“Your body is not a trend.”
ARY News anchor Saim Khan has weighed in on the recent controversy sparked by Atiqa Odho’s blunt remarks about body hair.
In a now-viral statement, Atiqa expressed her disgust toward men with hairy chests and singled out Ali Raza, criticising him for frequently displaying his chest in the drama Dastak.
Saim Khan responded firmly yet respectfully, questioning the double standard in such public commentary.
He pointed out that if a male actor had made similar remarks about a woman’s body, backlash would have been swift and severe.
Saim began: “With all due respect to Atiqa Odho, if a male actor said a female actor should wax her body because it’s ‘yuck’ or ‘disgusting’, social media would explode.”
He stressed that his intention wasn’t to target Atiqa, but rather to highlight the need for fairness in how we speak about bodies.
At a time when society is already struggling with beauty standards and body image, he said, remarks like these add to the problem.
He noted that many women face rejection in marriage proposals for not fitting conventional beauty standards.
Saim Khan extended his message beyond this incident, emphasising that body positivity should be universal and inclusive.
He stated: “Your body is not a trend.”
Saim reminded people that bodies aren’t meant to meet digital or societal standards.
Instead, they are vessels of personal stories, experiences, and strength.
His words resonated strongly with social media users, who praised the anchor for promoting a balanced and thoughtful stance.
Saim added:
“Whether you have hair, scars, stretch marks, softness, or muscle, you are whole. You are worthy.”
He emphasised that both men and women have the right to exist as they are, without needing to shrink or conform.
Saim called for an end to defining human worth by external metrics like weight, measurements, or popularity on social media.
The anchor said: “You are not a before or after photo. You are a human being deserving of respect, love, and peace.”
In contrast, Atiqa Odho has faced considerable backlash online.
Many users criticised her comments as harsh, unnecessary, and rooted in superficial judgments.
One said: “Just because it is her personal preference doesn’t give her the right to body shame.”
Some even labelled the remarks insensitive in an era where body image struggles are deeply affecting both men and women.
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