Roma Riaz, the newly crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2025, is confronting online trolls who have criticized her appearance, particularly her skin tone and weight. The 25-year-old model and advocate from Lahore, who is set to represent Pakistan at the 74th Miss Universe competition in Thailand this November, addressed the negativity in a recent Instagram post, asserting that she will not apologize for looking like her people.

Riaz's response tackles the deep-rooted issue of colorism prevalent in Pakistani society, where a lighter complexion is often favored. She emphasized that her skin color is the same as "the soil of Pakistan" and the women who have built the nation. "My skin is the same colour as the soil of Pakistan, the same colour as the women who built our families, our homes, and carried our nation in their hearts," she stated in her video message.

Addressing her critics directly, Riaz questioned why some Pakistanis find it necessary to denigrate their own, especially when she proudly proclaims the beauty of Pakistani people to the world. She urged for unity and a focus on positive representation, stating, "Let's do better because representation means nothing if we can't even love our own people". She also highlighted that beauty is not confined to specific skin tones or features, challenging narrow societal expectations.

In her Instagram reel, Riaz switched to Urdu to connect directly with Pakistanis, questioning the negativity directed towards her. She pointed out the contradiction of her praising the beauty of Pakistani people worldwide, while facing criticism from within her own community. She further added, "I'm Pakistani, in my roots, in my values, and in every shade of my skin".

Riaz also spoke out against the pressure to conform to certain beauty standards, declaring that she represents "a new generation of South Asian women who don't fit into the narrow boxes of what people think we should look like". She further defended her choice to wear a sari, saying that the sari was “as Pakistani as the shalwar kameez” and that she would not “let our heritage be rewritten or erased”.

Roma Riaz's journey to Miss Universe Pakistan 2025 has been marked by a commitment to breaking stereotypes and inspiring future generations. Her platform focuses on representation and tackling female illiteracy in Pakistan. This victory is a significant step in representing modern Pakistani womanhood on a global platform, highlighting diversity, empowerment, and national pride. Riaz dedicated her win "to every girl who believes in herself and dreams without limits".

As she prepares to compete at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on November 21, 2025, Riaz aims to present a positive image of Pakistan to the world.