Malala Yousafzai was targeted by trolls after she was spotted ‘wearing skinny jeans and heeled boots’ during her first week of studies at Oxford University.

The women’s rights activist was criticised after an unverified photo was published in Pakistan media appearing to show Malala wearing skinny jeans, ankle boots and a bomber jacket.

The 20-year-old was almost murdered on her way to school in October 2012 when Taliban fighters shot her in the head in because she had campaigned for girls to get an education.

Last week, she tweeted about taking her first lectures in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, or PPE, exactly five years after being targeted on her school bus.

She went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her global campaigning, but she became the target of abuse over the weekend after an unverified image of her was shared on the Facebook page of Pakistani forum Siasat.pk on Saturday (October 14). Despite the fact she wore her dupatta covering her head, hateful messages were posted alongside the photo, criticising Malala for not wearing a shalwar kameez, the traditional dress of Pakistan and typically worn in Muslim countries.

Some messages compared the peace campaigner to Lebanese American porn star Mia Khalifa, who caused controversy for starring in an adult film while wearing Muslim clothing. Yaseen Khan wrote: ‘She is the player of American game. I feel very embarrassed to say that she is Pakistani.’

And UxMan MaAn wrote: ‘Next Mia Khalifa.’ One hateful message posted on Twitter and re-published in the Pakistani media said: ‘That was the reason the bullet directly targeted her head long time ago.’ While Shaiq Sirajuddin Shah wrote: ‘It’s not particularly important for men but women shouldn’t wear those tight jeans because they get exposed.’ Another message said: ‘Look at hypocrite Malala wearing pants! Is she even a Muslim?’ while another left one with the words: ‘Want a Nobel prize and admission into Oxford University? Step 1. Get shot…. so much for women’s rights advocacy lol.’ Many others have since taken to social media to hit out at the criticism.

Huraira wrote on Twitter: ‘Malala wears basic Western attire & moral police come out. Let a girl breatheee. How many tell a guy to stick to cultural wear?’ Mary‏ tweeted: ‘Amazing that they want to control her style. She is beautiful full of love grace and compassion! Let Malala flap her wings and fly.’ Imaan Mazari-Hazir wrote: ‘More people lost their minds over Malala wearing jeans than when she got shot. Our priorities demonstrate why we are our own worst enemy.’ BBC presenter Anita Anand also spoke out, telling MailOnline: ‘Malala can wear whatever she likes as far as I’m concerned.

‘The baying criticism is coming from the most regressive quarters, and I doubt she could do anything to please them. ‘I sincerely hope she never tries. She is a heroine and a role model.’ Malala herself has stayed out the argument, instead choosing to tweet about her new book Malala’s Magic Pencil – her first picture book, inspired by her own childhood.