This latest viral video by Pakistani model Roma Michael walking the ramp in a bikini at the Miss Grand International 2024 has caused huge outrage among Pakistani citizens as that country is known for being under really very conservative social norms related to the dressing and public appearance of women. Once it went viral on social media, a spate of negative comments started coming in from the public against the move.
It is being said that Michael took the video back from her Instagram account, but that will not complete the censorship since it was being widely circulated on lots of social media platforms. It brought a broader discussion to the table on women’s rights and representation in Pakistan. “So Miss World Grand deleted this video on Instagram and the website due to Pakistani people bashing this Lahore-based model, #RomaMichael, who is crossing all limits and ruined the name of Pakistan,” a social media user said.
Roma Michael is a model and actress from Lahore who has enjoyed a very successful stint in entertainment. She has done BTech from college and also has experience with several premier fashion designers both within Pakistan and internationally. Michael also worked in movies including “Delhi Gate” and “Kahey Dil Jidher”. She further appeared in television series such as “Tu Zindagi Hai” and “Pyari Nimmo.” She has represented Pakistan at very important events, including such occasions as Cannes Fashion Week.
Despite the hostile reaction, Michael emerged to be a social media influencer with over 75.7k followers. That was pretty fast for the public to recognize her and even conjure a guess that she was not Roma but another model. However, it was pretty easy to negate the rumors when she posted an Instagram story featuring herself in the same outfit.
While a certain number of netizens hailed her courage, most people began to worry for her safety. It is known that in Pakistan, there has long been a bad climate regarding women’s expression and dress. The case thus behooves reflection in light of the constant fight for the rights and representation of women in a country with the deepest cultural codes and norms.
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