India has no dearth of critics. In fact, there is one in every corner. So don't be surprised when you hear people commenting unnecessarily about your attitude, home, and even clothes.
And, while many of you may not have responded to these critics, some powerful women did. They brought the house down with their inspirational and strong message and stopped such critics from spreading more venom.
We have featured three such women, who with their dedication and hardwork have scaled the heights of their profession and have become an inspiration to many Indian women, especially those who are fighting body shamers, everyday.
#1 Vidya Balan
The Kahaani star recently shared that when she first joined the industry, she felt pressured to look a certain way. Many professionals she worked with body-shamed her, but she found the perfect solution.
Instead of listening to their 'advice', she chose to be happy with who she is!
“It’s my body, I love my body. It doesn’t matter what people say. Different people will have different things to say. If I look into the mirror and I am happy with what I am wearing, I would just step out. And then I don’t care about what anyone has to say about it,” she recently told Hindustan Times.
"Over the course of time, I have realised that you can’t please everyone. The world out there will never be happy with you, so you may as well be happy with yourself,” said the actor who recently turned 38.
Continue reading to see how smartly Twinkle Khanna aka Mrs Funnybones slammed body shamers.
#2 Twinkle Khanna
The witty and intelligent mum of two, Twinkle Khanna is known to "say as she sees it!" She doesn't beat around the bush too much and neither does she waste too much pleasing anybody. She is who she is, and she wants every girl to feel that too!
In her column for the Times of India last year she addressed the matter of body-shaming by giving the example of world champion tennis star Serena Williams and former HRD minister, Smriti Irani.
In the article titled "Why I googled Leander in a wet t-shirt," Khanna says that sometimes not just men, but even women subject other women to body-shaming. For instance, pointing at Serena William's nipples when she played on court, or Irani's ouster as the HRD minister and how people said that she has been brought to her place (women next to a spinning wheel)!
She added, "Ladies and Gentlemen, do go ahead and judge women, but use the same measures with which men are assessed — on their skill, talent, efficiency, determination, work ethic and not by the substructure of their biology."
"Women have been looking for a cape and have been handed an apron for centuries, and it is only now that we have learned to swing the apron around, let it flutter down our backs so that we can soar through the blue skies. And fly we will and must, even if the world seeks to tie us down with their squalid shackles of sneers," concluded Mrs Funnybones.
Continue reading to see what mum Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had to say about her body shamers.
#3 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
She was Miss World and often touted as the world's most beautiful woman, but didn't stop body shamers from talking about her pregnancy weight gain. But a strong woman knows her place and it is not with those who try to bring her down.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan did the same.
In her interviews post the birth of Aaradhya, Aishwarya was asked several times about her visible weight gain and why she wasn't able to lose it.
"It isn't surprising because in this industry it comes as standard when an actress becomes a mother the focus isn't on her health, it's how fast she lose her weight, I don't worry about this; to me, the wellbeing and the health of my family is more important than focusing on going back to my pre-pregnancy body in miracle time. It should not be taken to extremes. Don't be too hard on yourself, and take time to relax and connect with your newborn," she told media at the time.
She also added, "At times this seems impossible but it's an essential part of juggling motherhood and a career successfully. And no matter what you do, don't forget about yourself. I believe that when you look good, you feel good and more confident, so caring for your hair, skin and body should not stop. If anything, you should do more of that so you are refreshed and positive when you're around your child and family."
Also read: Itni lambi, itni kaali… Shaadi kaun karega: Sonam Kapoor opens up about the things she heard growing up!
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[All images courtesy: Instagram]
