In a collaboration with FTL Moda announced last month, acid attack survivor and beauty vlogger Reshma Banoo Qureshi took to the catwalk Thursday. The victim of an acid attack two years ago, Qureshi has been working with organizations like Make Love Not Scars to raise awareness around violence against women in India. With a similar mission, FTL Moda strives for equality and acceptance of disabled people. Best known for challenging conventional beauty by bringing diversity to the runways of NYFW in 2015, FTL Moda brought Qureshi to New York to walk on the first day of the biannual event.
Making her runway debut in an eye-catching floor-length cream gown with intricate patterns and beadwork designed by Indian designer Archana Kochhar, Quereshi captured New York’s attention. And that attention was not only captured by her gown. The up and coming model, activist and beauty guru’s presence also raised international awareness around the issue of acid attacks, of which there are 1,000 victims every year.
And while her presence at NYFW definitely increased visibility around the issue, Quereshi’s story could have an even further reach with a documentary, RESHA. The documentary will follow her story as an activist, including her time at NYFW, and will hopefully increase global outrage concerning the open sale of acid within India.
“I want to tell the world — do not see us in a weak light and see that even we can go out and do things,” stated Qureshi in an interview following her runway debut.
By Lindsay Cooper
Photo courtesy of Trevor Collens of AFP/Getty Images
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