A popular model in Pakistan has defended herself after coming under fire for wearing blackface in an advertisement for a local salon.
Zara Abid, who has nearly 73,000 followers on Instagram, posted the series of controversial photos for Nabila, a stylist based in Karachi, Sindh province last week.
The series has since attracted a massive backlash, with people criticizing the salon and the 35-year-old model for promoting blackface.
Over the weekend, Abid posted a series of notes defending the photoshoot, claiming that she is “a proud dark-skinned model” and “a first-hand victim of discrimination and colourism.”
“When I initially started modelling professionally, people would refuse to hire me because of my dark skin tone.
“I am first-hand victim of discrimination and colourism that exists within our society.
“However, I fought tooth and nail to get where I am today and I am very grateful for all the opportunities I received purely on the basis of my talent.”
Abid went on to explain that the photos, which have been “misconstrued,” enhanced her color as she wanted to “empower” the “darker-skinned population” in the name of representation.
“On multiple occasions, I have been made two to three tones lighter, so why not darker?”
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