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Reshma: Acid attack survivor who will model at New York Fashion Week

Reshma Bano Qureshi is the youngest daughter of a taxi driver from Mumbai. The chirpy, 19-year-old, loved watching Katrina Kaif films, dressing up and taking selfies. Her world turned upside down when she became the victim of acid attack two years ago. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

Updated on: Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM IST

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Reshma Bano Qureshi is the youngest daughter of a taxi driver from Mumbai. The chirpy, 19-year-old, loved watching Katrina Kaif films, dressing up and taking selfies. Her world turned upside down when she became the victim of acid attack two years ago. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma Bano Qureshi is the youngest daughter of a taxi driver from Mumbai. The chirpy, 19-year-old, loved watching Katrina Kaif films, dressing up and taking selfies. Her world turned upside down when she became the victim of acid attack two years ago. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

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Two years ago, Reshma’s brother-in-law disfigured her face with acid. A few weeks before the attack, Reshma got a haircut and bought makeup for the first time in her life, as she had a family wedding. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Two years ago, Reshma’s brother-in-law disfigured her face with acid. A few weeks before the attack, Reshma got a haircut and bought makeup for the first time in her life, as she had a family wedding. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

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The incident took place at the railway station in her hometown, Mau Aima, 36 km away from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. She had gone there to give her 10th standard exams. Her brother-in-law mistook her for his wife (her elder sister) and doused her face with acid as both were wearing a burqa. “The burqa made it difficult to run. Two of his friends grabbed me by my hair, pushed me to the ground, and he poured acid on my face,” she recalls. The railway station was crowded, but no one came forward to help Reshma. She writhed in pain for seven hours before reaching the hospital as the cops took a long time in recording her statement. Reshma’s face had swollen up by then, and she has lost her left eye. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

The incident took place at the railway station in her hometown, Mau Aima, 36 km away from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. She had gone there to give her 10th standard exams. Her brother-in-law mistook her for his wife (her elder sister) and doused her face with acid as both were wearing a burqa. “The burqa made it difficult to run. Two of his friends grabbed me by my hair, pushed me to the ground, and he poured acid on my face,” she recalls. The railway station was crowded, but no one came forward to help Reshma. She writhed in pain for seven hours before reaching the hospital as the cops took a long time in recording her statement. Reshma’s face had swollen up by then, and she has lost her left eye. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

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Reshma became severely depressed after she saw her face in the mirror for the first time, a few weeks after the attack. She cut herself off from the world and contemplated suicide. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma became severely depressed after she saw her face in the mirror for the first time, a few weeks after the attack. She cut herself off from the world and contemplated suicide. (PHOTO: RESHMA BANO QURESHI)

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A meeting with Ria Sharma, founder of the NGO Make Love Not Scars transformed Reshma’s life. Ria talked her out of depression, and started a crowd funding campaign to help Reshma meet hospital and legal expenditure. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

A meeting with Ria Sharma, founder of the NGO Make Love Not Scars transformed Reshma’s life. Ria talked her out of depression, and started a crowd funding campaign to help Reshma meet hospital and legal expenditure. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

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Ria built a strong emotional bond with Reshma. She helped Reshma regain her courage and fight for justice. Reshma stopped covering her face in public. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Ria built a strong emotional bond with Reshma. She helped Reshma regain her courage and fight for justice. Reshma stopped covering her face in public. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

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Reshma made her modelling debut in the online campaign #End AcidSale, which went viral. In a one-of-its kind beauty tutorial, Reshma talked about how it takes 2 minutes to put on blush, but just 3 seconds to scar a face forever. And how finding the right shade of lipstick is harder than buying concentrated acid in the market. (PHOTO: MAKE LOVE NOT SCARS)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma made her modelling debut in the online campaign #End AcidSale, which went viral. In a one-of-its kind beauty tutorial, Reshma talked about how it takes 2 minutes to put on blush, but just 3 seconds to scar a face forever. And how finding the right shade of lipstick is harder than buying concentrated acid in the market. (PHOTO: MAKE LOVE NOT SCARS)

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The posters and videos of the campaign won a Glass Lion and two Grand Prix on Day 3 at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2016, France. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

The posters and videos of the campaign won a Glass Lion and two Grand Prix on Day 3 at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2016, France. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

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Russel Powell , a California based artist who is famous for his hand-stamped artwork made this black and white painting of Reshma. She was touched to see this one-of-its-kind artwork, and broke into tears. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Russel Powell , a California based artist who is famous for his hand-stamped artwork made this black and white painting of Reshma. She was touched to see this one-of-its-kind artwork, and broke into tears. (PHOTO: RIA SHARMA)

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Reshma is flying to the US soon to walk the runway at the New York Fashion Week. FTL Moda, a New York-based fashion production house has invited her to take part in the prestigious event. (PHOTO: SHARA ASHRAF)

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma is flying to the US soon to walk the runway at the New York Fashion Week. FTL Moda, a New York-based fashion production house has invited her to take part in the prestigious event. (PHOTO: SHARA ASHRAF)

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Reshma credits Ria for turning her life around. “Ria gave me the courage to live and fight back. She says that my attacker should be ashamed, not me. That’s why I don’t cover my face anymore. I am willing to face the world,” she says. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma credits Ria for turning her life around. “Ria gave me the courage to live and fight back. She says that my attacker should be ashamed, not me. That’s why I don’t cover my face anymore. I am willing to face the world,” she says. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

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Reshma was in Delhi a few days back to finish some paper work before leaving for New York. While posing for this exclusive fashion shoot for HT, she was back to being the chirpy teenager, in love with designer clothes, bright lipstick…and life. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma was in Delhi a few days back to finish some paper work before leaving for New York. While posing for this exclusive fashion shoot for HT, she was back to being the chirpy teenager, in love with designer clothes, bright lipstick…and life. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

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We took Reshma to the picturesque Hauz Khas Village for an early morning shoot. “Yeh kitne khoobsurat kapde hain (These clothes are so beautiful ),” she said, of the outfits she wore for the shoot. Reshma wore an off-white lehenga by Pawan Sachdeva paired with a stole from Mad Sam Tin Zin (Left), a peach maxi dress by Mad Sam Tin Zin and an off white tiered outfit by Samant Chauhan. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

We took Reshma to the picturesque Hauz Khas Village for an early morning shoot. “Yeh kitne khoobsurat kapde hain (These clothes are so beautiful ),” she said, of the outfits she wore for the shoot. Reshma wore an off-white lehenga by Pawan Sachdeva paired with a stole from Mad Sam Tin Zin (Left), a peach maxi dress by Mad Sam Tin Zin and an off white tiered outfit by Samant Chauhan. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

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Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

Reshma loved how we styled her hair like her favourite actor Katrina Kaif - loose, unkempt waves. A cheery shade of pink and white rimmed sunnies completed her look. She posed like a pro, and kept asking us to show her the pictures in our camera. “ I’ll make one of these my Facebook profile picture,” she said. (PHOTO & styling: SHARA ASHRAF; makeup & hair: naina arora )

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We surprised Reshma by gifting her favourite dress to her at the end of the shoot along with a stole and a designer bag. She told us she is going to wear the dress on her trip to New York. “I love this outfit. I am going to wear this on my first trip abroad. I am very excited. I’ll send you pictures from there,” she told us. (PHOTO: SHARA ASHRAF )

Updated on Sep 01, 2016 11:47 PM

We surprised Reshma by gifting her favourite dress to her at the end of the shoot along with a stole and a designer bag. She told us she is going to wear the dress on her trip to New York. “I love this outfit. I am going to wear this on my first trip abroad. I am very excited. I’ll send you pictures from there,” she told us. (PHOTO: SHARA ASHRAF )

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