Bombay Shaving Co's Newspaper Ad in Support of Prachi Nigam Backfires: 'Poor Taste'

Prachi Nigam’s outstanding performance in Uttar Pradesh’s Class 10 board exams, scoring a remarkable 98.5 percent, caught everyone’s attention. However, instead of being celebrated, she became the target of trolls mocking her for her facial hair. This unfortunate situation shed light on another aspect of our society’s mindset, where appearance often overshadows genuine achievements, as seen in the widespread social media chatter about Nigam’s looks rather than her academic excellence.

Now, unexpectedly, a brand decided to jump into the conversation, not to mock the teenager but to show solidarity while subtly promoting their own product. This move surprised many, prompting internet users to criticise the brand for exploiting such a sensitive issue.

Also Read: ‘She Deserves Respect’: UP Class 10th Topper Prachi Nigam Trolled Over ‘Facial Hair’ Gets Support

It all unfolded when ‘X’ user, Gabbar Singh, shared a snapshot of Bombay Shaving Company’s newspaper ad promoting their women’s face razor, Bombae. The ad addressed Prachi, stating, “Dear Prachi, they are trolling your hair today, they’ll applaud your A.I.R. tomorrow.” But it didn’t end there. But there was more to it. The message beneath urged her not to succumb to bullying and to use their razor. In their own words, “We hope you never get bullied into using your razor.”

This subtle marketing tactic sparked a debate about whether the brand was exploiting the situation for its own gain.

Criticism quickly followed, with the OP expressing, “The kid would want this episode to end as soon as possible. But No! A brand wants to splash her name again. Without her consent. To sell their own razors. Very poor taste!” Another one said, “Marketing is as cold a business as selling caskets.”

The third remarked, “That’s the world we live in. fake outrage and fake sympathies. for people it’s for likes, for brands it’s for business,” while the fourth joined, “Seriously disgraceful”

And just like that, the criticism poured in like rain.

While Prachi herself hasn’t directly addressed the advertisement, she previously responded to the massive trolling she faced, stating, “Trollers can live with their mindset, I am happy that my success is now my identity.” She further noted, “My family, my teachers, my friends never criticised me for my appearance and I never bothered about it either. It was only when my photograph was published after the results that people started trolling me and then my attention was drawn to the problem.”