'Trolls don't affect me, I will continue to focus on my studies': UP state board topper Prachi Nigam

Prachi Nigam scored 98.5 percent and topped the UP Class 10 state board exams.

Prachi Nigam has opened up about being bullied on social media for her appearance. Shutting down trolls, the 14-year-old told NDTV that she would continue to focus on her studies and it does not matter to her what people say about her appearance. Nigam had made headlines for scoring 98.5 percent and topping the UP Class 10 state board exams recently and for the trolling and the subsequent show of support that she received right after.

"Several people congratulated me after the results were out and after the news spread, my photo went viral and was trending for a couple of days. I want to thank everyone who supported me and for those who commented on how I look, while they are free to express themselves, it does not matter to me what they say," Nigam said. "Even Chanakya was trolled for his appearance and he did not let it bother him. Similarly, I have been focusing on my studies and will continue to do so."

Meanwhile, a Mumbai-based company has been receiving flack on social media after it published a full-page ad on Nigam, in one of the leading dailies.

Aimed at inspiring the 14-year-old to ignore the trolls, the Bombay Shaving Company advertisement read: "Dear Prachi, They are trolling your HAIR today, they'll applaud your A.I.R (all India rank) tomorrow."

And in a much smaller font, the company added, "We hope you never get bullied into using our razor."

The advertisement and the message, however, did not sit well with several social media users who called it "insensitive", "desperate", and "in awful taste".

"Bombay Shaving Company does a full-page ad for Prachi, the UP board topper, who was being trolled for facial hair. Haven’t seen something this desperate," Hood co-founder Abhishek Asthana wrote on X. "This message goes to their own TG, not to the people who bullied her, hey, please remember to buy our razors while you shed a tear for her. Read the line on the bottom right. Laughable."

X user Meru (@MeruBhaiya) wrote, "Bombay Shaving Company's front-page ad supporting Prachi, who faced social media trolling, ends with "we hope you never get bullied into using our razor." Seriously? How low and insensitive can a company stoop for advertising?"

"Horrible attempt by Bombay Shaving Company. Make money out of someone's trolling. Wait for the founder's apology so he can get more mileage out of this controversy. Absolutely tone deaf," added X user GDP (@gdpishere).