Challenge Accepted: Sara Ali Khan to Janhvi Kapoor; Here’s why B town actresses are posting monochrome photos

If you’re wondering why Instagram is flooded with monochromatic images of women with the caption #challengeaccepted, it’s because of a new ‘Black and White’ challenge. It is about sharing a black and white picture of yourself to promote female empowerment, and nominating friends to take part in the campaign to show support to each other. White its origins is unclear, the challenge aims to spread positivity during the pandemic.

According to The New York Times, the earliest challenge was posted by a Brazilian journalist Ana Paula Padrao, and it gained momentum when famous Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Garner and Kristen Bell posted monochrome pictures of themselves. Some claimed that it started in Turkey to raise awareness about femicide in the country. It is believed that women in Turkey were tired of looking at murdered women in the media, so they started it to raise awareness that anyone of them could be next, as reported by Indian Express. 

However, this is not the first time the hashtag #ChallengeAceepted has gone viral, as reported by The New York Times. Black and white photos with the same hashtag circulated in 2016 to spread a message of “cancer awareness." Despite its vague message, many celebrities took to Instagram to share their monochrome images. 

Virtual chain mail challenges like this get kicked into high gear when celebrities join in. Everyone from veteran actresses like Tina Ambani to the millennial ones like Sara Ali Khan is sharing black and white pictures of themselves in support of women empowerment. 

Actress Tina Ambani wrote, “When we see so much negativity around us, let’s build positivity. As women, let’s push ourselves up rather than pulling each other down. Challenge accepted!”

. When we see so much negativity around us, let's build positivity. As women, let's push ourselves up rather than pulling each other down. Challenge accepted! @antara_m @kanchan_k_desai

Echoing the same, Shilpa Shetty shared an adorable picture with the caption “We’re living in times where we now realise the importance of lifting each other up instead of pulling someone down. We are gradually acknowledging the truth that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us. So, all we have is ‘today’... and we have each other. Let’s join forces together and make each day better for everyone around us. Support our women tribe through the worst times, lend a helping hand (if possible) when you see another woman juggling too many things, and appreciate the efforts one has put in even if they didn’t succeed. We’re all in this together. ‘Uplift, don’t belittle’.”

#ChallengeAccepted: We’re living in times where we now realise the importance of lifting each other up instead of pulling someone down. We are gradually acknowledging the truth that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us. So, all we have is ‘today’... and we have each other. Let’s join forces together and make each day better for everyone around us. Support our women tribe through the worst times, lend a helping hand (if possible) when you see another woman juggling too many things, and appreciate the efforts one has put in even if they didn’t succeed. We’re all in this together. “Uplift, don’t belittle” ~ Thank you, @kanikasanger, for making me a part of this wonderful tribe that personifies #strength. . . . . . #WomenInspiringWomen #WomenEmpowerment

Sharing a picture with the hashtag ‘#ChallengeAccepted’, Karisma Kapoor also took the challenge. 

Challenge accepted @haseenajethmalani @priyaaswani7 #womensupportingwomen

Katrina Kaif also shared a monochrome image with the caption, "So greatful for the inspiration and support from all the women around me." 

#challengeaccepted @anaitashroffadajania so grateful for the inspiration and support from all the women around me @anushkasharma @kareenakapoorkhan @chhabra.reena17 @rohiniyer @fatimasanashaikh @kushakapila @yasminkarachiwala @isakaif

Sara Ali Khan, Bhumi Padnekar, Ananya Pandey, Janhvi Kapoor, Sonam K Ahuja and many others shared monochromatic images to support Women Empowerment. Take a look:

#challengeaccepted @anaitashroffadajania @sara_vaisoha

#challengeaccepted @anaitashroffadajania @mahnaz_kotwal @namratapurohit @mira.kapoor @shanayakapoor02 @sharminsegal @lakshmilehr

Love,Support,Be kind & Fly High #ChallengeAccepted . . . @diamirzaofficial @iamhumaq @deepshikhadeshmukh @niharikabhasinkhan21 @billymanik81 @tora_pg #GirlForGirl

 challenge accepted  @anaitashroffadajania

Thank you @anaitashroffadajania for tagging me.. I love this black and white picture . It represents my love for India and Indian creativity. I was proud to wear @rimzim__ for my press meet in Cannes.

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