Category: gender equality

**Changing Lives: Breaking Barriers and Rebuilding Dreams**

In a world where beauty standards often exclude rather than include, Pakistan’s Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) and L’Oréal Pakistan, with funding from Fondation L’Oréal, recently celebrated a significant milestone. Sixty women completed a transformative four-month training course and gathered at the Depilex centre in Karachi to receive their certificates. This course is part of the *Beauty for a Better Life* (BFBL) programme.

BFBL isn’t just about teaching skills; it’s about rewriting the narrative of survival and recovery. These were not ordinary graduates — all of them were survivors of acid attacks and domestic violence. The training covered haircare, skincare, makeup, and salon management, but its impact went far beyond professional skills.

For these women, the course represented much more than simple training. It meant independence and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Masarrat Misbah, founder of DSF, explained at the graduation ceremony, “*Beauty for a Better Life* is more than a training programme. It restores dignity, reignites hope, and opens real opportunities.”

Despite this progress, the reality remains complex. Many survivors still face discrimination in hiring processes, exclusion from family gatherings, and suffer from limited long-term support systems. Masarrat Misbah emphasised the pressing need for practical help in securing steady employment. Vocational training is only the beginning — survivors need genuine opportunities to apply what they have learnt.

Two weeks before the graduation, *Runway SS 25* transformed what could have been just another glamorous fashion event into something profoundly meaningful. The event brought together Pakistan’s leading designers, stylists, models, choreographers, fashion writers, bloggers, influencers, celebrities, and editors.

Masarrat Misbah herself walked the runway alongside acid attack survivors and vision-impaired persons, highlighting the power of inclusion. The collaboration showcased clothes by designer Zubair Shah. Professional models accompanied survivors down the catwalk — some wore confident smiles, others displayed quiet determination. The audience, composed of Pakistan’s fashion elite, rose to their feet in applause.

This moment was more than a narrative shift from victims to survivors — it signified a true sense of belonging.

The fashion showcase was about more than just clothes. Renowned dancer Sheema Kermani performed Kathak to the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, honouring colleagues the arts community has lost. Young dancers infused contemporary energy into classical forms. Designers presented a range of styles, from traditional bridal wear to innovative garments.

Transgender rights activist Kami Chaudhry made a striking appearance as a showstopper, reinforcing the event’s broader message of inclusion.

For Anwaar (name changed to protect identity), a young man who survived an acid attack, walking the runway fulfilled a dream he thought was lost forever.

“As a teenager, I aspired to be a model. But after the acid attack, I thought that dream was impossible. Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined walking the runway as a model again after what happened to me. This is truly a dream come true,” he shared.

Anwaar’s experience captures the deep impact of the programme: not only does it train survivors and equip them with tools for economic independence, but it also gives them the confidence to believe that their dreams can become reality.

**Beauty for a Better Life is transforming lives — one step, one dream, and one runway at a time.**
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1345076-what-caught-our-eye