“The negativity of body-shaming has never stopped me from being who I am.”
Zara Noor Abbas sat down with BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rashid recently to talk about her career ambit. She revealed that she had faced body-shaming during her time in the industry, and how at one point her lack of confidence hindered her growth as an actress.
The ‘Khamoshi’ actress spoke about the time she was bullied by models for walking a fashion show and how she has constantly received criticism for trying to “be like Mahira Khan.”
Zara said she has always tried to uphold values through representing a “Pakistani woman” in a more liberal and modern route. She said she was body-shamed for a very long time on social media, but tried to “block it” all out so that she doesn’t lose focus.
Zara brushed off all comparisons with Mahira as compliments and went back to discuss the self-depreciation and toxicity that body-shaming has brought about in this country.
“It’s problematic when you start taking pills or undergo surgery to lose weight,” said Zara. The actor said that these unfortunate fads become your biggest downfall, and losing weight or being healthy should be tied to a safe method, like gymming.
Zara admitted that she was told to not wear jeans or sleeveless clothes because of her weight.
She was told not to wear short shirts or big pants or sleeveless because she was “big.” Zara confessed she has become more self-aware in taking care of herself and being far healthier than before, hence the “slimming down over the years.”
“People asked me to go get liposuction and it has always hurt me and made me cry.”
Zara has always approached criticism in the most positive way she can; she said she has never let it get to her despite there being moments of darkness; “it has always made me sob about my identity but I had to tell myself to stop and embrace myself and my flaws no matter what size I am.”
“My talent is not going to suffer because of that.” Here’s her full interview: