Priyanka Chopra Magazine Cover Controversy: Much Ado About Nothing?
While Priyanka Chopra’s latest magazine cover made few of us marvel at the lady’s ability to look drop dead gorgeous, others saw issues beyond that. We decided to interrogate
A part of Priyanka’s resounding success in Hollywood, isn’t just her choice of enviable projects to star in (bagging the lead in Quantico and the antagonist in the movie adaptation of the pop culture hit, Baywatch) but complementing her achievements with adequate PR machinery. One of the most effective ways is to be on a magazine cover. But while her Time cover catapulted her to worldwide stardom, her recent Conde Nast Traveller shoot hasn’t gone down too well.
Image Source: twitter/condenast traveller
‘Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware that being a refugee is a matter of choice… What were you thinking? @CNTIndia @priyankachopra’ tweeted one angry Twitterati. And soon the rest followed. The cover picture which features Priyanka peering into the camera in a tee with the words 'Refugee', 'Immigrant', 'Outsider' stricken out while prominently featuring 'Traveller' on the bottom, got ample negative comments. Interestingly, the tee was designed by V Sunil, the brain behind the government’s ‘Make In India’ campaign. Curious to know what our fashion gurus thought of it, we decided to ask around.
Image Source: nowrunning
Leading designer Wendell Rodricks doesn’t think that there is an issue to begin with. “I don't think Priyanka would want to hurt anyone intentionally. We should stop making a mountain out of stupid molehills. If I was a refugee to a country that needed me to travel (which refugees invariably endure), it still makes me a traveller. Same with immigrant and outsider,” he said.
Image Source: mumbainewsbox
Meanwhile, fashion designer Karn Malhotra thinks that the tee is a nod to Priyianka’s nomad status. According to Karn, we should actually be looking at the picture through her perspective, considering her continued presence outside her country for work. “I think she is saying, ‘I ain’t either of these commonly used immigration statuses that people are familiar with. I am simply a traveller… I am here today and will be elsewhere tomorrow.’ I don’t think she is implying anything about choice.”
Image Source: alchetron
However, there seems to be political connotations to the story as well. When asked, National Award winning costume designer, Niharika Khan exclaimed, “Please yaar! She’s wearing a tee and looking super hot! I imagine because she has gone to America and because Donald Trump (Republican Party presidential nominee) keeps talking against refugees and immigrants, Priyanka has made a statement with this cover. Moreover, I think some stylist has given it to her and she has worn it.”
Image Source: fashioncentral
Designer Pria Kataria Puri echoes Niharika’s sentiments. “It is on the cover of a travel magazine, so let’s keep it in context. I think she shot this in the US and thus is making a statement and it is funny in a way, even more if you listen to Donald Trump’s speeches. I think perhaps it is ill-timed but since it is on the cover of a travel magazine, it works. I don’t think she meant any malice or whether this was a deliberate attempt.”
Well, it isn’t everyday that a magazine cover makes such an impact. We hope that the ruckus dies down a sensible death. After all, like Niharika puts it, “You are not a stoner just because you like Bob Marley and wear a marijuana tee. One should stop reading too much into everything.”
Try everything with a pinch of salt. It helps.
Thumbnail Image Source: twitter/condenast traveller
