Four years ago, a young Indian girl called Rupa had acid thrown on her face by her stepmother while she was sleeping. Rupa’s face was heavily burnt and scared after the attack, and for years she refused to go outside without a scarf covering her face.
But all that changed when 22 year old Rupa, would always wanted to be a fashion designer, decided she wouldn’t let her situation silence her. And so she launched her own clothing label.
That’s Rupa on the right of the photo. The two other women modelling Rupa’s designs are Laximi (left) and Rita (centre.)
Following the launch of her label, charity Stop Acid Attacks organised a photographer take photos of Rupa and fellow acid attack victims wearing Rupa’s designs.
Together the girls are telling the world that they are more powerful than the awful humans who tried to take their lives.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Rupa said:
‘I always wanted to be a designer but after the attack there was a pause in my life. I was so insecure and embarrassed by my scars I used to cover my face with a scarf. I always hung onto my dream but I never knew that one day it would be possible and I would be launching my own label.’
Take a look at some more of the images, which where shot by Rahul Saharan.
Stop Acid Attacks, the charity that works to help acid attack victims integrate back into society, are now campaigning to build Rupa a studio. You can find out more about you can help here.
What do you think of the photo shoot?
Top Comments
"Stop Acid Attacks, the charity that works to help acid attack victims integrate back into society"
How absolutely tragic is it that this needs to be a charity at all. No one should be attacked with acid and to have it happen so frequently that a charity is needed is beyond words.
Very courageous women. Perhaps off topic but I kind of wish the punishment for this crime would be an acid attack on the guilty person. What they have taken from these women is unimaginable. They too should suffer the same fate. Maybe there would be less attacks then.