Devina Kaur: From Assam to Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants, transforming mental wellness

(Jul 15, 2026) Born in Assam and now based in Canada, mental health educator, certified NLP coach, meditation teacher, radio host, author and founder of the SEXY BRILLIANT™ Non Profit Foundation, Devina Kaur has built a career around helping people overcome toxic shame and emotional struggles. Recognised among Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants in 2019, she transformed her own experiences of divorce, single motherhood and addiction into a global mission that now reaches audiences through books, workshops, public speaking and community initiatives across cultures.

From Assam to Canada

When Devina Kaur left India for higher education in 1999, she was like thousands of young Indians seeking opportunities abroad. Born into a traditional family in a small town in Assam and raised with strong Punjabi family values, her journey took her from India to England and eventually to Montréal, Canada.

Today, she is known as a mental health educator, certified NLP coach, meditation teacher, radio host, columnist, speaker and author. She also leads the SEXY BRILLIANT™ Non Profit Foundation, an organisation working to remove toxic shame, promote emotional wellness and encourage authentic living. Her impact was recognised nationally when she was named among Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants in 2019, honouring newcomers who have made significant contributions to Canadian society.

 

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“My parents still live in India, and the values I grew up with continue to shape who I am,” she tells The Global Indian. Like many immigrants, however, building a life overseas came with unexpected personal challenges.

Turning personal struggles into purpose

Devina believed she was following the life expected of her. She built a career, entered a semi-arranged marriage and settled into life in Canada. But after her marriage ended, she found herself raising her daughter as a single mother while dealing with loneliness, financial uncertainty and emotional pain.

During that difficult phase, she developed an unhealthy dependence on anonymous online interactions. “I didn’t recognise it as an addiction at the time,” she recalls. “Only through therapy, self-reflection and personal development did I understand that addictions can take many forms. They are often attempts to fill an emotional void.”

That realisation became the turning point in her life. Rather than hiding her experiences, she chose to speak openly about them, eventually building a career focused on helping others overcome toxic shame, emotional trauma and limiting beliefs.

Building a global mental wellness movement

After arriving in Montréal, the largest city in Canada’s predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, Devina immersed herself in its multicultural society, learning French and embracing a new culture while holding on to her Indian roots.

Over time, her professional life expanded beyond conventional employment into entrepreneurship, writing, public speaking and social impact. Today, through the SEXY BRILLIANT™ Non Profit Foundation, she delivers educational programmes, workshops and community initiatives centred on emotional wellbeing, self-awareness and personal transformation. Her work also draws on the KAUR™ Process, a framework she developed to help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves.

Her first book, Too Fat Too Loud Too Ambitious, resonated with readers internationally by sharing her own vulnerabilities and encouraging honest conversations around shame and self-worth.

Living across different cultures has taught me that while our languages and traditions may differ, our emotional struggles are universal. Whether in India, England or Canada, people seek love, belonging, purpose and acceptance.

She credits her Indian upbringing for giving her resilience and compassion, while Canada encouraged her to embrace individuality and reinvention.

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Becoming an accidental author

Writing was never part of Devina’s career plan. “In fact, I struggle with learning difficulties and never imagined I would publish a book,” she says.

The idea emerged during a conversation with her business coach, who encouraged her to write. Initially doubtful, she began journalling her thoughts. Before long, she realised she had written more than 30,000 words. Those pages eventually became Too Fat Too Loud Too Ambitious.

She is now working on another book in the SEXY BRILLIANT™ Foundation series, focusing on addiction, healing and the lessons she has learned through her personal journey. Her advice to aspiring writers is straightforward: begin before you feel ready. “Your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. It simply needs to exist. Authenticity connects with readers far more than perfection.”

Plans of giving back 

Although Canada has been home for over two decades, India continues to influence Kaur’s outlook. She now hopes to expand her nonprofit’s work in India through volunteer programmes and partnerships that promote emotional wellness. “I want to open and share as much of my life story as I can because so many people are suffering and drowning in silence,” she says.

Looking ahead

Away from work, Kaur continues to invest in personal growth. She is a certified yoga teacher, conducts yoga and meditation workshops, practises Latin dance and trains in karate several times a week.

Looking ahead, she plans to expand the global reach of the SEXY BRILLIANT™ movement through books, educational programmes, speaking engagements and community initiatives while strengthening its presence in India.

“My goal is simple,” she says. “To inspire people to heal, embrace who they truly are and realise that their greatest strength often lies within the very struggles they have overcome” she signs off.

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