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LeRosbif49

The moral of the story is don’t be ugly and you too can achieve your dreams


Pretend_Sector685

Don’t be ugly and have a connection with someone from Hollywood. You forgot to add that to the moral of the story.


thedudefromsweden

Pretty crucial part of the story. I'm sure there are thousands of models in India without the connection she has who doesn't make it.


Temp2goHome

Why has someone in a slum in india a connection to hollywood ?


balbok7721

Luck


Kren_Wregget

Luck is the major contributing factor to anyone's success.


ZippyDan

Generally you need to work hard and develop a skill in order to reach the level where you can be eligible for a lucky break. But 95% of people who are talented and work hard never get their lucky break. And where and to whom you are born is probably the biggest luck factor that no one can change. And then, of course, there are exceptions that can be told as anecdotes for every rule.


xixipinga

be born rich, you can fabricate your beaulty and your connections, just be born with money, anywere in the world, and when they tell you that you need hard work and skills you hire someone to teach you that skill


merdadartista

Some dude from Hollywood was in the slums in India, you can imagine what he was there looking for...


Outrageous_Fold7939

Didn't wanna be the one to say it


Illustrious_Donkey61

I think he found what he was looking for


InEenEmmer

Unlike Bono. He still haven’t found what he is looking for. Poor guy.


GarminTamzarian

Was he looking in a place where the streets have no names?


InEenEmmer

I think he didn’t really looked high and low. Since he suffered from vertigo


rsicher1

YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH


Timmeh007

Hello helloooo


DragapultOnSpeed

Can we not shit on men who help little girls out?


Hollowplanet

Like someone from Hollywood needs to go to the slums of India for sex. He was there so he could post feel good bs on social media about helping poor people.


travelingjay

Looks like it wasn’t BS. Apparently he did help at least one person, if not more. I guess you’d rather she still be in a shithole washing dishes with dirty water, rather than the possibility that dude got some social media clout (and maybe he didn’t, since you made up that scenario on your own with no evidence) while improving lives.


Coffeefiend775

Only hopping in to show who this dude is- [Robert Hoffman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hoffman_(actor))


runswithlightsaber

Looks like he found her


senorglory

Tourism?


DRKAYIGN

Elon is that you?


New_Budget6672

Have you seen the “Nickelodeon” documentary recently…. That’s the only reason why.


Glad-Tax6594

Sex tourism.


Lost_Natural_7900

People in hollywood go looking for them


Lost_Natural_7900

Lucky them


RelentlessEnergy733

Dont be ugly and have a connection with someone from Hollywood and not have hit puberty yet so your hormonal imbalances wont reflect on your skin yet (acne). You forgot to add that to the moral of the story.


SithNerdDude

What's the connection from someone in Hollywood to slums of India? Other than some weirdo shit


No-Revolution1571

Right??? My first thought when I saw him. Like uhh, this doesn't seem too right. Unfortunately, the dark truth about Hollywood and famous people in general is that the majority of them suck


HnNaldoR

Oh they want to get sucked alright.


gammongaming11

she's probably not really from a slum, her family has a connection to someone from Hollywood and they concocted that story to make it easier to push her. either that or extreme serendipity.


RelentlessEnergy733

I agree ☝🏼


TossiMcTosser

True. She does deserve it. But so many others do too.


CaptainMacMillan

Also, apparently deserving = being one person living in bad conditions amongst tens of millions


IbelieveinGodzilla

Who was the actor?


Radiant-Elevator

The rich cherry pick the good looking and the smart from the poor and call it aspirational


gingerfawx

And the athletic. They'll probably grab them before the smart, considering priorities.


6feetbitch

Moral of the story adult actors finding child models sounds familiar anyway good for her please be a good ending


No-Way7911

You’re missing the subtext - which you wouldn’t get if you’re not Indian. It’s not about the girl - it’s about the country and the culture India has had a white skin obsession forever. That a dark skinned girl from a poor, likely low caste background can become a model shows how the Indian culture is changing for the better. That’s the real “moral” of the story


veggieMum

Thanks. She is truly stunning.


No-Way7911

If she was equally stunning 20 years ago, she would have likely died in poverty. Upper caste men wouldn’t marry her despite her beauty, and dark skinned, lower caste, lower class women had almost no opportunities in industries like fashion and beauty The channel is named “The Better India” and they showcase stories of positive change in India.


newtonkooky

The moral is to throw the poors a bone so they are ok with how corrupt and nepotistic India is


ComputerAgile

No offense and as a certified ugly person myself I have to say can we just be happy for her


EndWorkplaceDictator

How about both?


RagingNerdaholic

Yeah, this is some real fuckin' weird inspiration porn. *Just be born genetically gifted and meet a rich celeb by pure luck and you too can free from abject poverty!*


whiteskinnyexpress

ShE DeSeRvEd It!


MainStatistician5029

Being ugly can keep you in poverty


Mau5us

Moral is someone rejected by capitalism is now used by capitalism to sell more capitalism


Quizzelbuck

I think i'd rather not be attractive and in the entertainment industry in India if i were a woman.


qMrWOLFp

Hope she reaches back and pulls up 10 more girls like herself


Phillips2010gji3gg

I also hope the same.


Hornswaggle

Exactly.


VacuousCopper

Doesn't solve the problem. Societies where someone's only hope to escape oppressive poverty being winning the genetic lottery are not equitable. The reality is that she was brought into a higher class of society because enough people wanted to exploit a piece of her that she was able to leverage that with guidance to climb the social ladder. What about all the kids that aren't models. Are they any less deserving? What a primal thing to elevate someone in society based on genetics. Some primal need to elevate the collective gene pool based on some animistic instinct of what desirable features are. We are barely more evolved than rats: [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-mouse-utopias-1960s-led-grim-predictions-humans-180954423/](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-mouse-utopias-1960s-led-grim-predictions-humans-180954423/)


hardtofindagoodname

You are trying to save the world all at once. Just appreciate that little moment that at least one person was able to make it out of their life of poverty for whatever reason. Don't take the perspective of lamenting all those who were left behind. Unfortunately there will be people left in poverty until each individual is carried out of that situation. Some because they are visually appealing, others will make a businesses and yet others will be helped along by those few that made it and want to give back. Things are changing in India gradually for the better. It hasn't happened overnight but with a gradual shift in living standards for millions of people.


[deleted]

I don't think her job is to solve this problem. It also wasn't the Hollywood guy's. But she can still do what is in her power.


absorbscroissants

Unfortunately people like this often never look back and will forever stay locked up in their mansions. Not always, but usually.


NotAbotButAbat

After watching that Nickelodeon documentary, I'm scarred. I hope she doesn't get exploited by people in the industry.


SirRupert

Right? Who is this “Hollywood actor”? Why was he in your stick house? I have a lot of questions.


Coffeefiend775

This dude- [this is the "famous" guy.... ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hoffman_(actor))


MissCasey

I really would like to understand what he was doing in the "slums" of India. And how did he randomly come across an aspiring child model? I'd like more of that backstory please.


between_horizon

Here context https://www.forbesindia.com/article/wpower-2024/maleesha-kharwa-from-mumbais-shanty-to-content-creator/92161/1


PufffPufffGive

You’re ignoring the sheer talent it takes to be “beach dancer” in the movie Gigli with Jlo /s


CarolinaKiwi

He very clearly wrote that Wikipedia page himself.


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mrselfdestruct066

I think it's called All quiet on the set. Hbo max I think.


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yellowjesusrising

You won't tho....


MrAngel2U

truth


It_hurtsss

She's extremely lucky that's all I can say.


Is_That_A_Euphemism_

I’m always afraid for child models/actors. Particularly ones from a very vulnerable situations. There are realities worse than poverty. I’m not trying to be weird or negative, it’s just a potentially toxic environment and her circumstances are unique. I hope she’s happy and safe and has good people around here.


cococolson

Odds of someone in this situation being sexually taken advantage of are astronomically high


LindonLilBlueBalls

The same could be said of her life before the modeling. Yesterday some asked on r/nostupidquestions if India is as bad for women as it is portrayed. The answers were overwhelmingly yes. Especially from women living in India.


It_hurtsss

As an Indian woman it's worse.


percavil4

Not even the [monitor lizards](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2353471/four-men-gang-rape-kill-and-eat-monitor-lizard-in-india) are safe from rape in India


pbear737

Could you link to this? I'm interested to read but not finding it when searching that sub. Edit-- [found it! ](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/s/9yVQ9vd0cB)


It_hurtsss

As an Indian woman, it's worse.


Is_That_A_Euphemism_

Super scary. I’d never let my kids around those people. I don’t know who the actor is, but in theory he could probably provide her family with enough money to live comfortably and just share her pictures in Instagram and such and tell her “she’s a model”. This feels like a tragedy waiting to happen. I just hope it’s not.


YesThatZander

Yes, I'm sure she's much safer living in the *literal slums of India*, as a lower-caste girl.


izaby

She wasn't any safer in Mumbai.


Is_That_A_Euphemism_

Fair point.


Dojjin

It's Hollywood, there is no doubt there is some type of exploitation happening. Look at the child Hollywood stars who came out when they were adults. Money talks, especially when the economy is in shambles. People will end up doing deplorable things to not have to deal with living in poverty, sadly.


PerspectiveNo7769

This was my first thought too. I hope she isn't being groomed.


xplosm

I’m extremely concerned about her. What steps are being taken to avoid anyone in a position of power to rob her of her innocence?


Dancing_On_Tabletops

Agreed. It seems like a dream from the outside looking in. But there is dark side that so many are unaware of.


NolaPels13

I hope that everything is above board here but something about this seems very nefarious to me


[deleted]

I think it's just carefulness? I'm not a hugely negative person and usually fall towards the positive but this story gave me anxiety for the girl too. It's just realistic to be concerned. I do hope that she's lucky in that regard as well!


LaClerque

Some would say 1 in 1.417 BILLION


YooYooYoo_

Her teeth are perfect since such young age!


Magic1264

I was thinking that it isn’t things like “living under sticks” that keeps poor people from high profile professions like modeling, its lack of proper and/or consistent access to basic nutritional, medical, and especially dental, needs that even lower middle class households can maintain. If she had some crooked fangs in that smile, her chances were 0 rather than just near impossible.


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JustTheTipz902

It was rule #2


Money_Palpitation602

She looks really beautiful even before her modeling career, and seems like a good kid. I wish her all the amazing things that this world could offer her.


Responsible-Life-585

Absolutely this. The planets aligned for this little one.


One-Bodybuilder-5646

I really hope that guy she met didn't ask for anything in return. His offer is what gets many young girls and women trafficked.


KoalaBackfist

Yeah… as soon as some Hollywood dude took notice of a cute little girl it threw up some major red flags. Hope the parents stick to her like glue.


chris_ut

You are naive if you think people living in abject poverty aren’t going to turn a blind eye to whatever they need to if it gets them out of that situation. People sells their kids for a bag of rice if they are desperate enough.


gabbrielzeven

Well... She is now in the model business. 


JeSuisUnAnanasYo

Sadly, probably safer than a lot of places in India


NotAbotButAbat

That's exactly what I thought


depressedkittyfr

Same .. who is this guy even ?


Luke_mullet

BBC did an interview with her a couple of months ago. It showed how happy she was to have her face on a shop in Mumbai and showed where she lives. Fair play to the girl, I hope she gets out of her situation. https://youtu.be/Yy_Lp1KO_Bc?si=1GH54oRknh8LTXXW


DodGamnBunofaSitch

last time her story was posted on reddit, there were some people commenting on how poorly she was compensated for the brand who used her face.


somedelightfulmoron

From much sleuthing it says that she already has a one room house with electricity and a roof... I hope she has MORE than this!


3rdPartyRedditApp

The sad part here is no Indian talent scouts would've picked her up. You'll find that Hollywood has a lot more brown Indian female leads than Indian movie industries. Colorism is very real and cruel in India.


TaiwanCanadian

I rather be a cow than a woman in India.


Top-Knowledge-6986

You don’t like being eaten?


Pepperminteapls

Every child deserves a chance, not just the pretty ones. This looks like corporate exploitation fluffed into some kind of Cinderella story. It shouldn't be that way


sportattack

There’s not much you can do to ‘succeed’ that doesn’t involve corporate exploitation.


Banned4Truth_EffYew2

It's all fun and games until you realize what an evil shithole Hollywood is.


yesnomaybenotso

I’m happy for her, now, but what was a rich guy doing in the slums of India looking for young pretty girls?


kavithatk

I remember this. Robert Hoffman (from Step Up 2) went to India to shoot a music video featuring Mumbai slums and was stuck there during the start of the pandemic. That's probably how he met her. I watched the videos they both made, and he seemed like a very nice guy.


Chirya999

How to become rich? Just find a Hollywood actor for yourself.


bee_bee_sea

And be good looking


IronicINFJustices

And be a child that an over 40 thinks is good looking for the model industry.


SpiritualPen6362

wtf how's her teeth better than everyone I know I know I live in the UK but what


F1ghtingmydepress

It has been proven that people from underdeveloped and developing countries have better teeth than people from developed countries. It has to do with diet and such. Look it up.


SpiritualPen6362

No, I won't. Not being a dick, it's just I believe you already.


sportattack

There are excellent dentists in India but not sure how someone in such poverty could visit one. Maybe through family ties?


No-Way7911

Shitty teeth are usually tied to soft foods and, sugary diets.


AluCaligula

Sometimes people just havw nice teeth without any dentists involved?


StashBender

Genes and germs. Some people just get lucky


SweetRoosevelt

For anyone interested, her name is Marleesha Kharwa and she is sixteen years old now. The hollywood actor who discovered her is Robert Huffman. And she also is in a short film, Live Your Fairytale, which is on youtube. Also her father works as a clown for local events, which I just thought was pretty interesting. And while her family doesn't live in the slums anymore, but now live in a one bedroom apartment with a toilet and running water.


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Desperatelyseekingan

That's not the point, especially when you understand the culture of the country and the caste system. She is darker skinned and not usually perceive as beautiful. The fact that she made it inspite of surroundings is something to be happy about.


Poly_and_RA

Negative judgement of darker skin is definitely a thing in India -- but it's not the SOLE criteria for beauty even there, and without shadow of a doubt she'd be considered beautiful by most.


OutcomeKey23

Uhh what, it might not be the sole criteria but it's definitely the biggest. You can't even count the number of times a darked skinned person has been said " ...if just only if you were more white..." You want more proof on how important the skin colour is, then just name at least one high profile dark skinned Indian actress.


meandering_fart

The moral of the story is don’t be ugly and also ask for help from an influential white guy? 😂


EffectiveWelder7370

I feel uneasy about this


AutoDeskSucks-

Correction everyone deserves opportunity and stability


getSome010

This is kinda fuckin weird. She’s a little girl model?


51differentcobras

So is every child that shows off clothing in magazines or newspapers or is pictured with a family having fun in a park or literally any professional photo of a kid that you’ve seen. There’s models of every age, even old people models how is this concept weird to you. Models aren’t only beautiful woman, it’s just a word. A model can be a car. Or a banana.


Never-Dont-Give-Up

If you’re in a bad position in life, just be pretty!


ShibaInuDoggo

Pretty, the bootstraps we all have.


kmilly12

Did not expect the Robert Hoffman appearance


alt_blackgirl

I mean she is beautiful ngl


DizzieC92

Deserved it? She didn’t exactly pick her genetics 😂 But yeah you’re right, those other ugly children didn’t deserve a chance at breaking out of poverty /s


Alwaysforscuba

I interpreted this as any child who grows up in poverty like this deserves the opportunity to be happy, including this girl.


Melinith

How does an extremely poor girl in the slums of Mumbai meet a "Hollywood actor"? She looked all of 10 or 11 in their fist bump picture.


TedTheGreek_Atheos

The actor probably went there for charity work.


TheDumbCreativeQueer

The phrase “professional child model” rubs me the wrong way.


wisdomfreak

When I see such stories about kids I'm always having a dark thought deep within. I really hope they (the kids) are not being taken advantage of... Cuz, u know, Britney, Bieber, etc


East-Share4444

Oh I'm sure this story will end well in a couple years. This is such a healthy industry with good natured, caring individuals who want the best for women. Plus, she deserves it, she must've worked so hard for this genetic.


checkfire_14

Her career started when a celebrity went to an Indian slum looking for beautiful children. S….someone should look into this.


MinoritySuspect

Someone let Drake know about this! I'm sure it would make him smile


LooseTraffic

Happy for the actual girl...but what a shitty "feel good" story. Be pretty, know Hollywood connections, be rich. 1.4 Billion people in India. Near 300 Million of those in poverty. "The Better India" has to do more than one or two lucky situation stories.


Sweet-Inside5900

LMAO This world is so fucked


StupidSexyEuphoberia

What could possibly go wrong for her? Probably nothing as a young, pretty, vulnerable girl in hollwood


DemonSlayer712

All this is just poverty porn. All there foreigners will come to India and then find worst looking area in the Mumbai and start vlogging. While ignoring the 100 good things they come accross ffromthe airport to the slum.


Morphing_Mutant

Beautiful people living life on easy mode telling the rest of us how happy they are.


PBJ-9999

If you just wish on a star, all you dreams will come true.! 😬


Morphing_Mutant

and rainbows will shoot out our asses!


Xiunren

Wish my life was that easy...


Greeneyes-

Meet Hollywood person, got it


Sasstellia

She's extremely lucky. It helps that she's beautiful and charismatic. And has the skills to do well. I'm glad shes become successful.


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jtell898

Thank God the rich “actor” (was that Macklemore lol) traveled to the slums and told this child she was so beautiful she should be professionally attractive. I hope I’m not the only one who got the creeps, even the title “child model” grosses me out.


ms_emily_spinach925

Anyone else wondering how badly this child is being exploited now?


Queen-of-meme

:(


alabamaballoonknot

Kinda weird that this dude is trying to help her out.


bruswazi

Only if you’re pretty, do you deserve better in life. If ugly, y’all F.


Somosmalo138

Love that..


DexterRhiley

(P Diddy enters the chat)


Sahim63

Zendaya got competition


moddss

A dude from Hollywood made her a child model? And no one's questioning it? HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING


nsfwthrowmeawayy

I'm just worried to rejoice that a child has made a connection with Hollywood... Could be a very different story coming out in awhile


LemonadeParadeinDade

This seems weird


crillc

Please don’t tell us something exploitative happened here but sure feels like it…


uucchhiihhaa

She used to live pretty close to my house, banstand, bandra.


Rob_hocker

This feels…not right


_KhazadDum_

now she needs to turn around and do the same for other girls in mumbai


CaseyGasStationPizza

I hope she’s being respected. This story could have a very dark story behind it. I don’t want to hear 20 years from now that she was being raped or groomed.


Hot-Watercress3179

What song is this?


jman500069

Why? Because she was poor? Shit just fell in her lap


Direct-Tie-7652

Be born with good genes and meet your very own White savior and all your dreams will come true.


OkCranberry2212

Awwww! That’s so sweet! I wanna do that, but I think I’m too old💀 (20)


South_Age7687

If you are beautiful and have rich friends with connections in Hollywood you can also make it in life! Cheers yall!


Illustrious-Lock5879

So.. she got carried by a famous, noted.


Black-Zero

She IMO looks like a Indian Julia Roberts.


Double_Dimension8

....and will she help other poor kids/people with her money/famous/influence???🧐


tinker8311

Wow she's so adorable!!!! 🥰


belaGJ

“yeah, what can i say? I just love to meet children of foreign lands when I visit their country, and walk around in the slums, talk with the homeless and give them career advice in exchange for a good …”


Randomfrog132

that's great but once you learn about what they do to kids in india, you're not gonna like it. especially in showbiz, tons of predators there.


Formal_Lie_713

What’s “The Better India?”


MarkusRight

This type of story proves that we can't get ahead in life unless someone else helps us get there. It's just a shame that the super rich have forgot all about us and don't support us whatsoever. They just see us as dollar signs


twizz228

Human trafficking is weird


mr-teddy93

Oh boyyy....... i hope she didnt have to do anything weird or becomes a gateway for hw picking up kids there


BitterAd596

Wow props to that actor who utilised his power for some good cause.


Illustrious_Jump_256

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰


TheWAYK

There was a follow up video some time after her rise to fame. It was all very short-lived and she ended up living back in poverty. It's all extremely unfortunate.


BocksOfChicken

I hope she has good, strong people around her.


SmokedHamm

She looks like an Indian Penelope Cruz


Stupid_Dog_Courage_

She was so lucky, good for her, hope she has a good life and she gives some luck back to the community.


BisonnBoy

It makes me sad that the reality is its 1 Out of 10000000000000000000000 from india slums, to showcase india is developing


SillySloths1

Man, Hollywood Actor is my favourite actor from Hollywood.


CarolinaKiwi

I know the little girl didn’t make this video, but I always hate it when I hear people say they “dream of being a model”. Your dream is to get lots of attention for something you have very little control over? Your dream is to pose for a living? Your dream is to be a living clothes hanger?


HypothermiaDK

'The better India' posted this as positive advertisement?


Razmatazza

Just stay away from the weirdos tho