We don’t need no Santa Claus...

Pop star Miley Cyrus gave the Christmas classic

Santa Baby

a vegan, feminist makeover that struck a chord with woke women folk across the world this festive season. The singer rewrote the lyrics of the 1953 song to send out a message that she doesn’t need Santa to buy her things because she “can buy” her “own damn stuff”. After all, she makes her own money! A far cry from the original lines, sung by Eartha Kitt, which has her giving Santa a long list of things she wants. Be it “...a yacht, and really that’s not a lot” or “...a sable under the tree for me” (for the uninitiated, sable is a wrap or shawl made of fur), the woman’s list of wants seem endless. But Miley’s version, revamped for women of 2018, will have none of that begging and pleading. In her assured, empowered style she screams out, “Santa baby, I don’t need any fancy jewelry, not me... No thanks, I can buy myself whatever I want.”

The song, presented on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night, also got a MeeToo update with the lines: “Santa baby, I’d love to know my ass won’t get grabbed / At work / By some ignorant jerk / Tell the dirtbags, to put away their chimneys tonight.”And last but not the least, the singer is incredibly on-point when she bats for harassment free workplaces with the lines: “A girl’s best friend is equal pay / Stop interrupting me when I talk / And don’t text me pictures of your [interrupted by a strategically timed ringtone].”

Women across the twin cities echo Miley’s sentiments. Speaking to Hyderabad Times, self-made, independent and successful city women explain why they are their own Santa this Christmas.

I’M A SELF-MADE, INDEPENDENT WOMAN. THIS TIME, I WOULD BUY SANTA A GIFT

I don’t need materialistic things, I have everything I want. I don’t wait for Christmas to buy myself something. If I want something, I just buy it. I’m looking for Santa though. If I find him, I will buy some stuff from him only. No one has ever asked him what he would want for Christmas. I’m a self-made independent woman and I would like to be nice and buy some stuff for Santa. — Adah Sharma

THIS CHRISTMAS, I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A TRIP TO LOS ANGELES

I’ve never waited for Santa (or anyone else) to buy anything for me! Travelling with my daughter gives me the greatest joy — teaching her that life isn’t all about things and objects, but about experiences and connections. We are so fortunate and I work so hard to be able to share this with her. We are currently in Los Angeles — visiting with dear friends and learning about how big and beautiful this world is. And this Christmas, I bought my daughter a trip to Los Angeles and I am getting her everything on her list by myself. — Lakshmi Manchu

NOTHING COMES FREE IN LIFE, I HAVE WORKED HARD TO BUY MY OWN GIFTS

Ever since I was a child, my parents never let me believe that there was a Santa. They always told me that there are no free lunches or gifts and you always have to work for everything you want. And this is something I have always believed in. And yes, I feel everything you do in life depends on who you are and how you work for it. Everything I have is my hard work. I still have a lot of dreams and the Santa in me will fulfill those dreams. And I can buy anything I want to whenever I want.
— Rakul Preet Singh

WE NEED TO TEACH OUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK HARD AND BUY WHATEVER THEY WANT

I’ve heard the ‘Santa baby’ song since I was a child and always sang along to it. It’s only when I heard Miley’s version did it actually strike me that the lady does have a point! The original song does belittle the independent woman of today. Thankfully the times have changed! With so many women working and earning, many now have the freedom to swipe that card or write that cheque for whatever they want. And many have partners that encourage them to be independent
and to be truly free to do as they please. We need to instil in our daughters that the sky is the limit. Teach them to work hard, earn well and buy what they want.
You are your own Santa, baby! — Sabina Xavier, entrepreneur

THIS CHRISTMAS, I BOUGHT MYSELF A LUXURY CAR AND I GET TO BE SANTA FOR

MY FAMILY

We keep buying stuff like bags and diamonds for Christmas, but I’ve always wanted to buy a luxury car. And my dad, who is a doctor, loves luxury cars. So I got one for myself, and my dad is ecstatic. I also have my own restaurant in Bangalore and I wish to open more in the future by myself. So, no Santa required. I wish to do buy myself fancy stuff and make my own investments.— Pranitha Subhash, actor

I’VE WORKED HARD TO FULFILL MY DREAM, I WILL NEVER DEPEND ON OTHERS TO BUY STUFF FOR ME

I’ve always believed that one should be their own Santa. I’ve never got things easily in life and I’ve learnt to work hard to make my dreams come true. And only you can do that, nobody else can do it for you. In fact, I always write down my goals and work towards them. — Mehreen Pirzada, actor

THIS CHRISTMAS, I AM MY OWN SANTA AND I’M BUYING MYSELF A HOME

I’ve grown up in a family that has always pampered me and never let me buy things on my own. My mom believes I am still the youngest in the house and that I have to save money for myself for the future, rather than spend it now. Yet, this year, I have become my own Santa as I’m about to buy my first home. Being independent and capable enough to gift myself a home at an age where my friends are still studying in colleges is a special feeling indeed. Christmas for me has always been the time that I spend with family. However, because of my film career, I don’t always have the luxury of staying with them all the time, but I hold the festival close to my heart. Jewellery is something I’m extremely fond of and my mom indulges in them during this part the year to keep me happy. And it’s a privilege to receive gifts from a home-bound Santa and also be a Santa for myself. — Sayyeshaa, actor

BEING INFORMED BY VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES IS MY GIFT TO MYSELF

I bought myself a last minute solo trip to experience the Kochi Bienalle for Christmas. My role as an artist in this beautiful country is not restricted to just entertaining but also creating music that feeds the soul and make us a better collective. Creations of beauty with meaning have the power of doing that. The theme for this year’s Biennale — Possibilities for a Non-Alienated Life — is curated by the festivals first female curator, Anita Dube and has art that is much more inclusive, featuring many female artists from around the world. To spend the end of my year being stimulated by art and informed by politics of various perspectives is my gift to myself. I also plan to eat the delicious food on offer, proceeds of which I’m told will go towards preserving some rare strains of rice in the sub-continent. Art to stimulate my creative juices for 2019 and great food for a cause, how much merrier can Christmas get!! — Sona Mohapatra, singer

FORGET SANTA, NO BOYFRIEND GAVE ME WHAT I GOT FOR MYSELF

I have got everything in my life using my hard-earned money — be it my three houses to my cars to watches and diamonds rings, everything. Forget about Santa, no boyfriend got me all of these. I am independent and can buy myself anything this Christmas I want.— Sanjjanaa, actor

I NEVER WAITED FOR A SANTA OR ANYBODY ELSE TO BUY ME A HOUSE, CAR OR JEWELLERY

Just like how Miley mentioned in the song, I too have always bought myself whatever I wanted. I never waited for a Santa or anyone to come and buy me jewellery, house or a car. I got everything that I wanted as my parents always told me not to hold myself back and not depend on anyone. Materialistic stuff, in particular, is something that I can never wish from others. — Jwala Gutta, badminton player

- Compiled by Elina Priyadarshini Nayak, Suhas Yellapantula, Srivathsan Nadadhur and Sweta Pendyala