Unlike many other models, she has stayed away from the camps that are endemic to the industry, an industry in which fashion photographers are also de facto modelling agencies in and of themselves. She’s also been a contender for the Lux Style Awards for the last two years running. Nominated for Best Emerging Talent, a category that lumps every kind of fresh talent under one label, she lost out to Feeha Jamshed last year. This year, she’s up for Best Female Model, something that considerably narrows the field.
“My achievement as a model can be easily assessed by how successful my covered hair shampoo advertisement has been,” points out Ayaan. “People from all over the world have appreciated that campaign and all you can see is my face!”
Given that the essential bare-bones role of a model is to be a clothes hanger and a showcase for fashion accessories, it is truly remarkable that Ayaan has managed to shine in an advertisement where all she has to communicate with is her face.
And with that very versatile face, Ayaan can easily foray into television, a territory that uber-models like Tooba Siddiqui, Aaminah Haq, Vaneeza Ahmed and Nadia Hussain have ventured into with varying degrees of success. So is the siren call of the small screen luring her in? “I would like to stick to one thing right now,” says Ayaan. “I want to concentrate on modelling right now and if a great project comes along I’ll pursue it seriously. My sense of work is very different from others. I’m a trendsetter in everything that I do and if I appeared on screen, I would want to do something new.”
Such self-confidence and clarity in someone so young has possibly come from the fact that she has left no stone unturned and done literally everything that has come her way, leading many in the industry to feel that she has become overexposed too soon. “I feel she’s come in very quick,” says Freiha Altaf, head of the modeling agency Catwalk and a former model who has run the whole fashion gauntlet herself. “I feel she’s a bit overexposed but is one of those naturally beautiful faces. It will take her a few years though to reach that supermodel status even though for me she’s more of a supermodel than anyone else with that title these days, given her vast portfolio of work,” says Frieha.
Prolific or too pervasive — that’s a matter of perspective. Ayaan feels proud of her body of work, saying, “There’s really no avenue that I haven’t undertaken. So nothing’s a challenge for me anymore. I have proved myself in every quarter and medium. Nobody works like me — I’m very hardworking.”
She may be blowing her own trumpet but retailers and designers alike will justify how enterprising and forthright she is. “You can’t go wrong with her, basically,” says fashion retailer Shehernaz Hussain admiringly. “She’s great to work with: no complaints, she’s flexible when it comes to timings or concepts or even people to work with. I’ve done multiple shoots with her including rushed one-day shoots and I think what I really appreciate about working with her is that can-do, positive attitude and the fact that she never has any diva-like tantrums or nakhras.”
This professionalism has helped her in garnering strings of projects. “The fact that she’s a model hasn’t gotten to her head,” says veteran designer Deepak Perwani. “Her face and figure is fabulous and she knows exactly what I want and delivers it. These other younger models haven’t even made the cut in the industry and they already have their heads in the clouds.”
Now that she’s worked with and wowed all and sundry on the local front, the next step for Ayaan would be, quite naturally, to go international. “I want to model for Gucci and Armani,” she says, adding that she has already been given the title of ‘Miss Calvin Klein’ and declared brand ambassador for their perfume Beauty. With her exceptional work ethic and constant presence in the industry, it is surprising that she hasn’t already ventured abroad.
“I have done work abroad,” admits Ayaan. “But it’s not big enough for me to boast about.” And it is this candidness that one finds endearing about this cherub-faced model. If there’s a ‘girl next door’ in this industry who understands the words humility and perseverance, it is Ayaan. She stands against the tanned beauty, Rabia Butt, an equally strong contender for the Lux Style Award for Best Female Model this year and if she bags this prize, then surely Ayaan would have conquered all.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, September 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (59)
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@Asif Siddiqi: All people except u are indulge in ugliness of this world, they say islam is good beacuse islam has allowed 4 marriages, islam is good beacuse we are allowed to eat meat of any kind, but when islam said that get up early in the morning for fajar, such people said no no humans rights come first and then salaat, these people prefered their own desires on islamic laws.they are practicing islam for their own benefit, one duffer said that body of a human is his own property, no matter how to use it, how illetrate people are in our society,
@Asif Siddiqi: Well you just explained things for me. You moved to Saudia so you know only too well about saying one thing and doing another. Not too long ago there were published reports on brothels and racy drug / alcohol parties in Saudi Arabia where the elite do as they wish. When these same Saudis, including their women travel to the West, have you seen where they go and what they wear? Don't be so easily mislead by Arabs. And I'm not saying this because justice in Arab countries is only for the rich and powerful and not for ordinary folks and certainly there is no justice for foreign labourers. If you have never seen indecent behaviour in the US or Canada it only tells me you didn't get out much since couples kiss and even engage in intimate relations in the open. In the warm weather, they do not hesitate to put on revealing clothes. I really think that Muslims would be better off if we all just learn to fix ourselves by being good citizens and paying taxes instead of worrying about how much skin a Pakistani model is showing. It's nothing compared to western models. I hope you understand your priorities.
@Grace: Wonder what gave you the idea that i moved to west...... i'm in Saudi Arabia. So i think don't need to further response to the confusing Muslim analogy that you accused me of :-).
However, I would defend west here as they do provide one sense of security and do give freedom of religious activities regardless. Canada I believe has currently the most thriving muslim community. In all my years spend in the US, I have never seen any indecent behavior on the road or public places. What they wear and what they do is up to them. Islam doesn't authorize me to criticize people who haven't taken an oath of my religion and my criticism for my own people is only to remind them that this is not how we are suppose to be. For rest, I can pray for them and lower my gaze.
Hope you understand. By no means Muslims are out there to change the world.
@Asif Siddiqi: LOL YOu left Pakistan and moved to the West to avoid images of models? What do you do in the US? Walk around with patches on your eyes? There you will see far more skin on the streets, parks and work place then you see in these pictures! Maybe this is why Muslims don't get ahead. They are so confused about going to West to get away from seeing too much skin on model ads in Pakistan but when semi naked Westerners parade around them, they don't seem to care!
How can you even think that way. If you think that people need to get out of their mentalility about women and get out of caves and what not like a person here commented ''she is a good role model for young pakistani girls,it’s misogynistic,bigoted cavemen who need to alter their jaundiced view of women.'' Just think for a second, that if in such a position was your sister, what would've you said? Felt proud about her revealing herself?! If you think she is a role model and i must say you must be from a typical high-class family who can accept anything! Women are to be respected. Peace.
@Sarah Khan: Well said, i salute you, as long as we have persons like you in this country, we can have our own identity preserved instead of feeling so complexed that we want to align ourselves with 'everything' promoted by the Western world!!!
@Talha:
The number of likes you win for your comments are not more important than the truth. The truth is always pleasing to Allah, no matter what. If there are killings, corruption and hypocrisy on the rise in our country, then it does not mean we should adopt everything which the western world is projecting.
Not surprising tht so many have pointed a gun on @Asif. Though i tend to agree with her! I dont know who practicing Muslim she is. First thing we will be questioned on the Judgement Day will be about Namaz.How regular we are. I dont know if she prayers or not. Sania Mirza was questioned lot of times abt her clothing. But on other side it was said tht she is very regular with her prayers, which makes her much better than lot of muslim who might be wearing full clothes but do not practice religion.
Having said that these clothing will always raise the questions & why not? I know, u know it & every muslim knows it is opposite to clothing Islam asked us to wear. Only way ppl justify it, is comparing with another things/people.
What interesting is not soo long ago, when we see someone in sleeveless, we are like wats going on! & now we are f9 with mini shirts, shorts etc. This is somthing we all should ponder upon. Where do we draw a line? Is our culture inline with our religion? Which direction we are heading?
I hear lot of my Muslim brother says" Allah is the greatest and most forgiving", so true! 100% right, but remember he will do"INSAAF" as well, means he might forgive on lot of things, but when after all the calculations, ones bad deeds is more than other person bad deeds, they will have different sentences as well. It will never be the same.
beauty,go and work hard,Allah will do better
truly stunning beauty
Ayaan, its very nice to see you in Bollywood.
@Ranjit: You really have no idea what most Pakistanis look like..Yes,in the south,they resemble North Indians ,but they range from dusky to blonde/blue eyed in other countries!
She is a beauty. No doubt she will replace Iman Ali as the next big thing. I have seen her adds but she should go for acting as well. She can do well.
@Amjad .. This conversation only started on snaps of a model throwing her clothes off on a newspaper site, which is read by Pakistanis of all ages ... I just don't understand where people are leading this conversation into.
You are not willing to call what is wrong as wrong .. but throwing ten zillion other issues which have no relevance over here.... From where are you bringing Arabs in this debate? who is supporting or praising them here? Shouldn't we be more worried about our own issues. Diverting from one issue and pushing ten other issues is simply a trick one masters living in Pakistan.
I am not preaching others anything. I am using my right to openly object on some thing which is in direct collision with our religion and values and should not be practiced by media as they have the power to reach to millions who just don't understand what is right or wrong.
With the attitude of responses ... i think its too late to even talk sense ...
@Asif Siddiqi: We can do without your moralizing. You think we don;t know how confused and two faced Muslims in the West are? Take a quick trip to Europe and remind yourself why Arabs are hated in France, Iranians are detested in Scandinavia and Turks are hated in Germany. The same reason that Muslims are hated in the UK. They are involved in welfare, insurance and disability fraud and they all pretend to be pious. Most are at the bottom of society there and are alienated from mainstream society. As for the US and Canada, don't get me started with the social problems they have there. I suggest you fix yourself and fix Muslim societies in Western countries before you dare start moralizing about how to fix Arabs in corrupt Arab states or Afghanistan or Somalia or Pakistan. Guy comes here to look at pictures of a model and starts to moralize to others when he probably is watching some Indian woman in a sari exposing her belly and dancing to some Bollywood song!
@hassaan khan: Brother you are taking my perspective in an entirely wrong direction. I do understand your frustrations as well. I think we as nation will have to get up and ask these questions from the people who are running the parliaments. Why are we fueling web sites when we can go out and demand corrective measures to be taken. But all this will happen when we start building that sincerity for Pakistan. In our routine life we do ten things which are not even suitable to any human less any muslim. This is not about me objecting at some thing (which by the way is not right). How do people know that i don't object about 10 others things which are wrong. Just assuming that I have not voiced my concern against any other issues and are just bashing this moderate approach is quite biased in its own self.
My point ... after 64 long years or pain ... we need to for once understand who we are ..
OOH LA LA.....Love those Green eyelashes in the 1st pic. B-) Excellent article. Enjoyed reading it. Well-Done H Taha. Peace
@Ranjit: If you think this girl doesn't look Pakistani, you obviously have never been to Pakistan. There is a mix of very many different influences and races in Pakistan, particularly in the West and North West. Yes in Karachi you will find many people who look typically South Asian but that is because much of Karachi's population originate as migrants from India. If you go to rural Pakistan you will see many different looks among native Pakistanis.She looks very Pakistani if you were to ask some native Pakistani.As for the haters here, just let the girl do her own thing. She deserves to make her own future and career. If you are against modeling, don't watch and fashion shows and leave it to girls like us who love Pakistani fashion.
@ruleworld
So you decide what your sister/daughter/wife wears, and her relatives decide what she wears. Whats wrong with that?
WOW. So overwhelmed by the responses. I wonder why I was pushed to the side of religious fanatics by saying "Is this a Pakistani model or some western soul trapped in a Pakistani body? Islamic Republic of Pakistan … what a joke" ... I'm sorry if my mediocre understanding of religion hurts so many, but isn't that is taught to us from day one?. Kind of a shock for me that in terms of understanding our own religion, we have touched such lows that some thing which is clearly Forbidden in Islam is so brazenly advocated. May be effect of watching too many 90210 that we feel more attached to western culture than ours. And proud Muslims we are even then..
And ....then i'm asked to go do a Jihad against all the socio & economic injustices of Pakistan. Is that all because of my statement? or is it because no body is loyal to Pakistan in Pakistan?. And how does one vice justify another? What is wrong with us? We don't follow the religion ... certainly don't have the strength to desert it .. so selectively take on the mullahs and curse them on our own ignorance and all others who oppose anything which we like. Where would they be ... if we knew a little about our own religion??? Who will do the namaz-e-janaza of our beloveds ... cause certainly most of us don't know how to offer it ... Oh where will i stop ... but i guess for most expats like me ... the reason of leaving Pakistan is because ... we had enough ... In a circus of frustrations and intolerance... we have lost our path in religion and in humanity ...
Now go figure why the entire world is treating you the way it is ... Muslims protecting indecency in the name of moderate Islam ... just great ...
she's only a good model cos she's showing skin. i know tonnes of girls who're way "hotter" and better looking but they'd rather cover themselves up in modest clothing than dress half naked just to please men. us women have a choice- either to cater the lust of men or please one's Creator.
Hmmmm... So while I see little issue with anyone making a choice of what to do with their life, people who have been posting here praising her as an excellent role model for the girls inside Pakistan need to wake up and see the reality around them. Choosing to show skin is a private choice, being harassed by men in public is a fact of life in Pakistan. We would love to change the mentality but that will take time and while we are not ready for all that skin in public, being modest do not make you ancient. Asif Siddiqui, I know how you feel.
What
s wrong with this girl, she is beautiful, she is talented and she is properly dressed from all point of view. If you don
t like, dont see it and don
t make any comment. life is attractive due to such brave women. Is it not true?After reading all the comments, all I can say is what a messed up nation we are. Two extremes claiming the righteous path. We deserve where we are today. I wont blame our (nation) fate again for our current miseries.
Seriously guys for goodness sake why do our indian friends Have to use paki names>? :P anyway this is NOT pour culture period Give Siddiqui a break and get some life for all those supporting would u support and like to see ur Wife/Daughter/Mother/ Sister like her in same dresses for all to "enjoy"?
If not than cut the cra* and stop being a hypocrite.
@Asif Siddiqui
Have you read the outburst of comments against you? This is because of the fact that in Islamic Republic of Feudals (Pakistan i.e), people responsible for Islam, i.e the Ulema and the religious leaders have themselves not portrayed a good character. You lead by setting a good example of your own self. What have they preeched in the last 60 years?? Think about it. The reason people are "buying" this girl is the fact that there exists a market for her to "sell" herself and the product along with it. Its simple.
Her teeth are crooked in the first picture! L.O.L.
She is very pretty btw, I used to think she was Lebanese or maybe Persian. Mind = Blown!
Is she a real person or a mannequin. One from Yorkdale Mall is missing.
@Asif Siddiqi: I think you're the joke man. She's a pretty girl who aspires to be a model and she is doing well. Go live your own life and leave her alone. Tell me where there is a proper so called Islamic culture and lifestyle? Is it in some Arab country where civilians are killed and beaten for demonstrating and speaking their mind against a ruler. Look at all the prostitutes in Arab countries. Even in so called Islamic Iran, there is active prostitution and vice. As for Afghanistan under the Taleban, they were too busy raping little boys in Bache Bazi and beating women. Take a chill pill and learn to become a better human being before you pass judgement on others. That's why there is so much instability in Muslim countries. People don't look in the mirror and fix themselves first. They look at others. I'm proud of you Ayaan. You do Pakistan and Pakistanis like me proud! Keep up the great work and I wish you continued success.
Honestly people commenting on this post have a very distorted view of Islam and pakistan, it's very shocking. People here keep mentioning mullahs and beards and terrorism/ extremist and then say that this model showing her skin is very modern and liberal. Islam isn't mullahs and terrorism but neither is showing legs like this: they are both extremes. Start living with mordern moderation:no mullahs and Taliban but also not showing so much skin like this which is unacceptable in our Islamic republic in whih we enjoy the right to have our own systems and policies according to our own religion and culture.
@Asif Siddiqi: why don't you just zip it! A little bit of physical beauty in pakistanis is causing you pain? what about the ugliness of Mullahs destroying people and pakistan and harming Islam and the teachings of the last prophet pbuh - thats not causing you anguish?
oh shut up....honestly if people in our country are going to cry over this while there are millions of injustices in the country then we have one messed up society...does she pay taxes? yes then good, is she violating my civil liberties/rights? no, then good....who cares about the rest...
i wish we would be that much sentimental about islamic identity while reading news like corruption,hoarding,rapes and the list goes on and on!!!
Loving the use of the word Nakhras XD
And yes, she is stunning in everything she does. I always find it hard to imagine she can top one particular campaign and then she comes in guns blazing somewhere else.
LOL, I am not sure whether @Asif Siddiqi is correct or not, but by the look of how tewnty people have burst over a one line comment shows how full of poison we are for anybody who wishes to present a view different from the general mood of this forum. lol, seems contradictory to principles of 'tolerance' promoted by self proclaimed visionaries. Its okay @Asif Siddiqi, I for one would ponder over your concerns rather then feel insecure !!!!
Gee. she is so hot and beautiful.. She will be very welcome in Bollywood And I guess Katrina won't be too happy with it.
We can imagine, where we will be in next 10 years
@Asif Siddiqi: Seriously Asif? Islamic republic of Pakistan has nothing to do with Islam anyways. The West has an influence so strong its irresistible for a lot of people. I'm not saying that its ok to adopt the western side but its her personal business and this has been going on since long, the fashion industry. There's nothing new about it. And she's really talented and is doing a great job in her industry regardless of the religion. Religion is just a cloak we disguise ourselves in, our faith is already corrupt. Please don't pull the religion in this debate, Islam deserves respect.
@Asif Siddiqi & Abdullah: Don't be a hypocrite. Your self-righteousness sure made you check out her photos before passing judgmental comments.
She's a beautiful model and very comely. Wishing her future successes.
nice pics Ayaan....and good initiative....your body is your property and you are within your rights to do as you like with it.
do not let the shambles of a two-faced country bother you, where 15% of the population hardly prays but 85% of the population is ready to condemn any and everyone who is evolved.
all these beardos are the first to ogle at every passing woman and also the first to condemn them as soon as they get off!!
@Asif Siddiqi - give her a break dude... Perhaps you should shift next door to Afghanistan if this country isn't pious enough for you?
i like her but not her shampoo ad.!!
ET by publishing her photograph in this attire, you have put this young model into lot of trouble. If mullas see this photograph, they are not going to spare her and may issue fatwas against her.
@Asif Siddiqi:
does a girl have to be ashamed of being a female for her to qualify as a good girl in the islamic republic of pakistan? she is a good role model for young pakistani girls,it's misogynistic,bigoted cavemen who need to alter their jaundiced view of women.
@Asif Siddiqi
Ghairat came on time, didn't it?
Her life, her choice, who are you to dictate someone?
As for this Islamic Republic where murder, theft, corruption etc reign supreme, a girl showing a small amount of skin is the biggest threat to Islam.
She has the potential to go international.
Is this a Pakistani model or some western soul trapped in a Pakistani body? Islamic Republic of Pakistan ... what a joke