Kia Abdullah is a writer and novelist from London. Her debut novel, 'Life, Love and Assimilation' is a raw and unpretentious account of an Asian girl growing up in London and has been described as the 'real version of what happens on the streets'.

Kia writes about a number of subjects from politics and religion to relationships and sex, and has contributed to a range of publications including Asian Woman and Eastern Eye. She has featured in radio and television programmes for the BBC and Channel 4, most recently in BBC2's 'Women in Black' series about Muslim women.

Kia currently writes comment pieces for The Guardian and is finishing her second novel, 'Innocence Lost', due for release next year.

Visit www.kia-abdullah.com for more information.

Amna Ahmed is a freelance journalist who has written for her University paper for several years. She recently graduated with an Economics and Communication Studies degree from Canada, only to end up back in Dubai where she sells her soul to the corporate world by day, but reverts back to her age-old passion for writing with InsideDesi as her pedestal.

Amna loves to write poetry and has been featured in conferences and papers in Canada and Dubai. Amna also loves movies, music and long walks on the beach.

Shamik Das is a freelance journalist who has written for the Press Association, BBC Sport, the non-League Paper, the Harrow Observer and most recently Inside Desi magazine.

After reading maths at University College London, where he was news editor of the London-wide student paper London Student – Europe’s largest student newspaper – he took a post-graduate NCTJ course with News Associates, where he came top of the class in politics, public relations and sports reporting.

Shamik is also a keen blogger, writing about everything from the US elections to Euro 2008, but his biggest passion is cricket, watching, playing and commenting on it. He likes nothing better than chilling out at Lord’s in the sunshine, sipping on a cold beer and watching a Test match, though he’s less keen on Twenty20.

His hero is his father. Followed by Nelson Mandela, Sachin Tendulkar, Elvis and Tintin.

Shamik’s blog can be found at:- http://www.shamik.co.uk

Music and Lifestyle columnist Pras has lived in London for over 8 years. Originally from Germany, he moved to the UK to pursue his studies at university and then later a promising career in the City.

Pras is somewhat of a movie buff and enjoys listening to new artists and genres. His musical preferences range from old school R&B to 90's Pop to anything that sounds good. A keen basketball player and self-confessed socialite, Pras fancies himself a bit of a chef too and is currently in the process of writing a cookery book based on recipes he has created over the last 5 years. His favourite cuisines are Italian and Tamil food.

When he is not entertaining his friends at dinner parties he regularly hosts at his flat in the Docklands, he likes to wind down by reading a good book or better yet, read user comments made on InsideDesi articles.

Lady Jalebi is the singles columnist for InsideDesi. Now in her mid-twenties and armed with several years of dating experience, her column details her frustrated attempts to settle down and find not just a soul mate, but one who also matches the strict criteria set by her traditional parents.

Of Bangladeshi descent, Lady Jalebi was born and brought up in London and is currently working in the public sector. She is a graduate of the LSE and wrote for the university newspaper as a film critic whilst studying there.

She enjoys masquerading as a socialite as well as travelling, fast cars and fine dining.

After completing a degree in English and Marketing, and a Postgraduate in Broadcast Journalism, Halima Khatun, went on to freelance in BBC radio and TV as well as ITV Wales.

She now combines her writing and communication skills with her business knowledge, working as a copywriter/account manager for a marketing agency.

She joined InsideDesi because it gave her the unique opportunity to indulge her thirst for all things Bollywood and Desi, and bring this to a wider audience.

A self-confessed gossip-junkie, Halima’s other interests include music, movies, working-out, and of course, shopping.

Seen as one of the lads because of her love for football and cars and her hate for shopping, Sital is also a sucker for all things Desi whether it’s the food, the music or the fashion! (She is from Southall after all).

After graduating from University in Media, Culture and Spanish, Sital decided to venture out into the big wide world of media, and has since worked for a number of organisations within the Asian and mainstream media space including Zee TV, Club Asia, Yarr Radio and CD:UK.

Currently, Sital works at the Guardian and is a presenter at Radio Northwick Park.   Her hobbies include dancing, voluntary work, socialising and dreaming about Will Smith and his Ferrari in Bad Boys.

Millissa Mathai is the creator and editor in chief of HAUTE MIMI, the premier global fashion blog. With years of experience in the fashion world, Millissa has contributed her exotic take on style to various fashion, beauty and lifestyle publications worldwide.

InsideDesi is an exciting venture for Millissa seeing as she is originally from Kerala, India. "In India, anything is possible. I credit my Indian background for my love of different cultures, life and most of all, magic."

Read more on fashion and beauty from Millissa and her co-editors at Haute Mimi.

Bollywood and Lifestyle columnist Kaynath began as a creative writer, maintaining a regular blog over her growing-up years. Since joining InsideDesi, she has attempted to bring a vivacious flair into her articles, and improve herself as a writer.

Kaynath recently graduated from King's College London, and is now on a journey through Law school before stepping her slippers into the real world of work. Her dream is to someday become a distinguished fashion designer, although she vows to continue feeding her creative-streak regardless of the field she goes into.

A fan of world music, her evenings are spent splashing colour onto empty canvases, goofing around with her siblings, and awaiting the arrival of her very own version of a certain television heartthrob, also known as 'Dr Armaan Malik'.

She loves Dhaka City, churidaars, chivalry, and chocolate.

Yasmin Sadek is a BA Journalist student at the London College of Communications (UAL) and will be based in the London College of Fashion as an editor for print and online for her final year starting in September 2008.

Her interests lie in the entertainment industry and she has an active lifestyle, teaching street dance to students in her former school and also freelance classes for various promotions.

She was part of the first ever British Muslim Research Conference held in Windsor Castle to promote awareness and help change stereotypes of young Muslims in deprived areas. Her passion for volunteering and raising money for the less fortunate led her to take part in the 'Make Poverty History' campaign held in Trafalgar Square alongside other Envision members.

Farhana Shaikh is a twentysomething creative entrepreneur from Leicester. She works as a freelance editor and writer whilst managing her own publishing business, The Publishing Jar.

She is a self confessed workaholic, juggling motherhood with reading, editing and digging up her family's secret past for her first novel. She is an ambassador for Womens Enterprise and has just finished a year long mentoring programme with Loughborough University.

She currently edits The Asian Wedding Directory and The Asian Writers Project.