In Pictures
In Pictures: Cashing in on ‘The Lady’
In Myanmar, a thriving cottage industry has sprung up around the image of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Yangon, Myanmar – Shut out from her people and the world for more than 21 years by the military rulers, Myarnmar’s pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has staged a remarkable comeback.
Since being freed from custody in 2010, Suu Kyi has become omnipresent in a country swept by reforms.
With the military loosening its grip, there is renewed hope in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. And as stifling political restrictions are eased, Suu Kyi has come to embody her countrymen’s collective dreams.
Today, her face greets people from graffiti, posters, tea cups and T-shirts. Suu Kyi merchandise is fast-moving from store shelves.
Stepping out of isolation, “The Lady”, as she is reverentially called by many, finds herself a subject of mass adoration.