Taking the Risk on Pakistan

"Fashion shows are booming in Pakistan "

Fashion shows are booming in Pakistan – including in Peshawar, one of the most conservative cities in the country.

There’s at least one fashion show there each month – which is a dream come true for aspiring models from the local Pashtun community.

One of the bright stars is 21-year old Nagina Nayaz.

During the day, she’s a nurse at a local hospital in Peshawar.

But at night, she pursues her dream – to become a singer and a model.

“I shifted to Peshawar permanently because people in my area don’t like women going out and becoming a singer, a dancer, an actress or a model. It was very difficult when I was called up for the audition. I was all alone and did not have any of my relatives with me.”

Nagina’s rehearsing for tonight’s show where she’ll be singing and stepping down the catwalk.

She lives alone in Peshawar, after leaving her family four years ago in Lakki Marwat in the province’s south, near a militant strong hold.

Now only her mother knows where she is – her location is kept secret from her male family members, who might react violently if they knew their sister was a model.

She remembers her first performance on the runway – just last October, as part of Peshawar’s first ever fashion show.

“I was extremely worried and afraid the first time I walked down the runway. There were so many people watching, and outside people were protesting against the show. I was afraid that there would be a bomb blast outside the event. What would I tell my family if I got hurt? Most of my family do not know anything about my fashion career.”

Tonight there’s a show at a luxurious Peshawar hotel – Nagina is getting ready to sing on stage.

She uses these last few minutes to rehearse once more.

Tonight’s  music and fashion show is organised by GREO, a talent school for Pashtun singers, actresses and models.

Nagina is one of the students there.

More than 500 people have gathered on the hotel lawn.

Nagina’s singing tonight is a success – and now she’s ready for the runway.

She designed the clothes herself – a long bright red dress with a matching headscarf - and walks with bold confidence down the catwalk.

Many locals disapprove of events like this.

24-year old university student Abdul Jabbar isn’t at the party – he’s just passing by outside the hotel .

But he knows about the show taking place – and thinks it’s a sin.

“These fashion shows and the women walking on the catwalk are against our Pashtun culture and our religion. No one can justify it even though the women give thousands of reasons. Bad equals bad, it can’t just be made good by offering a justification. It’s a shame against the woman’s family for her to walk in front of strangers. They walk in a way that shows their body parts to other males. Sin remains sin even if you call it a fashion show or whatever. I am against the militants but if they targeted events like these I would really support that because these events should be stopped by force.”

Saima Amir is the organiser of tonight’s event.

She’s also the owner of GREO talent school – the only one of its kind in Peshawar run by a woman.

She says she’s just providing a stage for Pashtun girls to show their talents in acting, singing and modelling.

“Extremists in Pashtun society always object to the dresses that models wear in fashion shows. But I design culturally-acceptable clothing for models so that they can’t object. The young generation likes modelling and fashion and I try to support them to express what they like … there is no harm if it is in accordance with their culture.”

Away from the spotlight Nagina tells me how serious she is about her career.

“I dream every night that I will become one of the top models and singers in the country, and that I will have many fans. I tell myself that I should not lose my hope and I pray to Allah to fulfill my dream. I work and struggle hard for this. It’s my dream, I don’t sing and walk on the catwalk for the money. It’s my life’s ambition!”

• Pakistan Catwalks
• Mudassar Shah
• Women
• women rights
• eng