Indian school topper responds to her facial hair trolls

Topper Prachi Nigam anticipated it to be an event of celebration when the board exam results in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh were revealed.

After competing with 5,500,000 other students, the 15-year-old scored 98.5%.

With hurtful comments about her facial hair, a barrage of online abuse was subjected to her when her picture was posted on X, ruining the teenager's moment of joy.

"However God has made me, I am okay with it. For those who feel there is a difference, it doesn’t matter. Even Chanakya [ancient Indian polymath] was trolled, and he did not care. Similarly, I also don’t care and will focus on my studies," Prachi told ANI.

Trying to position themselves as standing in solidarity with Prachi, personal care and grooming products brand Bombay Shaving Company also posted an advertisement. However, received criticism for capitalising on the situation.

The ad said: "Dear Prachi, They are trolling your hair today, they’ll applaud your AIR tomorrow." But smaller text below the ad read, "We hope you never get bullied into using our razor."

Pointing to the double standards young women and girls have to live with, several people called out the abuse on social media.

Prachi said: "No one in her immediate circle ever pointed out something being wrong with her appearance and she had ‘never bothered’ about it."

"It was only when my photograph was published after the results that people started trolling me and then my attention was drawn to the problem," she said.