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Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Prize-winning girls’ rights activist has been given a special honour by her alma mater. Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), her college at the University of Oxford, unveiled a portrait of her on Friday, February 6.

The painting, made by London-based Isabella Watling, was unveiled almost six years after the activist graduated from the university in 2020 and 12 years after she became the youngest ever — and only Pakistani — recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Speaking at the college’s annual Founders and Benefactors Dinner, Yousafzai said, “I accept this honour with the hope that it helps open doors for many others. More than anything, I hope it serves as a reminder that a girl from Swat Valley belongs here — and that the next girl from a village in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or anywhere else — belongs here too.”

Reflecting on the significance of the painting, Waitling said, “It was a huge honour to paint Malala’s portrait. In the picture, I wanted to try and capture some of her strength and grace. I found it was unusually challenging to finish, because of the pressure of painting such a well-known face.”

The Nobel-laureate joins fellow LMH alumna Benazir Bhutto as one of just two Pakistanis whose likenesses adorn the walls of one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

The painting was commissioned by the college in collaboration with the Oxford Pakistan Programme — where Yousafzai serves as an advisory board member — which provides scholarship help to Pakistanis at Oxford. An unnamed donor funded the artwork.

The activist also operates the Malala Fund, a charitable organisation helping young girls across the world complete 12 years of education. In recognition of her services, she was made an honorary fellow at LMH in 2024.