares that she encourages and inspires her customers by advising them to face life's challenges with a smile. She openly shares her own experiences, including her battle with cancer, explaining how she accepted it with positivity, underwent treatment, and is now completely healthy. Today, she successfully manages Bella 21 with a dedicated team of five female employees. She expresses her happiness in being able to provide jobs, saying she had never imagined she would one day become an employer.

Reflecting on her past, Fashion Entrepreneur Sheetal Gupta notes how her life has transformed. Earlier, she used to relax at home, but now she works tirelessly from 9 AM to 11 PM, followed by quality time and dinner with her family. Despite her long hours, she never feels fatigued or exhausted. She shares that interacting with customers and working with her staff fills her with happiness and energy. She emphasizes that Bella 21 has become more than just a store, it fosters a sense of belonging and family. Her staff members enjoy being there and even see her as a mother figure, which brings her immense joy and a sense of accomplishment as a successful entrepreneur.

When asked about her role models, Sheetal Gupta says she is deeply grateful to her husband and considers him her role model, as he was the one who motivated and pushed her to work. She recalls that while she was in India, she wasn’t working, and her husband constantly encouraged her to take up a job and do something creative. At that time, she preferred a relaxed life, but after moving to the US, she found inspiration in his words and decided to start working. She shares that he encouraged her by saying that working would give her valuable experience, help her learn new things, and allow her to meet new people.

Talking about her achievements, Sheetal Gupta says she feels immense pride for building something meaningful and establishing a successful business. She is especially proud of creating her own identity, as people now recognize her as the owner of Bella 21. For her, this is a significant achievement and a testament to her hard work and dedication.

Gupta shares that her husband often reminisces about their past struggles, including her battle with cancer and the challenges they faced. She always tells him that they should focus on the future instead of dwelling on the past. However, her husband believes that remembering their struggles makes them stronger. He explains that reflecting on their path and comparing it to their present success brings motivation and a deep sense of accomplishment.

Talking about her battle with cancer, Sheetal recalls how she became so thin that she looked like a skeleton. She also lost her hair and grew so weak that even walking became difficult. It was one of the toughest phases of her life, but through it all, her husband remained by her side, providing constant support. This experience not only made her stronger but also motivated her to achieve success and make the most of her life.

Sheetal Gupta shares that she was fortunate that she met Tarika Bhanupratap, whom she fondly calls 'Tarika Didi.' Tarika introduced her to an enthusiastic and energetic group called She Circle India (SCI), where she connected with various entrepreneurs. Being part of this community inspired Sheetal to promote herself and build her own brand, motivating her to take Bella 21 to new heights.