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A Muslim beauty blogger is challenging discrimination in Myanmar

Win Lae Phyu Sin,19-year-old beauty blogger from Myanmar wears her hijab with pride and is busting stereotypes with her videos.

She has 6.000 followers on Facebook also on other social media platform. She teaches more than 600 students in 150 classes on how to use cosmetics. Picture: Win Lae Phyu Sin  is seen in a photograph on her Facebook page.

The 19-year-old was the centre of attraction at a recent launch of beauty products in Yangon, her striking multicoloured makeup offset by a long sleeved, green and white gown and matching hijab (picture).

Muslims in Buddhist-majority Myanmar usually keep a low profile for fear of intimidation. “I don’t regret my decision to wear the hijab,” the blogger says. “Hijab is like a key for me. I can use it to go where I want to go, and do what I want.” Picture: Win Lae Phyu Sin attends a high school reunion with her former classmates in Yangon, Myanmar, May 6, 2018.

But her popularity does not only draws praises, but also criticism and even discrimination. A Buddhist woman who enrolled in her class backed out on discovering Win Lae was Muslim. Picture: Win Lae Phyu Sin, 19, attends a high school reunion with her former classmates in Yangon, Myanmar, May 6, 2018.

Some Facebook commenters have attacked her for being too flamboyant and using makeup, which conservative Muslims regard as taboo, but the blogger refuses to let critics waste her time. Picture: Win Lae Phyu Sin talks to a videographer after attending a beauty product launch event in Yangon.

“When people attack or criticise me outside and online, I choose to ignore them,” she says. “I have a lot of work to do.” Picture: Win Lae Phyu Sin talks to a videographer after attending a beauty product launch event in Yangon. Picture: Win Lae Phyu Sin poses for a photograph on her way home after teaching a class in downtown Yangon, Myanmar August 12, 2018.

 

 

Date

17.09.2018 | 12:06

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