Instagrammers around the world have been flocking to Pakistan-based dental student-turned-artist Sara Shakeel’s Instagram page. Sara creates mesmerising images taking photos and replacing a few of its components with elements like glitter, galaxy, rainbow and diamonds.
The 28-year-old Sara, tired of being subjected to societal beauty standards, puts up posts where stickers of glitter, galaxies are stuck on stretch marks.
Rather than viewing them as negative, the artist wants to show the world how beautiful they are. Living in a country with strict regulations, this artist took the bold step and posted images that no one talks about — stretch marks.
Her idea, to show that stretch marks are not symbols of shame and embarrassment. Inspiration came to her when her friend asked her to photoshop out her stretch marks. The world was in need of body empowerment and Sara’s post came at the right time.
Hundreds of people, including singer Miley Cyrus have connected with this artist and showed support to her posts of glitter and galaxy stretch marks.
Other followers have said, “Stretch marks are the tiger stripes of a fully capable and empowered woman,” or even, “I recall thinking ‘Holy Shiznit, this is genius!’ the first time I saw your stretch mark and glitter art. Thank you for celebrating a natural part of being a woman,”
Bengaluru-based model Vanishree Bhat feels, “Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry create perceptions of how skin should be, and how perfect it has to be. I have seen a lot of women coming out and wanting people to be okay with stretch marks and other imperfections. Society should be willing and accepting of people who have scars and stretch marks as they could have undergone some surgery or accident or even cancer. I think accepting it should be on a more personal level. In the end I think that people should understand that we are all human and this is the way we are.”
City-based dermatologist Dr Chytra Anand feels, “Stretch marks appear when the skin tears due to stretching. They convey that the skin has undergone stress. It is very common to see them in women when they yo-yo diet or during pregnancy, and in men doing intense weight lifting. Stretch marks should not cause psychological and emotional distress. I don’t think they need to be hidden or flaunted. If a woman gets stretch marks due to pregnancy, then they should wear it as badge of honour.”
