It seems the westernization of Malala is near completion… The gutsy schoolgirl that highlighted the importance of education is now promoting “Glamour Women of the Year Award” at Carnegie Hall, New York. The kind of occasion that alongside showcasing the mostly white ideals of beauty, acts as a self-congratulatory show for celebrities doing their bit for social justice.

No doubt these women feel even better about themselves now for graciously allowing Malala to take centre stage to accept her reward and blow kisses to screaming girls. She clearly bowled over the aptly named Lady Gaga, “if I could forfeit my Glamour cover I would give it to Malala,” she said, tottering on breakneck heels and looking like a female version of Edward Scissorhands.

So what next… photographers queuing up for permission from Edelman PR company to use a photoshopped image of Ms Yousafzai suitably slimmed and lightened for a western audience, backlit, uplit and whatever else lit.

The Glamour awards honored the “who’s who” survivors of US shooting tragedies. FACT (despite what you may read in media regarding terror threat) you are more likely to be shot by a toddler in America than be involved in a terrorist incident. (Not sure if awards are given out for being shot or avoiding being shot!)

Singer, Barbara Streisand did a least remind the audience that the country currently helping to “save” the women of Afghanistan through occupation and drone strikes (unlike several Asian countries) has never actually had a female President. So much for equality.

Inspirational survivors of US army rape were not in attendance at the Glamour awards. (There are so many sexual assault victims perhaps it would have been difficult to single out only one).

I note no female drone survivors graced the red carpet either.

Also at the awards were Bill and Melinda Gates saving the world from disease. (They might like to start with challenging the US government regarding their record on health first). A couple of points here:-

1) Let’s not forget that the US contributed to spreading the global AIDS epidemic through its prison plasma programme, prioritizing “profit over safety” by shipping “dirty blood” round the globe. (Ask Bill Clinton what’s hidden in his old backyard, Arkansas State Penitentiary and subsequent cover-up).

2) We must also remember that the CIA used the cover of a health vaccination programme and unethically the services of Dr Shakil Afridi to target bin Laden. Thus US actions effectively halted the polio programme in parts of Pakistan and led to health workers being shot as spies.

Well done America… any awards for that!

Malala must by now have learnt the art of airkissing women at publicity events as well as shaking hands with western men. She will no doubt have been photographed alongside the latest emaciated female role models, faces stuck forever in “mouth pout” mode.

It’s heartening though for us mere mortals to know that an issue is only an issue in society if officially endorsed by a celebrity… Welcome to the world of global food programmes endorsed by career anorexics and health initiatives supported by coke sniffing addicts. America land of the “free” home of the bizarre!

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.