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Momina Mustehsan blasts Lux Style Awards for ‘depriving 110m women of representation’ by excluding female nominees

Momina Mustehsan blasts Lux Style Awards for ‘depriving 110m women of representation’ by excluding female nominees

The singer said the award show must do better and that they must not put Pakistani women in music on mute.
Updated 19 Oct, 2022

Female musicians of Pakistan have taken it upon themselves to call out the Lux Style Awards for not nominating any women this year in their music category. It started off with Meesha Shafi who took to Instagram and called the organisation out while tagging other female artists. The latest to comment is Momina Mustehsan who believes systemic inequalities needs to be addressed.

Mustehsan took to her Instagram stories on Wednesday and wrote, “LSA holds value and respect of Pakistanis for being the longest running event extending nods to the arts and artists, despite Lux not being an arts/music/film/entertainment entity but rather a multinational company’s soap brand’s marketing event — which is a separate conversation altogether.”

The ‘Beparwah’ singer added that it might have been an unintentional oversight from Unilever and Lux to “exclude an entire gender when setting out to acknowledge an entire industry — omitting female contributors even from the 80+ music works they did nominate in haphazard distribution — and that is exactly what the problem is when we take responsibility for extending nods on behalf of people, we owe it to be intentional, responsible, inclusive and fair to all.”

Mustehsan went on to say that systemic inequalities that exist needs to be addressed, specifically for women in the music industry.

“By completely ignoring every female contributor in music, we are depriving 110 million women of the representation and inspiration they truly deserve to see and be. Coming from a female centric company like Unilever Pakistan that has made commendable efforts towards Gender Equality within their company by having strong female presence across their workforce and especially at executive positions — it doesn’t sit right,” she wrote while demanding the Lux Style Awards do better and that they must not put Pakistani women in music on mute.

Maria Unera, Zeb Bangash, Rachel Viccaji, Natasha Noorani and Risham Faiz Bhutta also called out the awards, reposting Shafi’s Instagram story. Eva B, Rutaba Yaqub, Natasha Baig and Nimra Rafiq also reposted on their Instagram stories in a show of agreement.

It all started with Shafi who called out the jury for setting an example of women being blindsided and denied the recognition they deserve. The music nominations at Lux Style Awards have four categories — song, singer, most streamed and best live performance — and only male artists are on this year’s list.

Comments

Ahmed Oct 19, 2022 04:33pm
You and other singers/models/ actresses don't represent Pakistani women. Stop hiding behind the aurat card. You all should stop taking. You're embarrassing yourself.
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SaneMind1st Oct 19, 2022 04:37pm
Fair & Lovely is now Glow & Lovely.
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Fahad Oct 19, 2022 04:38pm
Its not about quota system or gender issue its about quality .... plz dont speak nonsence
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David Oct 19, 2022 04:46pm
Momina is overrated.
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Zak Oct 19, 2022 05:29pm
Mustehsan, so talented and beautiful.
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Ahsan Gul Oct 19, 2022 06:47pm
Never heard about these artists.
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Zak Oct 19, 2022 07:24pm
@Ahmed disagree.
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Sam Oct 19, 2022 07:29pm
It is telling and unacceptable to ignore half of the talent pool based on gender. Disgraceful.
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Nads Oct 19, 2022 08:25pm
@Ahmed they do, how about Abida parveen, isn’t she alone hundred and fifty times better than all the males put together and I am not talking about her weight but singing only
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Farooq Oct 19, 2022 08:41pm
What if they are not good enough?
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Hamid Oct 19, 2022 09:16pm
If they have the numbers in box office hits this year then by all means add them.
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Ikhlaque Chani Oct 19, 2022 10:14pm
@Ahmed Why? Are not women artist part of pakistani community?
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AJU Oct 19, 2022 10:29pm
Are they asking for female quota in every category? Doesn't that undermine merit? Weird world that we live in today.
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Cereal_Killer Oct 19, 2022 10:51pm
SHe should be nominated for her Ko Ko Kareena
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ST Oct 19, 2022 11:39pm
You don't deserve. Your voice cringe
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Just@Man Oct 20, 2022 01:21am
I have never seen this awards thing but it seems it just useless cheap junk by the looks of it.
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Ziad Oct 20, 2022 02:28am
@AJU seems like you are living in 1922 and not 2022!
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Rehana Bounse Oct 20, 2022 03:49am
@Fahad so you mean to say non of the females in the music industry have not done a thing . Not even ONE
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Ahmed Oct 20, 2022 06:25am
Those saying that models/actresses/singers represent Pakistani women need to get out of their echo chambers and go talk to women in the real world. Most disapprove of their lifestyle and what they do for a living.
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Mahnaz Qaiser Oct 20, 2022 06:43am
So says the lady who can't sing to save her life.Whomever is the best,gets nominated.Ladies,pull up your socks.
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Imran Oct 20, 2022 09:21am
@Ahmed What are you talking about? She is representing women actors and artists. Most Pakistani women are not educated beyond primary school and live in a patriarchal society. Why do Pakistani men feel threatened by educated outspoken women? eg, Mala Yousufzai.
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Dr Accountant Oct 20, 2022 10:39am
Just because there are women in the Pakistani music industry, doesn't mean they have to be nominated. FFS produce something decent before you blame the award shows for not inviting you!
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