![\"malala\"](\"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/malala1.jpg\")
Who is Malala? The world now has the answer to this question, the same question that the Taliban gunman posed to a group of girls on their way home from school in an open van in Pakistan, right before he shot the 15-year old in the head for campaigning for girls\u2019 education.<\/p>\n
Malala Yousafzai was flown to Britain to be treated, healed and given back her voice. Now, 12-months after the incident took place, Malala has emerged a hero, a global figurehead, an ambassador for peace and education, and (as she relentlessly pursues her fight for learning), a symbol of courage.<\/p>\n
The public interest and media frenzy surrounding Malala reached its pinnacle this month which marks the first anniversary of the failed assassination attempt. Her story made headlines as her autobiography \u2018I am Malala\u2019<\/a> was published last week. She addressed audiences across the world, leaving media stalwarts such as Jon Stewart speechless<\/a> on-air as she recounted the days leading up to, and after she was shot.<\/p>\n As The Sunday Times Magazine\u2019s<\/a> cover feature described: \u2018She gets skyped by the secretary-general of the United Nations, Angelina Jolie drops in for tea, and Madonna has dedicated a song to her.\u2019 Malala has been awarded The Sakharov Prize<\/a>, Europe\u2019s top human rights award for free speech, she was honoured at The Clinton Global Citizen Awards<\/a> and is also the youngest person to be nominated for The Nobel Peace Prize (which despite not winning, she was tipped a favourite).<\/p>\n The tide of publicity is carefully curated and manned by global leaders in PR, Edelman<\/a> (on a pro-bono basis). In an interview with the AFP<\/a>, a spokesperson for Edelman said a team of five publicists were dedicated to managing the massive media and public interest in Malala\u2019s campaign. They have already issued of a two-month waiting list\u00a0for an interview with\u00a0her.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, as Malala is celebrated, a dark side to all the publicity surrounding her is becoming more apparent. The Taliban issued a fresh death threat following news of the Sakharov Prize, while religious leaders have slammed the support of the West as propaganda to \u201cdefame Pakistan<\/a>.\u201d Further, an article by Reuters<\/a> released on Friday claims the global admiration of Malala hasn\u2019t gone down well in her hometown. \u2018For many of her compatriots, Malala Yousafzai is a stooge of the United States and a CIA agent, a symbol of the West’s evils and a global conspiracy to bring down her native\u00a0Pakistan<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n A debate is now brewing: Could the Western spotlight on Malala be hazardous for the 16-year old and make her more of a target? At what point do we draw the PR line?<\/p>\n A human rights campaigner in her blog titled \u201cBrand Malala\u201d: Western exploitation of a\u00a0schoolgirl<\/a>, writes:\u00a0<\/p>\n \n‘Safety is pushed aside for \u201cbrand Malala\u201d. There is Malala the book, Malala the film, Malala the award nominee, Malala the portrait, with the schoolgirl being skilfully marketed by Edelman, the world\u2019s biggest PR company. Wavering a fee will no doubt be compensated by the value of the publicity she will bring to the company.’<\/p>\n The\u00a0Los Angeles Times<\/a>\u00a0argued that, \u2018Western praise could very well get Malala Yousafzai killed.’ The general public too has taken to Twitter to applaud Malala but some have remained skeptical about the commercialisation of the teenager\u2019s story.<\/p>\n #Malala<\/a>‘s message is commendable, but the ppl driving her PR aren’t doing it because they care about education, its political whitewashing.<\/p>\n \u2014 Faraz Hassan (@FarazHassan) October 14, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n
Her painting hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London, she met the President of the United States and his family at the White House last Friday, and is scheduled to have tea with the Queen in the Buckingham Palace the following Friday.<\/p>\n
‘But in many ways she\u2019s still a child. She has, hopefully, a full life ahead of her. So maybe we should temper our respect for her with a little soberness, a little common sense – and plenty of regard for her safety.\u2019<\/p>\n\n