The death of a 26-year-old model has left many in the country and entertainment industry shocked
KARACHI: The death of a 26-year-old model has left many in the country and entertainment industry shocked. The young model allegedly committed suicide as she was said to be suffering from depression. While it is yet to be determined whether it was pressure from her career or life that pushed her to take her own life, the pressures that come with being a model in the industry are often overwhelming. The need to look a certain way and maintain a certain size can sometimes be crippling.
It has also, many a time, been reported that the presence of harassment — often known as the casting couch system — has forced many new models to take the extreme step.
In the wake of this, the presence of an open culture where young models can voice their concerns and freely talk about their problems becomes significant.
The industry’s big names should get together and form a sort of board where young aspiring models can freely come to voice their concerns. A few years ago a French professional model died due to the industry’s demand for slim models. In order to fulfil the profession’s demand she lost her weight to an alarming level. According to press reports, this craze for looking thin and slim killed her. We should help prevent our female models from following this dangerous course.
Ramsha Jhangir
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2018.
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