Stylist Anaum Hammad hopes for a more responsible approach towards depression

Hammad clarified that she wasn't trying to belittle the 'Coke Studio' singer

Popular singer Momina Mustehsan has been receiving a lot of slack of late for "looking too pretty" in the photos she posted whilst speaking about her battle with depression.

Momina Mustehsan writes open letter to late model Anam Tanoli

After model Anam Tanoli's death earlier this week, local celebrities opened up about mental illnesses and how they affect many people. Momina, too, shared her own experience by posting a series of photos from the time that she was depressed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRMXYZljz5/?taken-by=mominamustehsan

But the photos seem to be taken by a professional and that didn't go down too well with some.

However, in an exclusive statement to The Express Tribune, Anaum clarified that she wasn't trying to belittle Momina.

"I had no intentions of comparing Momina's ordeal to my own. What I was trying to say was that with all the fan following Momina had, she had to be more responsible towards how she portrayed depression," Anaum commented.

"I believe she had good intentions when she posted about her experience. But please realise, that you have to give context for everything you're posting. I haven't judged, bullied or criticisied Momina. Isn't that the very same thing we all should be standing against, anyway? After the post, I've been receiving a lot of messages and hate about my thoughts. I've been asked why I message her privately. My question to this is, if Momina is allowed to express her thoughts publicly, why shouldn't I have the same privilege?"



SCREENGRAB

With regards to Momina, the stylist further stated, "Misrepresentation of mental illness and the disability to truly understand it is a huge part of the problem. How can you take this responsibility so lightly?"

Anaum continued that her intentions are not to be mean or unkind to anyone as she understands that every person has their own experience. However, some things are sometimes, "out of order." She urged everyone to be more responsible with their words and actions. Popular fashion photographer Muzi Sufi also agreed with Anaum's stance on the matter.

SCREENGRAB

However, the Pee Jaon crooner clarified her stance to Anaum as well. Momina wrote, "If someone is brave enough to let someone photograph their broken self in a time of extreme turmoil, she should be encouraged and given strength, instead of being judged and described as a 'pretty, sad aesthetic girl'.

She replied to Muzi saying, "Everyone is ever willing to be photographed looking happy and pretty but I think there are hardly any who are okay showing their real face, especially in crisis."

Momina then revealed that she had to shoot a series on abuse in Rawalpindi but woke up with a panic attack and couldn't find the strength to leave her house.

SCREENGRAB

The 26-year-old artist said, "My photographers had already reached and I told them I wasn't emotionally well. If they wanted to take pictures of me, I only wanted to be real and let them capture what I was really going through. I was sick of faking a smile."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZIPoVFQ9y/?taken-by=mominamustehsan

"If I can let people take pictures of me laughing, I should be okay letting them take pictures of me crying too so that I am not misrepresented," she added. "If someone is trying to be real and show people by example that it can better, please don't try to put them down and take away from their pain."

Momina Mustehsan admits having panic attacks, emotional breakdown

Anaum and Muzi were quick to reply to Momina's statement. The former said that she was not disregarding Momina's experience but only sharing her own. On the other hand, Muzi said she was merely disagreeing with the heavily edited photos to make them more dramatic and was in no way trying to bully Momina.

Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.