Culture
Bangladeshi-American activist-entrepreneur Nabela Noor's debut children's book 'Beautifully Me' treads a path many authors have already delved into -- fat shaming.
But what makes her book stand out is the portrayal of the importance of self-love against "the society's shallow beauty standards" -- it has already created a buzz on social media.
Published on September 14, Noor's book, in fact, showcases a heartwarming story that follows Zubi, a joyful Bangladeshi-American teenager on her own self-love journey.
"Excited about her first day of school, Zubi sees her mother frowning in the mirror and talking about being 'too big', she starts to worry about her own body and how she looks.
"As her day goes on, she hears more and more people being critical of each other's and their own bodies, until her outburst over dinner leads her family to see what they've been doing wrong, and to help Zubi see that we can all make the world a more beautiful place by being beautifully ourselves," according to a synopsis of the book.
Through the colourful journey of Zubi within the 40 pages of the much-needed picture book from publisher 'Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers', the renowned designer, creator, and self-love advocate Noor comes with the shoutout to the young souls about loving the inner beauty.
"Throughout my career, I have consistently advocated for self-love and body celebration and over the years, I've learned that healthy body image needs to be taught at the root -- with children. I spend every day helping people unlearn negative and unhealthy beauty standards. What would happen if I helped teach children to define beauty for themselves?" the social media influencer previously wrote on Instagram.
"I'm so excited for you to meet her in September. For a Bangladeshi-American family to be represented in illustrations that will touch you and words that I pray will uplift you," she added.
"A lifelong dream has come true and I just hope that this book serves as a conversation starter for families across the globe on the impact of our words, the importance of self-love and discovering what makes you 'beautifully you'," Noor described her aspiration regarding the book.
Also recently announcing her pregnancy with husband Seth Martin, Noor shared her joy on Instagram regarding the publication, saying, "I had always dreamt of being pregnant when my book, "Beautifully Me" launched. Dreams truly do come true. I can't wait to read this book about self-love with a Bangladeshi-American main character to my little, desi baby."
Illustrations in the book are made by Nabi, a Tamil-American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and peoples. His interest in illustrative works started when he realised he could help create representation in the arts and in media for minorities.
Noor is a first-generation Bangladeshi American creator, activist, and entrepreneur. As a self-love advocate, she utilises her platforms to empower and inspire millions of people around the world to love the skin they are in.
Her work is centred on her devotion to uplifting tales and individuals that are frequently ignored and underserved, as well as her enthusiasm for representation and diversity. Globally recognised for her "Pockets of Peace" content, she has recently established her own lifestyle and homeware business, "Saara and Begum".
To honour her Bangladeshi ancestry and heritage of her motherland, Noor has given several of her goods Bangladeshi names.
To explore more about the power of self-love through self-care, admirers can follow Nabela on her Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram @Nabela.
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