Nothing is more beautiful than accepting your flaws and becoming an example for others to follow. Coming true to these words is acid attack victim Reshma Qureshi who on Thursday walked the New York Fashion Week (NYFW). Breaking the stereotypes that surround models, Reshma put up a confident walk leaving everyone awestruck.
For Reshma, however, this walk means much more that breaking beauty standards. Reshma wanted to send a message of courage and women empowerment with this and it seems she did quite a job at it.
As she walked for designer Archana Kochhar amidst claps, Reshma set an example that there is much more to beauty than appearance.
"This walk was important to me because there are so many girls like me who are survivors of acid attacks, and this will give them courage,"
Reshma said in an interview after the brave walk.
She added:
"And it will also go to show people who judge people based on their appearance that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover - you should look at everyone though the same eyes."
Reshma said she "never thought in my wildest dreams that something like this would happen to me" and added that she also never knew that she "would be coming to such a big place to walk on such a big stage".
After enduring skin graft surgeries and contemplating suicide, she met the founder of Make Love Not Scars, a group that helps survivors of gender-based crimes. Reshma is the face of the group's online video campaign, which has been viewed by 1.3 million people and led to her appearance in New York.
Reshma said:
"I couldn't believe it was happening to me. In that moment I felt extremely happy."
The collection, called A Tale of Two Cities, was inspired by the Taj Mahal and the rich, buoyant colours of magnificent India.
The fashion show was a part of a campaign, #IAmNYFW which aims to increase diversity in fashion. Also walking in the show was Indian actress
(With IANS Inputs)
