Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra once recalled that she burnt many of her high school pictures because she felt embarrassed looking at them. In an interview, she said that in the early 2000s, the trend was to go overboard with everything, which she too fell for. “It was the early 2000s, and everyone had a bit of this. It was like highlights, eyeliner, and chain dresses, and low-waist jeans and thongs were showing. So much was happening. I may have burnt a lot of my high school pictures for that reason, which now I regret. Because I was writing a book, and I needed pictures. But I burnt a lot of those pictures. It was like, ‘What are you thinking?’ It was so much, so unnecessary to do all the things,” she told The Zoe Report in 2023.
While she attended school in the US, she mentioned in many of her interviews how she felt out of place there.
“No one could get my name right when I was in high school; they would stare at it for a second. So I was like, call me Pri at that time. But I was bullied in 10th grade and started feeling really icky about who I was. And I remember calling my mom and saying I want to finish high school in India and not here anymore. And she was on the flight the next day. We emptied out my locker, and she took me home,” Chopra once told Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.
Taking a cue from her revelation, let’s understand how we can manage body image issues.
Priyanka Chopra’s reflection on burning her high school pictures due to embarrassment highlights the profound impact body image has during adolescence. She expressed regret over destroying those memories, emphasizing how important it is to accept one’s appearance at every stage of life.
According to Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist, coach, and healer, founder and director, Gateway of Healing, body image plays a crucial role in the mental, emotional, and social development of young individuals. “Adolescence is a vulnerable time when physical appearance highly influences self-esteem. Society’s fixation on certain body types often leads to dissatisfaction among young people, which can contribute to issues such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders,” said Dr Tugnait.
Priyanka Chopra in her teens (Photo: Priyanka Chopra)
The growing focus on image and beauty ideals “negatively impacts their sense of self-worth and ability to accept who they are”. “This disconnect can shape how they see themselves well into adulthood, affecting their confidence and relationships with others,” she shared.
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Chopra’s experience reminds us of the importance of self-acceptance and the influence body image can have on personal growth. “Encouraging positive body image can help ensure that they develop into self-assured individuals who value themselves beyond physical appearance,” said Dr Tugnait.
Here are some steps to promote a healthier body image:
Educate on media literacy: Programs that teach young people to analyse media portrayals critically can help them recognise unrealistic beauty standards and reduce the influence of media on their self-esteem.
Encourage open conversations: Creating safe spaces for discussing body image allows adolescents to share their feelings and challenges, promoting understanding and support from peers and adults.
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Celebrate diversity: Highlighting a wide range of body types and appearances in media, advertisements, and education can help normalise diverse body shapes and sizes, reducing the pressure to conform to one ideal.
Encourage positive role models: Positive role models who promote self-love and body positivity can significantly impact young individuals. “When public figures, influencers, and mentors embrace their bodies confidently, they inspire others to do the same,” said Dr Tugnait.
