Not just in India but across the world, young girls face relentless pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards. If they fall short of meeting these beauty standards, they are doomed to be met with ridicule and scrutiny. Even if a girl is intelligent and remarkably capable, her worth is too frequently measured by her adherence to superficial grooming norms. Girls are caught in a very damaging cycle wherein they are taught that their value lies in their appearance rather than their intellect or character.
Here’s an example of this issue. This is Prachi Nigam. She is this year’s UP Board class 10 topper with 591/600 marks. She scored a whopping 98.50%.
However, instead of congratulating her, several people thought it was fitting to incessantly troll this teenager online for her facial hair. They stressed how she should have paid attention to personal grooming as well, alongside studies.
Mithai na khilao as a celebration pehle waximg Karao iski
— Bhoorelal (@Bhoorelallives) April 20, 2024
No way that’s a girl..no way..
— The king of the north (@I_am_no_one_fgh) April 20, 2024
That’s straight up a man. Even in the US this can’t get a trans pass.
— Jarvis (@Jarvis364453133) April 21, 2024
did the mom or anyone tell her about taking care of her hygiene and femininity? all that ranking just to look like a monkey and not get picked for any jobs(yes your presentation plays a huge role)
congrats doe, ☝️ this doesn’t apply if she actually wanted to look like that.
— It’s still twt (@ashdestic) April 21, 2024
Need a grooming lesson as well.
— Saurabh shinde (@sau100ab) April 21, 2024
This kind of societal behavior tends to raise some very basic yet significant questions:
1) Why are young school-going girls being pressured to meet beauty standards?
2) Are their looks more important than their academic prospects?
3) Have we as a society become so insensitive that we are completely disregarding the possibility of her suffering from medical conditions such as hormonal imbalance?
There were many people who came to support Prachi Nigam and slammed those shaming her for her facial hair. Such standards not only undermine one’s self esteem but also obstruct the full realization of a girl’s potential. Some also lauded the girl for not bending to beauty standards and being confident in her skin.
It’s distasteful to mock this young girl Prachi Nigam over her facial hair which may be due to hormonal imbalance, after she emerged as Class 12 UP board topper.
More power to such bright females — the hope of our country.
👧🧗♀️👩🔧🏌️♀️👩🔬⛹️♀️🚶♀️👱♀️🙇♀️👩💼👷♀️pic.twitter.com/A8LW8fWGy4
— Rohan Dua (@rohanduaT02) April 20, 2024
If X is nasty, it is also a place for the good people. Support to the UP Board topper #PrachiNigam far outnumbers the trolling over her physical appearance. Btw, a special place in hell for those doing this to a child. Awadh, UP and an entire nation is proud of Prachi.
— Sanket Upadhyay (@sanket) April 22, 2024
Prachi Nigam brilliantly was the best in her exams and is being celebrated
And this dude pretty much dismisses her achievement in order to announce it doesn't really matter because he doesn't find her attractive. pic.twitter.com/zwk4NNNaqc
— AskAubry 🦝 (@ask_aubry) April 22, 2024
Prachi Nigam is the @Upboardexam24 topper. All those dissing/laughing at her looks probably scrapped through their board exams if at all. Adolescent is a challenging time. You go and conquer the world Prachi while these nameless nothings live their zero good lives.@Madhyamik_UP pic.twitter.com/rfImZJlm0Y
— Puja Awasthi (@pujaawasthi) April 22, 2024
Hey Prachi,
You are a star ⭐
You are a topper 🏆
You are an achiever 🏅Rest every noise you hear is A BUNCH OF MO®ON$ & TR@$H.
CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORY 🎉 💐
Super proud 🙌⭐🏆#PrachiNigam#UPBoardResult2024 pic.twitter.com/YZkc7MSnoP— Vandana Gupta 🇮🇳 (Modi Ka Parivar) (@im_vandy) April 22, 2024
I congratulate #PrachiNigam for topping the UP Board High School exams
It's sad to learn that people are trolling her. #PCOS is a debilitating condition, not only physically, but socially and mentally.
Very proud that she has achieved this success despite her health issues pic.twitter.com/B0lw68NrzJ
— Priyanka Matanhelia (Ph.D) (@SavvyPriya) April 21, 2024
It's so easy for people to mock this young girl Prachi Nigam over her facial hair which may be due to hormonal imbalance. Have they ever thought how it can affect the little girl? pic.twitter.com/km7Gby2ern
— Rohit (@Iam_Rohit_G) April 21, 2024
Apparently most people are mocking the UP Board topper, Prachi Nigam because she didn’t go to the salon to get her facial hair waxed.
This simply proves that people will find almost anything to demean you no matter what !!
— Pallavi Pandey (@pallavipandeyy) April 21, 2024
People making fun of a 10th UP Board topper with 98.5% #PrachiNigam are of lowest level.
Before calling her names, why do they forget she's just a kid who might be having Hormal issues or conditions like PCOS/ Cushing or Other ailments.#UPBoardResult2024 pic.twitter.com/bGOg0CHg57
— Dr. Vedika (@vishkanyaaaa) April 20, 2024
Prachi Nigam … You rock girl!!
Hormonal imbalance is a real deal… From facial hair, mood swings to painful menstruation.. You faced it all n emerged out as winner. In this age of filters n fillers, I haven't seen a girl more confident n secure than you.. God bless you pic.twitter.com/LswcY2aP8z— Anamika A. 🇮🇳 (@Delhiwalididi) April 21, 2024
She topped the UP boards because she didn’t give a F about not meeting the socially constructed beauty standards.
Everyone making fun of her should be ashamed of themselves. #PrachiNigam #UPBoardResult— ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) April 20, 2024
For all the folks asking Prachi Nigam to do some grooming shows how pathetic they are. She is still in school and nobody cared about grooming then. Moreover, talk about her achievements? She topped an exam, why are her looks being dragged? She knows she has facial hair and still…
— Richa Singh (@RichaaaaSingh) April 21, 2024
Took my daughter for a haircut and the hairdresser told me how I should use conditioner and how her skin is very tanned. My daughter was like "amma is being dark bad?"
In such a world, it is refreshing to see a Prachi Nigam focusing on what's important. Let's preserve our kids
— Revs. (@Full_Meals) April 21, 2024
These trolls are the actual ugly humans who can't come close to Prachi Nigam's intellect even in their dreams! Worst ones! I wish Prachi the best for her future. What a bright beautiful child who has made her parents proud! ❤️
— Urrmi (@Urrmi_) April 21, 2024
Haters can hate. But Prachi Nigam is going to do greater things with her mind and heart! 🙂