Pakistani actor Hareem Farooq has spoken out against body shaming and unrealistic beauty standards, urging her followers to accept themselves and learn to love their bodies.
In a detailed Instagram post, Farooq said a person’s beauty and worth cannot be determined by their physical appearance.
‘Your body is not a public debate’
Farooq said stretch marks, acne scars, hair loss or weight gain do not diminish a person’s beauty or value.
She noted that the human body goes through changes because of time, stress, trauma and illness, making it unfair to judge people based on their appearance.
According to the actor, deeper beauty lies in qualities such as love, intelligence, purity of spirit, hope, courage in difficult circumstances and the desire to become a better version of oneself.
Farooq encouraged her followers to accept themselves, embrace their individuality and have confidence in who they are.
She also urged people to be grateful for their bodies, treat them with kindness and continue working towards a healthy lifestyle.
Farooq calls for freedom from social judgement
The actor said everyone has the right to live their life according to their own choices and that a person’s body should not become a subject of public debate or commentary.
She argued that people should not be judged according to standards imposed by others because of their clothing, age, physical changes, recovery journey or personal decisions.
Instead, she said, individuals should have the freedom to live according to their own identity and choices.
Actor has spoken about body criticism before
Farooq has previously discussed the pressure surrounding physical appearance.
While speaking about losing weight for her role in the 2024 drama Bismil, she said she decided against using a crash diet to achieve the required transformation.
The actor has also faced criticism over her appearance in the past. In 2021, remarks made about her by actor Faryal Mahmood during a television programme sparked discussion on social media.
Farooq has also spoken about her journey towards a healthier lifestyle, describing maintaining good health as a positive and worthwhile challenge.
