Kanwal Aftab hits back at body and age shamers

Pakistani social media influencer Kanwal Aftab has delivered a powerful message on body shaming, age-shaming and the growing culture of judging people over their appearance, urging critics to focus on their own lives instead of scrutinising others.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the digital creator shared a series of detailed notes addressing the harsh judgments people often face over their bodies, skin tone, appearance, manner of speaking, clothing and even age.

In one of her stories, Kanwal emphasised that looking older than one’s actual age is not something a person should be blamed or mocked for.

“If you look older than your age, it is not your fault. Allah has created every single person differently, and there is beauty in that,” she wrote.

She went on to point out how people are frequently judged for everything from their body shape and complexion to the way they speak and dress.

Addressing comments about her own age, Kanwal revealed that she was born in 1998 and said she does not feel the need to repeatedly clarify her age or dictate what others should call her.

“I was born in 1998, and I really don't feel the need to repeatedly explain my age or tell people what they should or shouldn't call me,” she stated.

However, she made a request to those who comment on her age, asking them to extend the same respect to other people in their late twenties and beyond.

Kanwal further criticised the normalisation of trolling, bullying, body-shaming and constant judgement, stressing that outsiders rarely know what someone may be experiencing privately.

“We never know what someone is going through in their personal life. We don't know what kind of struggles they are facing, what kind of stress they are under, or what they might be dealing with mentally or emotionally,” she wrote.

The influencer also highlighted how comments about someone’s appearance or weight can have serious emotional consequences, noting that people may be dealing with difficult personal circumstances or health-related issues that others know nothing about.

 

She urged people to refrain from making assumptions about someone’s body, skin tone or personal struggles, reminding them that “we don't know anyone's complete story.”

Turning the message into a call for self-reflection, Kanwal advised her followers to spend less time criticising others and more time working on themselves.

“Focus on your own life. Because when we start focusing on ourselves, our own growth, and our own goals, we will have much less time to judge others,” she added.

Kanwal then clarified that her message was not necessarily about her own ability to deal with criticism. She said she considers herself mentally strong and credited her upbringing and faith for helping her move past hurtful comments.

“Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, I was raised in a way that made me mentally very strong. Allah is always with me, and my mind is strong enough to take things lightly and move on with a smile,” she wrote.

 

According to Kanwal, her primary concern is for people who may struggle to cope with constant criticism and could be deeply affected by seemingly casual remarks.

She concluded her series of messages with a strong reminder about self-acceptance, making it clear that she is comfortable with her appearance, personality, clothing, choices and age.

“I am happy the way I am. The way I speak, the way I walk, what I wear, what I do, how old I am, or what people choose to call me. I honestly don't care. I love myself, and I believe we should all learn to love and accept ourselves the way we are,” Kanwal concluded.