Accept challenge of 'women supporting women': Jennifer Aniston, Sonam Kapoor, Neeru Bajwa join

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, July 28

For the last few days, women are sharing black and white images of themselves on social media to spread the message of female solidarity with many including the hashtags #challengeaccepted and #womensupportingwomen.

The campaign symbolises “women supporting women”. 

'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston 'thanked the brilliant and beautiful women in her life' and accepted the challenge. 

"Thank you to all the brilliant and beautiful women in my life who sent the most uplifting messages today. Truth be told, I don’t really understand this #challengeacceptedthing…but who doesn't love good reason to support women! Soooo…. challenge accepted! ⠀

And while I have you here, maybe the best way we can support other women is to REGISTER TO VOTE for the issues that affect women. Encourage all your friends, girlfriends, sisters, moms, daughters to do the same. The election is right around the corner, and we need to look out for each other AND love each other!," she wrote. 

Yet even while the challenge continues to gather tremendous response, what is less known is the real reason behind the challenge---the growing atrocities against women in Turkey.  

The New York Times quoted a representative from Instagram as saying that the earliest post the company could find was more than a week ago by the Brazilian journalist Ana Paula Padrão.

The incident that triggered the latest viral challenge was the killing of Pinar Gutelkin, a 27-year-old woman who was reported missing and then found dead in the woods in Turkey’s southwestern Mugla province earlier this month. She was allegedly killed by her jealous ex-boyfriend, who first strangled and then tried to burn her. When he couldn’t, he reportedly stuffed her body in a barrel that he then filled with concrete.

The incident is the latest addition to rising atrocities against women in Turkey---which activists have dubbed as femicide---and has sparked a national outrage.    

'Stranger Things' star Millie Bobby Brown shared a big smile, and wrote: "challenge accepted @pixielott and I nominate this amazing woman... @mariahcarey #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen"

Sonam Kapoor wrote: " Thank you @anaitashroffadajania for tagging me.. I love this black and white picture . It represents my love for India and Indian creativity. I was proud to wear @rimzim__ for my press meet in Cannes".

Neeru Bajwa posted her black and white image, and wrote: "#challengeaccepted@misspooja @rubina.bajwa , I still dont get it but @rubina.bajwa said do it! ... perfect opportunity to show you a glimpse of my shoot with @bal_deo@bluerubyartistry .... I understand why now @rubina.bajwa#womensupportingwomen ... i love my girls."

Sonali Bendre wrote: "When women support each other incredible things happen”

- Anonymous Challenge accepted." 

So far, more than 3 million photos have been uploaded with the #ChallengeAccepted hashtag; many more have appeared without it.