Body image is a deeply personal and often painful topic. In Pakistan and many South Asian countries, it’s common to hear comments like “You’ve gained weight” or “Dark skin isn’t pretty”—even from close relatives. This article isn’t just about theory. It’s about real people. Real emotions. Real struggles. And how they got through them.
Let’s talk about what body image really means, how it affects lives, and what helped people across different ages find their way back to self-worth.
Understanding Body Image: More Than Just Appearance
Body image is how a person thinks and feels about their physical appearance. But it’s not just about looking in the mirror. It’s about what we believe that reflection means.
In South Asian culture, especially in Pakistan and India, many beauty standards are rooted in colonial ideas and social expectations: fair skin, slim bodies, thick hair, no acne, and height—all seen as “ideal.” Media, family, and even casual conversations often reinforce these standards.
Sadly, this leads to:
Low self-esteem
Disordered eating habits
Anxiety and depression
Social withdrawal
Women and girls often bear the brunt more. Research shows that due to societal pressure, marketing of fairness creams, and social media filters, females tend to develop body image issues earlier and more severely.
Struggling in Silence: Real Stories from Teenagers
Teenage years are already confusing. Add body shame, and it becomes emotionally overwhelming. In Pakistan, young people often face criticism not just from peers—but from family too. These are the years when self-image begins to form, and comments hurt deeper than we realize.
Ayesha’s Story: Battling Colorism in School
Ayesha, 17, from Lahore, remembers how classmates would whisper about her dark skin. They called her names, compared her with fairer girls, and even joked that she’d never get a marriage proposal.
Her turning point? A teacher who told her that beauty is not one color. With time, Ayesha started reading books by strong women of color and following body-positive voices online. She began saying positive things to herself in the mirror every morning—simple affirmations like, “My skin is powerful, not a flaw.”
Now in university, she says, “It still hurts sometimes. But I don’t carry their shame anymore. I carry my story.”
Bilal’s Struggle with Body Shaming at the Gym
Bilal, 16, joined a local gym in Karachi because he wanted to feel stronger. Instead, he was mocked for being too skinny. Other boys laughed behind his back, called him “matchstick,” and doubted his efforts.
Rather than giving up, Bilal started journaling his progress, focusing on what his body could do, not just how it looked. He also found support from an older trainer who shared his own past struggles.
Bilal’s words: “I stopped chasing other people’s approval. I now lift for my mental health.”
Adults Aren’t Immune: Stories of Mid-Life Insecurity
It’s a myth that body image issues only affect teenagers. In fact, adults may suffer silently, feeling embarrassed to admit their insecurities.
Let’s hear from two grown-ups who faced body shame—and grew through it.
Saima’s Postpartum Journey and Reclaiming Her Identity
After her second child, Saima, 32, from Faisalabad, felt like a stranger in her own body. Loose skin, dark circles, and no time for herself—she felt invisible.
Every family function brought a wave of “advice” from relatives:
“Why don’t you fix yourself now?”
“You used to be so pretty.”
What helped Saima? Talking to other moms online. Hearing they felt the same. Slowly, she made time for evening walks and took help from her mother-in-law to get an hour of “me time.”
She says, “I didn’t need to ‘get my body back.’ I needed to get my confidence back.”
Kamran’s Story: Confidence Beyond the Hairline
Kamran, 38, a banker in Islamabad, started balding early. The jokes at work, the questions at weddings—“Why don’t you get a transplant?”—were constant.
For years, he wore a cap to hide it. But one day, he realized his children never cared about his hair. They cared about his smile.
So he made peace with the mirror.
Kamran shares, “Now, I dress sharp, I focus on my health, and I stopped apologizing for how I look. Confidence isn’t about having hair. It’s about holding your head high—with or without it.”
What Helped Them Heal: Practical Coping Strategies
From teens to adults, those who overcame body image issues shared common healing habits:
Self-Affirmation: Looking in the mirror and saying things like, “I am enough” or “My worth is not my weight.”
Limiting Toxic Social Media: Muting accounts that made them feel unworthy.
Seeking Safe Support: Talking to a teacher, a friend, a therapist, or an online group.
Practicing Gratitude: Focusing on what their bodies can do, not just how they look.
Avoiding Negative Self-Talk: Catching critical inner dialogue and replacing it with compassion.
How to Support Someone Facing Body Image Struggles
You don’t need a degree to help. Just be kind. Here’s what you can do:
Listen, don’t fix: Just hearing someone without judgment is powerful.
Avoid appearance-based compliments: Try “You seem really confident today” instead of “You look slimmer.”
Be sensitive to language: Words like “healthy,” “fit,” or “strong” feel better than “skinny” or “fair.”
Share your own vulnerabilities: It helps them feel less alone.
Encourage professional help: Gently suggest therapy or support groups if needed.
Why Body Image Awareness Matters in South Asia
Ignoring body image struggles doesn’t make them go away. It makes them grow in silence. And silence turns into suffering.
In South Asia, where beauty is often linked with worth—especially for women—it’s time to break the cycle. When a girl skips meals to fit a dress, or a boy stays home because of acne, it’s not vanity. It’s pain.
Unchecked body shame can lead to:
Eating disorders
Depression
Social anxiety
Relationship struggles
Schools, workplaces, and homes must become spaces where bodies of all shapes and shades are respected.
Moving Forward: Redefining Beauty and Confidence
Beauty doesn’t have a single face. And confidence doesn’t come from approval—it comes from understanding that your body tells a story worth honoring.
Maybe your hips tell a story of motherhood.
Maybe your scars tell a story of survival.
Maybe your wrinkles tell a story of laughter.
Here’s what matters:
Stop comparing. Start appreciating.
Talk about feelings, not just looks.
Let young people know their value is more than their appearance.
Because in the end, healing from body image issues isn’t just about looking better—it’s about feeling seen, heard, and loved.
TL;DR
This article shares powerful stories from South Asians—teenagers, moms, and professionals—who faced body image issues and found strength through support, self-love, and daily habits. From colorism and weight struggles to postpartum identity and hair loss, these real-life examples show how emotional healing is possible. The message: confidence comes from within, not from appearance.
Imran Shahzad, M.Sc. Psychology (BZU, 2012), shares real-world mental health tips and emotional guidance in simple English for everyday South Asian readers.