Mariam Michael opens up about discrimination, harassment and finding her place in showbiz

Model and actor Mariam Michael has said Christians in Pakistan continue to face discrimination, recalling how offensive slurs she heard growing up remain common in parts of the country today.

Appearing in a recent interview, she reflected on growing up as a Christian in Pakistan, saying that while the entertainment industry has become more inclusive, meaningful change will only come when attitudes shift across society. 

"Christians have been degraded from the very beginning. They were called sweepers, which I used to hear growing up. Now, if I hear anyone being called that, I feel really upset because that is what I heard throughout my childhood," she said.

Mariam argued that isolated success stories within the entertainment industry cannot erase the discrimination many Christians continue to face elsewhere.

"This will not finish just because we see one or two people in the industry who have struggled and made it far. If you go and see Christians in Lahore or in rural villages, they are being converted. People are killing them," she said.

Discussing blasphemy allegations, she urged people to verify claims before reacting. "You should listen carefully and confirm what people say. No matter what religion we belong to, you should never kill someone or go against humanity and respect," she said.

She stated that lasting change cannot depend solely on younger, urban or privileged generations, but requires a broader shift in public attitudes.

Harassment in showbiz

Mariam also spoke candidly about harassment within Pakistan's entertainment industry, saying many people remain silent because influential figures hold significant power.

Recalling an incident shared with her by a fellow model, she alleged that one of Karachi's best-known photographers attempted to harass a model during an overseas fashion show. "People hold power; there are monopolies within the system. That is why people don't discuss these issues," she said.

According to her, the photographer later invited the model to his room under the pretext of discussing editorial photographs, where he allegedly attempted to harass her. "She managed to leave and told another model, who said it was normal and advised her to just stay cautious," she recalled.

Although she said she would publicly confront anyone who harassed her, Mariam acknowledged that many victims remain silent out of fear of jeopardising their careers.

"If this happened to me, I would stand up against these people. I always feel like naming them, but I guess everyone is different and some people think it's not right because they want to continue working," she said.

Speaking about her own career, Mariam credited her older sister, model Roma Michael, with introducing her to the industry.

"Roma Michael, the one and only. She started modelling first and I used to accompany her to shoots when I was little. At the time I didn't really like it and thought I'd let her do it instead," she said.

Mariam revealed that after spending four years working in Dubai, she returned to Pakistan to help manage her sister's growing career following her Miss Grand title.

"My family told me Roma needed a manager because she was under a lot of pressure, so I moved to Karachi to help her," she said.

While accompanying her sister to the set of the drama Iqtidaar, she was unexpectedly offered a small role.

"They needed someone for an extra role. After seeing my screen presence, they told me I was good at acting and should pursue it," she recalled. "That was the signal for me. I realised I had always enjoyed this kind of work since childhood."