Zara Abid
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Zara Abid | |
|---|---|
 Undated Photo | |
| Born | Zara Abid 4 April 1992 |
| Died | 22 May 2020 (aged 28) |
| Cause of death | Plane crash |
| Occupations | Model, actress |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Green |
Zara Abid (Urdu: زارا عابد; 4 April 1992 – 22 May 2020) was a Pakistani model and actress.[1][2] She was featured in various photo shoots.[2] She made her film debut in Chaudhry – The Martyr, directed by Azeem Sajjad.[3]
She was one of the passengers who died aboard PIA Flight 8303, which crashed in Karachi, Pakistan, on 22 May 2020.[4][5]
As a fashion icon, she was known for her tall height and tanned complexion, which made her stand out in an industry dominated by lighter-skin models.[1][2] According to Zara, when she started modeling, she faced discrimination in being hired, allegedly due to her looks and skin colour. However, she stated she worked her way up and received opportunities on the basis of her professional skills and talent.[2] She was described as "stunning and utterly unapologetic" about her complexion.[6] According to a makeup artist who worked with her, Zara embodied the "dusky skin colour" of the majority of Pakistani women, and one of her makeup campaigns became a bestseller because it captured that.[7]
One of her photoshoots by a salon for the magazine Hello Mag in 2019,[8] in which she was styled with a skin tone many shades darker than her own, evoked controversy for allegedly promoting "blackface" and cultural misappropriation, and was perceived by critics as racist.[9][1][2] Abid had shared the pictures on her personal Instagram account.[10] The posts were noted to have received backlash and trolling.[11] Abid defended her photoshoot, stating the point was to empower darker-skinned women and send a message about their lack of representation; she also called out the "colourism" that allegedly existed in society, questioning why she was being criticized for adopting a dark profile when in numerous other photoshoots, she had been purposefully presented in lighter tones.[2]
Film and television
Abid began her acting career with her debut role in the upcoming film Chaudhry, directed by Azeem Sajjad and written by Zeeshan Junaid.[3] The film is a biopic about slain police officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan, in which Abid plays a college student.[12] Talking about her role in an interview, Abid said it was very much relatable to her real-life persona, adding that "the character is really strong and I didn’t think twice before saying yes. The script was narrated to me over the phone and I immediately agreed."[13] She began shooting for the film in December 2018.[14] The film is expected to be released in 2020.[15]
On 16 January 2019, she appeared as a guest on the late night television comedy show Mazaaq Raat.[16] On 24 May 2020, her first and only short film Sikka was uploaded to YouTube two days after her death as a tribute.[17] Abid portrays two female characters whose lives are polar opposites in terms of wealth and social status; yet, despite never crossing paths and living very differently, they share similar trials and struggles as women in society. The film does not have dialogue and is narrated in third person by Saba Qamar.[17]