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Strong female figures and celebrities, including shining Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez, are rallying women from around the world to join The Global Goals campaign to empower girls.
The Miss Sri Lankan A-list actress, who was born and raised in Bahrain, is standing for women’s and girls’ rights in an upbeat and moving music video, supported by Victoria Beckham, entitled #WhatIReallyReallyWant, based on the Spice Girls smash hit Wannabe.
The 30-year-old, now living in Mumbai, has joined British hip hop group M.O, Nigerian singer Seyi Shay, South African award-winning hip hop artist Gigi Lamayne, singer Moneoa and American dancer Taylor Hatala, in recreating the song to promote important issues such as equal pay, quality education for all girls, ending violence against women and child marriage.
Jacqueline, who played the role of Melanie C, also known as Sporty Spice, and was representing India, said: “Gender discrimination has to stop and the global community has to start putting girls first.
“We need to create a community where girls feel strong, safe and supported and have equal access to education, technology, health and sanitation. The world needs a dose of girl power and that’s why I’m supporting the Global Goals campaign for girls and women.”
Jacqueline’s mum Kim Fernandez, a Malaysian expat and former deputy sales manager for GulfWeekly’s sister publication, the Gulf Daily News, says that her daughter has always been an avid supporter for women’s rights and is proud to see how far she has come since her schooldays at Sacred Heart School Bahrain.
The former model’s dad, Elroy, is a Sri Lankan businessman. She did him proud by winning the 2006 Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant and graduating with a degree in mass communications from the University of Sydney before working as a TV reporter in his home country.
She was featured in Sujoy Ghosh’s fantasy drama Aladin, which marked her acting debut. She was also in Mohit Suri’s psychological thriller Murder 2 and in the ensemble-comedy Housefull 2 and Housefull 3. Other films include the action-thriller Race 2 and she played the leading lady in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick, which is one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time.
She was the recipient of the IIFA Award for ‘Star Debut of the Year – Female’ in 2010 and continues to be active in humanitarian work supporting several charitable organisations and a number of other good causes.
In 2011, on behalf of the campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), she sent a letter to the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner asking for an end to horsedrawn carriage rides in the city.
In early 2013, she asked the consulate general of the Philippines, William John T Perera in Colombo, to hasten the transfer of an elephant from its inadequate housing at the Manila Zoo to a humane sanctuary.
Later that year, she auctioned a breakfast in Mayfair, London, where she raised around £4,000 for the Pratham NGO, which helps support children’s primary education.
In 2014, Fernandez was named ‘Woman of the Year’ by PETA (India) for advocating the protection of animals and the following year she auctioned her outfits on an online portal for a philanthropic cause. Some of her outfits included the ones she wore in the song ‘Party on My Mind’ (from Race 2) and ‘Hangover’ (from Kick). In March 2016, she was part of the ‘Jacqueline Builds’ campaign that raised funds for the victims of the 2015 South Indian floods.
Since the Spice Girls’ inspired video’s release on the internet, it has gone viral attracting more than 36 million views. The video was shot in May as part of Project Everyone which was devised by filmmaker and campaigner Richard Curtis and founded by two women, Gail Gallie and Kate Garvey to popularise the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
It has been retweeted and shared by several Hollywood actresses such as Emma Watson and vlogger Lily Singh, aka superwoman.
Emma Watson, who is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, tweeted: “#WhatIReallyReallyWant is to see Goal 5 - Gender Equality achieved @theglobalgoals.” Lily Singh shared the video on Facebook saying: “Yas! Love this spread that #girlpow.”
Original Spice Girl member Melanie C was flattered by her portrayal saying: “Flattered and honoured that our crazy song is being used so beautifully @theglobalgoals #WhatIReallyReallyWant.”
And, band-mate Victoria Beckham is encouraging women to share the goals they want to achieve by using the hashtag #WhatIReallyReallyWant and posting it on Instagram. She said: “I think this film is a wonderful idea. How fabulous is it that after 20 years, the legacy of the Spice Girls’ ‘Girl Power’ is being used to encourage and empower a whole new generation.”
According to the Global Goals campaign, in 2015, world leaders promised to put girls and women first when they signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fix climate change and tackle inequalities.
They want to ensure World Leaders and the Secretary General of the United Nations listen to the voices of girls and women and put them first in policies and plans. It is believed that the time is now for women to use their collective powers and tell world leaders what they ‘really, really want’.
By women and girls hashtagging the initiative and sharing the video, their voices will be heard and their messages will be shown to 193 world leaders at the UN in September 25. The aim is for them to agree on 17 of the goals including ending poverty, inequality and climate change.
Follow The Global Goals on Instagram @theglobalgirls or visit them on www.globalgoals.org to make a difference. Watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZQ2RUFd54o&feature=youtu.be
