LONDON (Web Desk) – A newly commissioned portrait of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has been unveiled at the University of Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall, marking a major tribute to the Pakistani education activist and alumna of the college.
The portrait, painted by British artist Isabella Watling, was revealed last Friday, during LMH’s annual Founders and Benefactors Dinner, an event that celebrates the achievements of the college community and recognises the contribution of its supporters. The work was commissioned by LMH in collaboration with the Oxford Pakistan Programme with support from a donor.
Malala, dressed in a lavender outfit and headscarf, is depicted standing beside an oil portrait of herself, creating a reflective and symbolic composition.
Lady Margaret Hall Portrait: In February 2026, a portrait of Malala was commissioned by Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), the Oxford college where she studied. She is the second Pakistani woman to have a portrait commissioned by the college, following Benazir Bhutto.@Malala @ZiauddinY pic.twitter.com/kgwPYkHvbN
— Hassan Yusuf (@Hassanyusuf369) February 9, 2026Oxford tribute to Malala
Malala studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall and graduated in 2020. She was elected an Honorary Fellow of LMH in 2024. The college said the portrait recognises both her academic connection to Oxford and her global impact as a campaigner for girls’ education.
In 2014, Malala became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting girls’ right to education. Through the Malala Fund, she continues to campaign worldwide to secure at least 12 years of free, safe and quality education for every girl.
She also serves on the Advisory Body of the Oxford Pakistan Programme, which promotes academic links between Oxford and Pakistan and provides scholarships for Pakistani and British Pakistani students at the university.
Artist insight
Portrait artist Isabella Watling described the commission as a rare honour and a creative challenge. “It was a huge honour to paint Malala's portrait,” Watling said. “In the picture, I wanted to try and capture some of her strength and grace. I found it was unusually challenging to finish, because of the pressure of painting such a well known face.”
Watling was born in London in 1990 and spent part of her early life in the UK and Australia. She trained at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, where she continues to teach portrait and figure painting, and now lives and works in London. Her work follows the sight size portrait tradition associated with artists such as Van Dyck, Velázquez and Sargent.
Her portraits have been widely exhibited, including at London’s National Portrait Gallery. One of her works received second place in the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award in 2024 and was displayed at the gallery.
Malala’s remarks
Speaking about the unveiling, Malala thanked the college and highlighted the broader message behind the recognition.
“I am incredibly grateful to Lady Margaret Hall for commissioning this portrait and for the trust it represents,” she said. “I accept this honour with the hope that it helps open doors for many others. More than anything, I hope it serves as a reminder that a girl from Swat Valley belongs here – and that the next girl from a village in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or anywhere else – belongs here too.”