Kannur: Shaija, a 34-year-old woman hailing from Kolayad, is breaking gender stereotypes in her own way. She is proving to all those who shamed her for having excessice facial hair growth that even women can don moustaches with pride. 

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“I like having a moustache and I don’t want to remove it,” she says. When a moustache sprouted on Shaija’s face the first time, many were quick to insult her. But she does not take these insults to her heart. “I am known as 'Meeshakari' Shaija in my hometown and it is not something that saddens me,” she says. 

Shaija’s username on Facebook is also ‘Meeshakari’. She receives much support from people online and several women contact her to share the problems they face due to excessive facial hair growth. 

Shaija’s family including her husband Palakkad native Lakshmanan and daughter class 10 student Ashwika are very supportive of her decision to keep her moustache. Her husband says, ‘Your moustache, so it is your decision.’

“Women become weak when they live as per the wishes of others. All are curious to know the story behind my moustache,” Shaija adds.