Posted by Jinesh Udani | Jul 27, 2022 | News |

Busting gender stereotypes, Shyja from Kerala is known across the town for flaunting her moustache with pride and as a woman who ‘cant imagine living without’ her facial hair’. Shyja’s story was first shared on Facebook, and instantly went viral, drawing all kinds of positive reactions from netizens who applauded her for not confining to societal norms and stereotypes.

Shyja’s story became popular on a social media post, which was roughly translated from Malayalam as, “Name- Meeshakari, Age- 33, Husband- 1, Children- 1 (13) age. Place- Kannur. Love- 1. Moustache is original. May ask what you need to know more”. Her story was also covered by one of the world’s most popular news outlet BBC.

In her interview with BBC, she was quoted saying, “I can’t imagine living without it now. When the Covid pandemic started, I disliked wearing a mask all the time because it covered my face. I’ve never felt that I’m not beautiful because I have this or that it’s something I shouldn’t have. I just do what I like. If I had two lives, maybe I’d live one for others.”

No stranger to challenges, Shyja continues holding a positive mindset despite undergoing six surgeries, including cyst removal, lump removal from breast, and more.

Unlike widespread notion of only men possessing facial hair, it’s a scientific fact that both men and women have to deal with facial hair. For centuries, the stereotype of a man donning a moustache proudly is rooted deep in minds of people, especially in India, where men and women are both forced to look as similar to the societal image of a perfect man or woman.

Also Read: Kerala Man Makes Use of COVID Lockdown – Makes 4 – Seater Plane and is Now Traveling Across Europe

However, a woman in Kerala is breaking the stereotype one day at a time, and is inculcating body and identity positivity in process. 33-year-old Shyja, who’s also commonly known as Meeshakari, dons a moustache, and despite getting awkward stares, doesn’t plan to shave it off.

Shyja’s story first became popular thanks to a Facebook post which was roughly translated as, “Name- Meeshakari, Age- 33, Husband- 1, Children- 1 (13) age. Place- Kannur. Love- 1. Moustache is original. May ask what you need to know more”.

Also Read: Gwalior: Man Receives Rs 3,419 Crore Electricity Bill, Gets Hospitalized Due to Shock

Her story was later covered by British news outlet BBC. In her interview, she was quoted saying, “All I can say is that I just like it. A lot. I can’t imagine living without it now. When the Covid pandemic started, I disliked wearing a mask all the time because it covered my face.”

How Hair-Removal Products Affect Women Across the World

Shyja’s stance comes at a time when hair-removal products are part of a multi-billion industry with razors, wax strips, facial creams, are all marketed for women who are gaslighted into thinking their facial hair make them undesirable.

What’s worse is that ads campaigns around facial hair removal also affects women who may not be able to pay the hefty price associated with such products.

Also Read: Video: Agitated Over Blaring Music in Wedding Procession, Horse Stomps Over ‘Baraatis’, 6 Injured

Interestingly, Shyja is not donning a moustache to make a statement or become a face of a campaign, she does so because she likes it. It’s as simple yet as important as that. “I just do what I like. If I had two lives, maybe I’d live one for others,” she was quoted saying.

Shyja’s focus on living a life first and foremost for herself comes from the fact that she has had a long history of health-related crisis. She has undergone as many as six surgeries in the last 10 years, including removal of lump in breast, removal of cysts in ovary, and more.

Overcoming all the health issues enforced her belief of living a life that makes her happy and content.

Follow Us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Flipboard | Google News

Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress