“When I was in school, we did not have proper art classes but I loved to draw and play with colours. My father loves art and music and he encouraged me to follow my dream of going to art school. My mother was not so sure about sending me to another city to study art but she gave in for my sake and I ended up in the National College of Arts.

I met people from all walks of life there. What I loved was that there was no class division. I freelanced as a model and was actively involved with the dance society which led to my first national TV performance in 2003.

During my thesis, representatives of ICI Paints were visiting and offered me a job on the spot. I trained with them as a colour consultant and was part of the team that set up the first colour studio in Islamabad.

My career was cut short when I met an accident due to which I had to undergo physiotherapy for six months to walk again.

I started working at a school when I got married. However, my marriage broke down in 2012. Suddenly I found myself a single parent with no source of income.

I was approached then by a school in Islamabad where I worked for some time but I took a break from work when my divorce was finalised.

I thought carefully about choosing marketing and advertising as a career and started freelancing and doing interior projects. What kept me going was my son, but also my positive outlook on life. I believe in the power of positivity. A person’s energy introduces them and I want my aura and energy to always uplift people. I believe in being an encourager.”

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2019