{
  "id": 2294424,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: From body-shaming to leading lady: Qistina Khaled secures dream role after 20kg weight loss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/showbiz-from-body-shaming-to-leading-lady-qistina-khaled-secures",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T04:00:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/08/1515818/showbiz-body-shaming-leading-lady-qistina-khaled-secures-dream"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Qistina Khaled believes that her extreme diet and weight loss journey were worth the sacrifice, as it eventually led to her securing a lead role in the drama Tertulis Kita Sampai Syurga. The 22-year-old actress shed 20kg, dropping from 65kg to 45kg, and landed the role alongside her dream co-star, Shukri Yahaya. Qistina revealed that she underwent this drastic transformation due to a period of no work for an entire month and constant comments about her body while on set. She admitted that the extreme dietary habits took a toll on her health, leading to gastric issues and low energy levels. Despite the toll on her health, Qistina maintains that her transformation was worth it, as she now has the opportunity to work alongside her dream co-star.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Qistina Khaled believes her extreme diet to achieve an ideal physique was worth the sacrifice, as it finally led to offers as a lead actress.",
  "key_points": [
    "Qistina Khaled lost 20kg for lead role in drama",
    "22-year-old actress transformed for Shukri Yahaya co-star",
    "Extreme diet caused health issues and gastric problems"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Qistina Khaled's dramatic weight loss has yielded a coveted lead role, suggesting that in her industry, a certain physical ideal can be a prerequisite for career advancement.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}