An ode to Zara Abid
When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, lions hunker down in tall grasses, and even elephants lumber after safety. When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear.
Maya Angelou
So sweet. So confident. So friendly. So professional. So beautiful. So talented. So proud. So fierce. So down to earth. That was my first impression when I met her and worked with her over the course of one day. Shine on forever Zara. Rest in peace.
Zara Abid was a stunning model who met her end tragically and violently, on a plane crash that seems unreal in all the insanity of 2020. I have so much anger and sadness about that tragedy, but to know someone personally who went through that….it’s so hard to wrap my head around.
I always loved seeing her on so many exciting campaigns and shoots, redefining the beauty standards of south Asia single handedly. Rocking her dark skin with pride. Larger than life and fiercely proud of herself. Yet so humble and down to earth. She was sweet to me. She was patient with me. She trusted me.
A tragic loss in a tragic accident. May she rest in peace, along with all the other souls on flight PK8303. So much sadness for so many families, so much grief. I know it means nothing but nonetheless my thoughts and prayers go to them all. Rest in Eternal Peace.
I had a pleasure of shooting her a couple of years ago for the Pakistani designer Mahvish Hasan. I decided to revisit the images to respect her the only way I know how to. With photographs.
Can’t get over it 💔 Rest In Peace Zara and her fellow passengers of flight 8303. This should not have happened.