2020 may not have exactly been the best year for the fashion industry caught in the wake of a pandemic, but that didn’t stop these 10 faces from making waves all through the world of fashion and beyond.
From billboards to fashion shows to edgy editorials, the Pakistani fashion scene was owned by these models including some established faces who just keep getting better with the years and some fresh names that despite being new have astonished everyone with their presence. Here’s bringing you the top 10 models that owned the fashion scene in 2020 and are definitely the faces to watch out for in the coming days.
Nimra Jaqob
Nimra Jaqob can rightfully be named ‘Face Of the Year’ for 2020 with the model being one of the most sought after, bagging the top spot on our list.
Having been featured in our earlier list of the 5 models set to take over the fashion world, Nimra has certainly set her mind to it, grabbing one campaign after another for some of the biggest fashion houses in the country including the likes of Elan, Shehla Chatoor, Sania Maskatiya, Gul Ahmed, Sapphire, Outfitters, and Zara Shahjehan among many others.
She has also been rocking the runway at solo shows for Huma Adnan, Hussain Rehar, Fahad Hussayn, and Zaha. While she exuded innate regalia for Zaha, Nimra showed us her quirky side at Hussain’s debut solo show while her sun kissed strut for Huma was a sight as she carried herself with a signature style.
Nimra also boasts a fashionable personal style as she’s usually spotted flaunting her luscious black curls. It won’t be wrong to say that after a long time Pakistan has seen a model that has something uniquely international about her and is not afraid to take risks.
Hasnain Lehri
After being on and off the radar in 2019, Pakistan’s biggest male supermodel Hasnain Lehri got back to action in 2020 and with a bang. Ditching his neat stubble for a thick full beard, he debuted his new look.
Although many of the models on our list are from the newer lot and while his fellow models are only working irregularly, Hasnain has since maintained his position at the top of the ladder by constantly pushing the bar, whether it’s through editorials, brand campaigns or even his own personal style — keeping him relevant even today and no matter how many fresh faces emerge.
Some of his more prominent work in 2020 is with fashion powerhouse Sana Safinaz as their muse, looking an absolute dream as he romanced some of the prettiest new girls on the scene.
Hasnain with a fresh new look and the ability to go from a rustic nomad to a city chap, starred in campaigns for the likes of Al Karam and Gul Ahmed while also being the face for designers Ismail Farid, Ali Xeeshan, Omar Farooq’s Republic and even being the brand face for Amstel Pakistan.
While Hasnain may have won his fourth Lux Style Award for the Best Model this year, but going by the incredibly successful year he’s had it wouldn’t be a surprise if he bags the award yet again in 2021.
Mushk Kaleem
Kicking off the year with a win at the Hum Style Awards, Mushk set the tone for the rest of the year.
Following up on a massively successful 2019, Pakistan’s newest supermodel was featured as the face of several fashion campaigns this year including fashion houses like Mohsin Naveed Ranjha (MNR), Elan, Shehla Chatoor, Zara Shahjahan, Khaadi, Tena Durrani among others. She was also seen in a fashion editorial for international designer Stella Jean for whom she had earlier walked for at the Milan Fashion Week.
Apart from a stellar modelling career, Mushk also delved into hosting a talk show but with a twist. Given the long and tiring lockdown that left everyone with the only source of entertainment being their mobile phones, Mushk set the trend for Insta live sessions by hosting her own 15-episode long live talk show ‘Afterhours’ where she was seen chatting up several celebrities— making her one of the few celebrities who took on the pandemic with an innovative and optimistic approach.
Moreover, she was also spotted walking for Pakistan’s first virtual fashion show and later as things got a bit normal, Mushk was opening and closing shows once again at various solo shows including for Zaha and Hussain Rehar.
Maha Tahirani
Another model that was earlier featured on our next-gen list, Maha has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the modelling industry.
Bagging a Lux Style Award nomination for best emerging talent in the very first year is a massive feat but given her stellar and strong portfolio that is full of names that can make even any supermodel envious. From Sana Safinaz to Shehla Chatoor to Sonya Batla and HSY, Maha has them all, along with an equally awe-inspiring runway presence.
The sultry diva was seen earlier this year opening Huma Adnan’s bridal display incorporating her own chirpy personal style in the heavy wedding wear, making it relatable for today’s young brides. Her unapologetically sexy personal style and fun Insta stories chronicling her routine make her profile something always fun to go through for both style inspo and a quick mood fix.
While Maha may not have picked up the trophy as the Best Emerging Talent this year but we are sure it must have been a close battle between her and the eventual winner as there’s no way this 21-year-old bombshell went down without a good tough fight.
Kiran Naz Ghazi
With her flawless complexion and Persian features, Kiran is an embodiment of the conventional eastern beauty which quickly made her a hot favourite amongst lawn brands across Pakistan but it’s not just the desi vibe that she exudes but Kiran has also been recently seen experimenting with a more edgy persona.
Kicking off her career with Sana Safinaz’s Muzlin and winter shawl campaigns in 2019, Kiran left a mesmerising mark in the latter with her piercing eyes as she swirled through a sandy location. She was then seen working with brands like Orient, Republic Womenswear, Nishat and Farah Talib Aziz among others.
Her subtle sexiness coupled with her girl next door looks has been working tremendously for her as the model can be seen working even the most basic clothes with a certain chic style.
Having been paired opposite supermodel Hasnain Lehri in a fashion film, Kiran can be seen holding her own and making her mark — proving that she’s one face the industry needs to take notice of immediately.
Sachal Afzal
Probably the biggest breakthrough model of the year, Sachal has definitely ended his year on a high by winning the Best Emerging Talent at the 2020 Lux Style Awards, becoming the first ever male model to bag the accolade.
Being mentored by Khoji, Sachal has had a spectacular year featuring in some of the more memorable photoshoots of the year. He was seen working with brands like Deepak and Fahad, 9Lines, Outfitters and Manstream among others while managed to impress with a hugely improved Instagram displaying his dapper personal style.
Along with fashion campaigns, Sachal has also made his name in the editorial game, particularly an editorial styled by Khoji for Hello Pakistan stood out the most given its uniqueness and introducing the idea of androgynous onto the local fashion scene.
While Sachal was earlier this year featured as next-gen model to look forward to, he has without a doubt made it known through his work and an award win that he’s definitely a name to watch out in the coming days.
Abeer Rizvi
One of the very few models who keep acing their editorial game with style and experiment, Abeer Rizvi has been on a career high since the last year and didn’t let her exceedingly promising career fizzle even an inch in 2020.
Starting the year off with a best model nomination and a sultry photoshoot opposite the gorgeous Aimal Khan, she’s let people know that she’s just getting started. Abeer’s commercial portfolio features a unique mix of east and west as not seen with many models, and this very rare mix has struck the right chords for the top model.
She has more recently been featured in campaigns for top brands and designers like Elan, Sapphire, Nomi Ansari and Deepak Perwani while she has also modelled for a number of street and active wear brands — diversifying her profile as a model that can ace traditional as well as modern chic with equal panache.
Besides work, the one thing that sets Abeer apart from the rest of her fellow models is her unique and quirky personal style. Abeer can usually be spotted wearing the hottest trends on the block and working them all along. From tie-dye matching separates to braided hair to androgynous kurta shalwars, Abeer has been serving style inspo all throughout the year.
Munsif Ali Khan
Even though he was snubbed off a very well-earned and widely expected Best model nomination at the Lux Style Awards this year, Munsif remain undeterred and kept proving his mettle throughout the year.
The very good looking male model was seen gracing fashion campaigns of various top notch designers such as Ismail Farid, Nomi Ansari, Shehla Chatoor, and Mohsin Naveed Ranjha while he has also been a significant face for the brand Cambridge featuring in both its eastern and western lines —further showing his versatility as a model.
Furthermore, Munsif even ditched his pretty boy next door looks for a high-fashion editorial opposite supermodel Fouzia Aman which saw him in a completely different avatar. While he’ seen at his dapper best in every photoshoot, Munsif also has developed a fashionable side over the years and is one of the most stylish male models we have in recent times.
Rubab Ali
Probably the most criminally underrated model on the list, Rubab is one of the rare finds in the industry that not only excels in every photoshoot but also shines through in almost every frame whether it’s her being the pretty girl in a lawn jora or a high-end fashion editorial.
A chameleon in its truest definition, Rubab not only in 2020 but since the past few years has been serving some of the most remarkable work across the board however, there’s a painful lack of recognition for the model who has been bold enough to experiment with edgy, risky looks and living up to the same, Rubab went semi-bald during the lockdown this year.
Showing off her new look, the shared a series of uber cool and funky shots on her Instagram while more recently she has been spotted sporting blond and short black hair. On the work front, Rubab was seen in campaigns for Khaadi, Republic, Sapphire while her personal style and fashion statements keep her Insta page worth following.
Sarah Zulfiqar
Another of image consultant and stylist Tabesh Khoja’s discoveries, Sarah Zulfiqar had a run in with fate when she was spotted by him at a restaurant and since then has been gradually but effectively making her name in the fashion corners.
Starting off her career with a Sana Safinaz campaign, Sarah was particularly noted for her tall and lean structure and her dusky complexion that reminds you of many past and present Indian top models including the likes of Miss India Earth and Made In Heaven starlet Sobhita Dhulipala.
She was also recently seen in several other fashion campaigns for brands like Ethnic where she was photographed in a more natural and raw element adorning traditional silver jewellery as she resembled yesteryear starlet Smita Patel and also was seen in Shehla Chatoor’s annual winter campaign.
Sarah although seems to be taking it slower than the rest of the models on our list but she’s definitely here for the long run as can be seen in her sharply growing portfolio.
*Except for the top spot the list follows no particular order
