Malala’s portrait displayed at University of Oxford in honour of her global impact

A portrait of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai was unveiled at Lady Margaret Hall, her alma mater at the University of Oxford. The ceremony was held to celebrate her lifelong advocacy for girls’ education and human rights.

The oil painting by Isabella Watling, was revealed during LMH’s annual Founders and Benefactors Dinner. The dinner was attended by academics, alumni and members of Malala’s family. 

According to reports, Malala is the second Pakistani woman, after former PM Benazir Bhutto, to have a portrait displayed at the University of Oxford.

Malala, during the ceremony, claimed that she accepts the honor “with the hope that it helps open doors for many others,” and that her journey from the Swat Valley highlights that girls from remote areas in Pakistan, Afghanistan or elsewhere “belong here too.”

Moreover, the portrait was commissioned by LMH in collaboration with the Oxford Pakistan Program.

Watling described the painting as “a huge honor,” adding that capturing Malala’s “strength and grace” was both inspiring and creatively demanding.

Malala also talked about the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan, which she called “extremely dangerous” and contrary to Islamic teachings.

The portrait of Malala at Lady Margaret Hall, symbolizes her global impact and role in inspiring future generations of scholars and activists.