Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai opens up in a candid interview about her new memoir, 'Finding My Way,' detailing her first bong experience that triggered traumatic memories, the truth behind her controversial marriage comments, her surprise wedding, and her struggles with anxiety and evolving views on global activism.
The article provides an in-depth interview with Malala Yousafzai ahead of her new memoir, 'Finding My Way.' It starts with a surprising revelation: her first experience smoking a bong at Oxford, which unexpectedly triggered long-repressed, traumatic memories of the Taliban attack she survived, leading to severe anxiety and panic attacks that required therapy. The interview also delves into the controversy surrounding her 2021 British Vogue comments questioning the necessity of marriage, which sparked widespread criticism in Pakistan. Yousafzai clarifies that she was secretly dating Asser Malik at the time and harbored genuine doubts about traditional marriage, but eventually married him in an Islamic ceremony due to family pressure and love, finding that married life felt 'sort of the same.' The piece further explores the immense pressures she navigates as a global icon: her role as the primary financial provider for her extended family, her academic struggles at Oxford due to her demanding work schedule, and her complex relationship with her father, who sometimes inadvertently pushed her into public interactions. Yousafzai's youthful idealism has given way to a more cynical outlook, particularly after world leaders, including Biden and Johnson, ignored her urgent pleas to help evacuate Afghan partners during the Taliban takeover. She reflects on her 'professional activism' approach, acknowledging its limitations. She also addresses public criticism regarding her stance on Gaza, highlighting her significant donations and consistent calls for a ceasefire, condemning what she describes as 'genocide' while also advocating for the release of hostages. The article concludes by introducing her new venture, Recess, an investment fund focused on women's sports, launched with her husband. It emphasizes her personal journey towards prioritizing her own happiness and learning to set boundaries, even as she prepares for the inevitable public reaction to the candid revelations in her upcoming book.
