Laxmi Saa was just 15 years old when a 32-year-old man threw acid at her after she rejected his offer of marriage.
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Now, a decade on, the acid attack survivor and campaigner is to be the face of Indian fashion retail brand Viva N Diva.
The campaign is rather fittingly called “Face of Courage” and the company chose Laxmi “out of a desire to change the outlook of people towards fashion and beauty by spreading awareness that beauty is beyond mere physical attributes.”
Laxmi is India’s most outspoken advocate against the unregulated sale of acid, and has been campaigning for harsher punishments for the perpetrators of acid attacks.
“This opportunity to represent an apparel brand was a platform for me to set an example for women like me to be confident and have courage despite their physical appearances,” Laxmi told the BBC.
“This was also a platform for me to send a clear message to criminals that women will not lose courage even after they are attacked with acid to destroy their physical beauty.”
