Oxford Honors Malala with Portrait: A Symbol of Global Advocacy
Malala Yousafzai became the second Pakistani woman to have her portrait commissioned at Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), Oxford University, on a recent Friday evening. The event featured an annual Founders and Benefactors Dinner celebrating achievements within the LMH community.
The portrait was painted by Isabella Watling, a British artist with notable work exhibited in London’s National Portrait Gallery. Malala herself stood beside an oil self-portrait for a reflective composition that encapsulates her global impact as a champion of girls’ education.
Born in 1990 and raised part-time in the UK and Australia, Isabella trained under Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence before settling in London where she teaches portrait and figure painting.
Her portrait was unveiled at LMH’s Founders and Benefactors Dinner, an event designed to recognize supporters and achievements within the college community. Malala herself was dressed in a lavender outfit for the occasion, her headscarf adding symbolic detail to the scene.
This commission by LMH marks another milestone in Malala’s distinguished career. In 2014, she became the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate at the age of 17, winning recognition for her advocacy on behalf of girls’ education rights.
Since then, Malala has continued her mission through the Malala Fund, an organization dedicated to securing free and safe education for all girls globally. She also serves as a member of the Advisory Body for the Oxford Pakistan Programme, which promotes academic ties between the UK and Pakistan and provides scholarships for students from both countries.
On unveiling day, Malala spoke about the significance of having her portrait at LMH: “I am incredibly grateful to Lady Margaret Hall for this commission and the trust it represents. I accept this honour with hope that it helps open doors for many others,” she said. Her remarks underscored her message to the wider world, emphasizing a sense of belonging beyond borders.
This portrait not only celebrates Malala’s academic journey at Oxford but also serves as an emblematic figurehead for education rights worldwide, embodying her commitment and activism for global gender equality.