Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
In a shocking turn of events, model Poonam Pandey announced she faked her own death from cervical cancer in order to raise awareness about the preventable disease.
Poonam Pandey, known for her controversial antics, revealed in an Instagram post on Friday that she is in fact alive and well, just one day after her team announced she had died of cervical cancer.
The announcement on Wednesday that the 32-year-old reality star had passed away from the disease sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and her legions of social media followers. Many were immediately skeptical, having seen Poonam at an event in Goa just three days prior.
In her post addressing the ruse, Poonam apologized for causing distress but said her intention was to “shock everyone into the conversation” about cervical cancer, which takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year.
Poonam first shot to fame in 2011 after promising to strip if the Indian cricket team won the World Cup. She later posted a nude photo to celebrate her favorite IPL team’s victory. Her risqué photos and controversial statements have earned her millions of online followers.
While her stunt has drawn heavy criticism and accusations of being insensitive, Poonam emphasized that cervical cancer is “entirely preventable” through HPV vaccination and early detection. She said she wanted to highlight the need for greater awareness.
Only time will tell if Poonam’s risky awareness tactic makes any meaningful impact. But one thing’s for sure – she has everyone talking about cervical cancer now.
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