Fighting hard

Dove recently organised “Choose Beautiful” - a campaign aimed at creating a healthy environment where young girls can flourish without facing any discrimination regarding their looks. Featuring a colourful panel with guests ranging from beauty experts, psychologists and famous cricketers, “Choose Beautiful” proved to be an enlightening experience. 

Jessica is one of Bangladesh's brightest cricketers. With her hard work and perseverance she is creating a new image of Bangladesh. A country where women are not afraid to work in sectors previously thought of as 'man's work.' She was asked about the extent confidence can affect a person's performance. 

She tells us an eye opening story about the time she was injured. As she slowly became fit again, the selectors dropped a bomb shell. She was not picked for team despite being match fit. She was flabbergasted and found out that the reason for her untimely exclusion was because she looked fat and unfit in her external appearance. 

Jessica took it in and vowed to prove that she could play well enough until the selectors would have no choice but to pick her.

This is where confidence comes into play. Within a few months Jessica had put up more match winning performances than before. She felt like she was on top of the world. 

“They had to pick me now, all because I was confident enough” she says with a proud twinkle in her eye.

But how does she stay strong? How does she perform so well when there are so many people telling her she cannot? How does she cope with the soul crushing pressures society puts on women?

She tells us it is not easy but through years of practice she's developed a skin hard enough to withstand society's abuse. Now she laughs it off when family members tell her to quit playing because she got too dark in the last tour. We can start by respecting instead of criticising our women.

By Daneesha Khan
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed