This really gets on my nerves, why use the term sikh to describe herself? It s nothing but shameless self-opportunism that disgusts me.
It's clearly obvious that she's labelled herself a Sikh to give her a bit of a difference, stand out from the crowd etc etc. She openly talks about her culture to gain sympathy and how difficult it was for her boyfriend to see her pandering about in her underwear.
There really ought to be a sole central voice for Sikhs that sets out clearly that this is not the true actions of a Sikh and the Sikhi is not alligned with this kind of activity.
This encourages other Sikh girls to dress provocatively, forsake their religion (se has no outward nishani of being a Sikh) and also propogates the idea that its ok for men to ogle Sikh women.
http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/186701-scottish-sikh-harleen-worries-about-britains-next-top-model-culture-backlash/ - vid of her interview on a scottish tv program
Top Model culture backlash
Harleen Kaur Nottay admits she has had an “internal struggle” balancing her cultural beliefs with the modelling competition.
13 July 2010 10:45 GMT
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186701
Britain’s Next Top Model contestant Harleen admits her journey into the final 14 was plagued with difficulty as worries about a cultural backlash filled her mind.
The 19-year-old hit a stumbling block in episode two after the contestants were tasked with striking a provocative pose for an underwear photo shoot alongside a male model.
Speaking on The Hour, Harleen said: “They said that I could wear the komodo over the underwear so I felt a little bit more comfortable but then the photographer asked me to take it off…the photographer wasn’t aware of how I was feeling.
Scottish Sikh Harleen worries about Britain’s Next Top Model culture backlash
“The designer was there and you could tell by her face that she was thinking ‘oh no’ and that is how I was feeling inside.”
She added: “For our culture, it is quite unusual. You don’t really see Asian models out there in general.
“I am having an internal struggle with with what I have done, with my culture and what my family is going to think and what my boyfriend is going to think and everything, I found it very difficult.”
Despite these worries, Harleen is determined to stay professional and push her concerns to one side, grabbing hold of her once in a lifetime opportunity.
“There is always a dream you have, for me it was modelling, it was something I have always wanted to pursue.
“At the end of the day, I thought ‘I am here, I am doing a job and I have just got to get on with it and set my feelings aside’.”
Aside from the tasks, Harleen was delighted with the input the girls received from supermodel and host of the show Elle Macpherson.
“She is so genuine and so lovely,” she said. “She does care about the individual, she was just lovely.
“Close up, she is just amazing, you think, you hope, you pray that she is not for your own self-esteem but she is just flawless!”
Age: 19
Hometown: Roslin, Midlothian
Occupation: Student
Brave Harleen cut off all of her long hair right before entering competition. Her dream photo shoot would be at the Taj Mahal or the pyramids in Egypt as her mum is from India and her dad lives in Egypt, but her nightmare would involve going underwater as she nearly drowned when she was three.
