By Tinabeth Piña
@AsianAmericanLife
Imagine your life completely changing in one single instant. How would you handle it? Could you handle it? And is it possible you become an even better person from it?
12 years ago – at just 19 years old — Monica Singh’s life & appearance were drastically changed when she became the victim of an acid attack in India. In an instant, 65% of her body was burned when attackers hired by a man she refused to marry threw acid on her.
“I wish nobody could ever experience it. It’s a sort of thing that’s really horrifying for any human being or any girl at that age,” says Singh.
After nearly 50 reconstructive surgeries later – Singh isn’t only living her life – she’s defining it! Armed with two fashion degrees she earned after the attack – one in India, the other in New York City — the budding fashionista is a freelance fashion designer who’s making the fashion industry re-think what beauty is.
According to Singh, “When we grow old–all that beauty goes away & what is left behind is your mind. So, I hope I can get more opportunities to change the whole myth about what beauty is.”
Singh also founded The Mahendra Singh foundation in 2015 in honor of her late father. Since he devoted his entire life to helping others as well as his daughter after the acid attack — the foundation raises violence awareness and reaches out to survivors of gender-based crimes – including acid attacks — in the U.S. and abroad.
Singh is clearly an extraordinary example of courage, resilience and inspiration. Watch her story here:
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