From model to aspiring model businesswoman
Huma Khan on gearing up to open eponymous fashion label and why she keeps the runway at bay
Huma recently got engaged to someone who is far removed from the world of entertainment, someone she feels will keep her grounded. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY
LAHORE:
There’s something about Huma Khan that’s intriguing. Perhaps it’s her willingness to explore new territories or her unwillingness to overreach her goals. This is why despite having worked with most leading designers and high-street brands in print, she tries to maintain a low profile by keeping the runway at bay. “There are certain personal reasons behind why I don’t do fashion shows and everyone knows that about me. But I’m having so much fun. This is where I’m meant to be,” she tells The Express Tribune.
But this is not where she draws the line for herself as a career woman. Although the inevitable next step for many models, including her sister Uzma Khan, has been to venture into television and film, Huma decides to diverge from the norm. Uzma, who was lauded for her role as Lubna in the hit film Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, may have been steadily working her way up, but that hasn’t influenced Huma’s plans.
In fact, she’s gearing up to launch her eponymous label featuring eastern and western apparel in the next six months. “I have multiple offers for acting in TV dramas and films, but I’m more interested in modelling and preparing for the launch of my brand,” she says.
‘Teri Meri Love Story’ to go on floors
Huma doesn’t plan on designing for the label herself and will focus her energies on its business aspect. “I’ve hired designers who are fresh graduates from Pakistan and Dubai to take care of the designing aspect of my brand,” she adds. With a growing number of designer labels having seaped into the local market, Huma is mindful of the competition she will be faced with. But she remains unfettered and goes on to state, “Any business that one gets into requires hard work and I’m no stranger to that. As I [made it] in modelling, against all odds, I will in this too.”
On the modelling front, the 24-year-old revels in how she has worked with names such as Sana Safinaz, Ali Xeeshan, Shamaeel Ansari and Zaheer Abbas, along with retail brands including Bonanza, Sapphire, Stoneage and House of Aphrodite. “I have been on the cover of every major magazine in the country,” she shares with a sense of contentment in her voice. But regardless of her promising portfolio, she hasn’t managed to achieve the level of recognition some of her contemporaries have, which could be accounted to her conscious decision of running away from the runway.
Yalghaar slated for release on December 25
Commenting on how it all began for her, she says photographer Khawar Riaz would tell her she should give modelling a shot when she used to accompany her older sister Uzma, who has been in the industry for longer, to shoots. “The next thing I knew, I was signing a contract with Guddu Shani. I was very camera shy and never thought modelling would be the career path for me. It definitely did not come naturally so I worked extremely hard.” Huma recently got engaged to someone who is far removed from the world of entertainment. “I’ve gotten engaged to someone who will keep me grounded,” she states.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21th, 2015.
There’s something about Huma Khan that’s intriguing. Perhaps it’s her willingness to explore new territories or her unwillingness to overreach her goals. This is why despite having worked with most leading designers and high-street brands in print, she tries to maintain a low profile by keeping the runway at bay. “There are certain personal reasons behind why I don’t do fashion shows and everyone knows that about me. But I’m having so much fun. This is where I’m meant to be,” she tells The Express Tribune.
But this is not where she draws the line for herself as a career woman. Although the inevitable next step for many models, including her sister Uzma Khan, has been to venture into television and film, Huma decides to diverge from the norm. Uzma, who was lauded for her role as Lubna in the hit film Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, may have been steadily working her way up, but that hasn’t influenced Huma’s plans.
In fact, she’s gearing up to launch her eponymous label featuring eastern and western apparel in the next six months. “I have multiple offers for acting in TV dramas and films, but I’m more interested in modelling and preparing for the launch of my brand,” she says.
‘Teri Meri Love Story’ to go on floors
Huma doesn’t plan on designing for the label herself and will focus her energies on its business aspect. “I’ve hired designers who are fresh graduates from Pakistan and Dubai to take care of the designing aspect of my brand,” she adds. With a growing number of designer labels having seaped into the local market, Huma is mindful of the competition she will be faced with. But she remains unfettered and goes on to state, “Any business that one gets into requires hard work and I’m no stranger to that. As I [made it] in modelling, against all odds, I will in this too.”
On the modelling front, the 24-year-old revels in how she has worked with names such as Sana Safinaz, Ali Xeeshan, Shamaeel Ansari and Zaheer Abbas, along with retail brands including Bonanza, Sapphire, Stoneage and House of Aphrodite. “I have been on the cover of every major magazine in the country,” she shares with a sense of contentment in her voice. But regardless of her promising portfolio, she hasn’t managed to achieve the level of recognition some of her contemporaries have, which could be accounted to her conscious decision of running away from the runway.
Yalghaar slated for release on December 25
Commenting on how it all began for her, she says photographer Khawar Riaz would tell her she should give modelling a shot when she used to accompany her older sister Uzma, who has been in the industry for longer, to shoots. “The next thing I knew, I was signing a contract with Guddu Shani. I was very camera shy and never thought modelling would be the career path for me. It definitely did not come naturally so I worked extremely hard.” Huma recently got engaged to someone who is far removed from the world of entertainment. “I’ve gotten engaged to someone who will keep me grounded,” she states.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21th, 2015.