Being a celebrity with an online presence inevitably attracts unsolicited opinions. Actor Zara Noor Abbas has recently felt the sting of this reality, facing unkind remarks about her clothing choices on Instagram.
On Friday, Zara shared a carousel of four images, three of which showed her wearing an unconventional outfit: a T-shirt layered over a sheer black long-sleeved top, denim jeans, a casual cross-body bag, dangly earrings, and a beaded braid extension in her bun—a look reminiscent of a quirky, East-meets-West ’80s style.
This bold ensemble triggered a wave of criticism from commenters. “You have no dressing sense,” one wrote, echoing the sentiments of many.
Though Zara, mother to six-month-old Noor-e-Jahan, likely doesn’t have the time to respond to every critical remark, she made an exception for a few. “Just because you’re confined to conventional experiences doesn’t mean I have to be,” she replied. She added in Urdu, “Must I seek your permission to live and dress as I choose?”
One image in the carousel, a shot of her mother, actor Asma Abbas, showed Asma in a traditional brown outfit, sparing her from the harsh comments Zara received. “Daughter’s dressing sense zero, mother’s dressing sense 10/10,” one critical observer noted.
Zara’s fans and supporters, however, stepped in to defend her. “You have no manners,” one follower wrote in response to a critic. “You insulted someone without a thought. Shameful behavior.”
Despite the support, the negative comments continued. “Change your dressing,” one commenter insisted. But Zara, grateful for her fans’ loyalty, showed she’s more than capable of standing up for herself. “Change your mind,” she fired back. “You have no mind.”