LAHORE: Renowned stylist and makeup artist Khawar Riaz has criticized actresses for wearing Western-style outfits at local award shows, saying that these are not the Academy Awards but events representing Pakistan. He emphasized that artists should showcase the country’s own culture and traditions on such occasions.
Speaking on Ahmed Ali Butt’s recent podcast, Khawar Riaz opened up about changing social behaviors, the influence of social media, and growing hypocrisy within the entertainment industry.
He said that social media has completely transformed the social structure, noting that in earlier times, the element of show-off was far less prominent. “Now, everyone is obsessed with appearances and displaying luxury,” he remarked.
Riaz added that people often pretend to be something they’re not, even during acts of worship, as many record and share their religious moments online.
The stylist expressed concern that excessive display on social media has fueled self-pity among those who cannot afford such luxuries, driving more people toward becoming TikTokers and influencers. “Where we once celebrated writers, thinkers, and scientists, now we mostly see TikTokers and social media stars,” he lamented.
Khawar Riaz also took issue with the Western-inspired fashion seen at local award shows, stressing that Pakistani artists represent their country on such platforms. “These are our own awards, not the Oscars. Artists should promote our culture, attire, and language to leave a positive impression internationally,” he said.
He further criticized the trend of speaking English unnecessarily at award ceremonies, pointing out that there are often no foreign guests present. “When the audience doesn’t even understand English, speaking it becomes nothing more than a show-off,” he said, adding that such behavior creates an inferiority complex among the public.
Concluding his remarks, Riaz said that Pakistanis should take pride in their identity and language. “If a Pakistani speaks broken English, we make fun of them, but the English don’t do that. For them, language is just a tool for communication — we should learn from that and value our own culture,” he stated.
