Pakistani model Roma Riyaz, who represented the country at this year’s Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, has responded to criticism about her skin tone with a powerful and inspiring message on social media.
In a video posted on her official Instagram account, Roma said, “My skin is the color of Pakistan’s soil. It is this shade of women who built our families, our homes, and carried this nation in their hearts.”
She addressed societal biases based on skin tone, often referred to as colorism, emphasizing that beauty is not limited to fairness or specific physical features. “I represent a new generation that rejects the narrow notions of beauty imposed on South Asian women,” she said.
Roma also encouraged Pakistani women who have been told they are “too dark” or “different” to embrace their identity. “I am proud of my roots, my values, and every shade of my skin,” she added.
In her concluding message in Urdu, Roma stated, “I always say with pride in every interview that our people are our greatest identity. We must love our nation first, because international recognition means little if we cannot love our own.”
Her statement has been widely appreciated for promoting self-acceptance, cultural pride, and challenging prejudices within society.
