Assalamoalaikum. Nawa, I cannot put into words how much this article meant to me. As a fellow young, female, Pakistani high achiever, no piece of writing has ever resonated with me as much as this one. None has communicated the desperation I have felt to be called pretty. The first time I read it, it stirred up something deep inside. I had to read it again to truly take it in. This Hadith once gave me solace:

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah does not look at your (outward) forms and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”

Narrated by Muslim (2564)

I am grateful to you for writing this.