Stella, also known by her alias Natasha Ngige, a childhood superstar celebrated for her role in the popular film “Machachari,” recently found herself at the center of controversy as Kenyan social media users voiced their disapproval after she posted topless photographs.
The actress shared two daring photos that revealed a significant portion of her breasts. She explained that this unconventional photoshoot was her way of paying tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In her caption, she stated, “This message is for those who have lost and are still battling breast cancer,” underscoring her intention to connect her photos with the cause of breast cancer awareness.
However, the online community in Kenya struggled to establish a meaningful link between the actress’s provocative images and the promotion of breast cancer awareness. Many individuals believed that Ngige’s motive was merely to display her body. Comments such as, “I’m still trying to understand how cancer and being topless are related… you people are not serious,” and “Excuse me, how is this photo related to cancer??” flooded social media.
Some netizens expressed their frustration, citing personal experiences with the devastating impact of cancer, saying, “I lost my grandma, my mom, and my brother because of cancer, and today marks one year since I lost my mom.”
In response to the backlash, Ngige took to her Instagram account to clarify the thought process behind her controversial photos. She shared similar photos from other women and emphasized that her intention was not rooted in ignorance. Ngige sought to raise awareness about the emotional struggle of women who have lost their breasts to cancer, reminding them that the physical loss does not diminish their femininity.
She explained, “This is a recently Googled photo of women participating in breast cancer awareness. While my recent post bears some resemblance to this type of photo, it should not be dismissed as an act of ignorance. Many women lose their breasts to cancer, and I wanted to remind you that what you have lost does not make you any less of a woman.”
