Islamabad’s next top model

The 16 year old Anam Ahmed made a name for herself at Islamabad Fashion Week.

ISLAMABAD: With all its ups and downs, Islamabad Fashion Week (IFW) 2011 managed to produce a star.

With the promise to present the fashion industry with something fresh and new, Tariq and Fayeza Amin were successful in selecting a new model, Anam Ahmed, the 16 year old O-Level student who walked the ramp like she owned it and from the opening show till the very end of IFW.

Ahmed began her career when she was 13-years old when she did a shoot for a friend’s cousin. After this offers started coming in and she has done shoots for Tariq Amin, Bina Sultan (BNS), Libas magazine and clothing line, She magazine and GT. Ahmed said that she went to the model hunt because her friends encouraged her to as they thought she had what it takes to be a model. “The model hunt was overwhelming and continued for two days with over 200 girls all aiming to be selected as the new faces of Islamabad,” said Ahmed, “We were asked to walk the ramp in high heels (this was the first time I had ever done this) and girls began to get shortlisted with 200 being cut down to 15.”

Tall and tanned, Ahmed exudes cutting edge beauty and has a figure that can carry off almost any outfit and found her experience at IFW to be a rewarding experience. “I learnt so much from Tariq and Fayeza; they took all of us new models under their wing and treated us like their own.”

However, Ahmed did feel overwhelmed during the show, “If it weren’t for my helper I would never have been able to cope with the craziness that went on backstage. But I still had the best time doing the Sanam Agha and Chinyere  shows at IFW.”

Ahmed felt that she learnt a lot about the fashion industry from another aspect of the event. “The most interesting aspect of the fashion week was the after parties. I saw the positive and the negative aspects of the fashion industry and it was a real eye opener for me as to what this industry is all about.”

Did you face any other problems at IFW? “I had an issue wearing revealing clothes. I don’t mind wearing sleeveless or knee length dresses but I have an issue with backless or very short dresses,” said Ahmed.

When asked what she enjoyed most about IFW, Ahmed said, “The past one week was like living a dream and there is not one moment that I can pinpoint as the best one. When you are living through it, you don’t feel it but looking back it all makes sense.”

Ahmed aspires to continue working hard on her academics and not lose sight of what is most important to her but wants to continue to model on the side. “My education is very important to me and my family and I do not wish to make modelling my career but rather my hobby,” said Ahmed, “I’d rather do quality shows like Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) or another fashion week but I do not plan on doing every show that comes my way.”

“I would love to be the face of HSY or if given the chance I would love to model for Gucci because it exudes sexy cutting edge chic and that’s a look I feel I can represent best.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2011.