Putting the Super in Supermodel: the one and only Aliya Zaidi

 

Aliya Zaidi stands tall and towering as one of Pakistan’s most celebrated supermodels of the 1990s, renowned for her striking presence, extraordinary long legs, and effortless command of the runway and her embrace of the still camera. Born in Karachi, Zaidi entered the fashion world almost by chance at age 18 while pursuing her MBA. What began as a hobby quickly blossomed into a powerhouse career that defined an era of Pakistani fashion. She became a favourite for top designers including Nilofar Shahid, Kamiar Rokni, Rehana Saigal, and Ammar Belal, gracing magazine covers and strutting international ramps in New York, Paris, and Mumbai.

Her towering height (around 5'9"), model proportions, and bold, glamorous persona earned her the title of Pakistan’s Number One Supermodel following an industry survey in the late 90s. Paired with contemporaries like Iraj Manzoor, Zaidi and her peers represented Pakistan’s golden age of modeling — a local equivalent to the international supermodel phenomenon of Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Cindy Crawford. Fashion observers often highlighted her stature, statuesque presence and dramatic flair, noting she was never one to blend into the background. She walked for major shows, appeared in campaigns, and even participated in Paris Fashion Week in 1995.

At the peak of her success, Zaidi chose family, marriage and maternity over the spotlight. She married, moved to New York, and later Hong Kong, prioritising motherhood for her two (now-in-college !) children. She stepped back from full-time modeling but occasionally returned to the catwalk, including memorable appearances in dramatic ensembles by Shamaeel, a few editorial fashion shoots for international magazines. Her life abroad embraced new chapters: property renovation, styling, and charity work and her passion project, The Bark and The Bite. Yet her heart remained connected to Karachi’s vibrant culture, fashion and family. Famed as the 'hostess with the mostess", her gatherings in Hong Kong, LA and New York or in Karachi are famed for feast, friends and her acquired "fam", the friends she's picked up around the world. The gilded invites remain a coveted card as she opens her home and heart to the ones she meets along her globe-trotting way. 

Today, Aliya Zaidi continues to embody glamour and resilience. Whether sharing glimpses of fashion, food, and family or reuniting with fellow 90s icons like Frieha Altaf and Atiya Khan, she radiates the same confidence that made her a legend. Her journey reflects the evolving role of women balancing ambition, family, and personal evolution across continents. In Pakistan’s fashion history, Aliya Zaidi remains an enduring symbol of elegance, strength, and timeless style. Fashion fades, trends change, Aliya Zaidi's style is eternal. 

Watch this space as she prepares for an epic shoot with the new kids on the fashion block in the 852. 

The girl can twirl: Aliya Zaidi strikes a pose for Galaxy Magazine's Wedding Supplement

 

Photographer Samantha Sin in Hong Kong.
MUA: Renny Fensham

TBT: Photographer Sabrina Sikora's throwback to a feature shoot with Aliya Zaidi

This throwback made me smile. Photographer Sabrina Sikora posted on his social media - reminding me nearly a decade ago we did this glamorous feature and shoot for SCMP. 

Good times, great memories. 

Aliya Zaidi

'Tis the birthday of my lovely friend Aliya Zaidi!

She's my go-to model when I need someone tall, photogenic and can fit into sample sizes from Western brands and Eastern with equal ease.

She was introduced to me by a horrible person - who has mercifully fled the city - but every dark cloud has a silver lining; and my silver lining was the enduring friendship of this long limb'd, gorgeous gal!

Happy days Ms Z. An archive of nearly all shoots and features in the past decade here.

Above: Aliya Zaidi in Armani

Below: Aliya Zaidi in Ralph Lauren

The A to Z: Aliya Zaid strikes a pose for MyPlace magazine: Pacific Place's signature publication,

For Pacific Place's magazine My Place. 

Sadly, the magazine is no longer in circulation.

Aliya Z brought it!!

Click on images to enlarge.

Outtakes: Aliya Zaidi

TBT: Aliya Zaidi for Galaxy magazine's wedding special.

Photography: Samantha Sin
Wardrobe: Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor at Sanskrit, Hong Kong
Hair and makeup: Rennie Fensham
Model: Aliya Zaidi

More from this golden, glorious shoot in the archive here.

This is one of several shoots I've done with Aliya over the years; an entire list here.

#ThrowbackTuesday: Shooting with Aliya Zaidi:

Going over a wedding supplement at office and while searching, these images, shot by Samantha Sin, popped up.

One of my fav ladies in Hong Kong, Ms Aliya Z. 

Outfit from Sanskrit. 

A Time for Tradition

Snaps from a feature on weddings.
Shot at Galaxy Macau.

Whenever I need an Asian mod, Aliya Z is my go-to gal! And yet again, she rocked it out! We made her turn and turn until we got 'the' shot.

Special thanks to Komal Mirchandani for the wardrobe loan. All oohd and aaahd when this outfit popped out of the suitcase.


Photography: Samantha Sin
Wardrobe: Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor at Sanskrit, HK
Hair and makeup: Rennie Fensham
Model: Aliya Z

Just another day in the office. Outtakes from a wedding shoot

Going over printouts and colour proofs and what not for upcoming issue. 

With my gorgeous friend Aliya, yet again.

Model: Aliya Zaidi

Photographer: Samantha Sin

MUA: Rennie Fensham 

Domestic Goddess: Alia Zaidi at home

Photography by Olaf Mueller 

Assistants: Moses Ng and Toby Chan 

 Hair and Make-up: Karen Yiu 

Art Direction and Styling: Rama and Aliya Z 

Producer: P. Ramakrishnan 

* Special thanks to Ann Tsang See earlier post, 

Making of... Domestic Goddess

Aliya Zaidi: Beauty and the East

As you might expect of a former model who strutted the catwalks from New York to Lahore in the early 1990s, Aliya Zaidi's wardrobe is a festival of colour, embracing both the styles of the wild West and the conservative East.

"I am a big fan of Dolce & Gabbana, the clothes fit like a glove and remain classics in my opinion," says the mother of two. "I also love the over-the-top drama of Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gaultier. I adore Tom Ford's design sense and the attitude that he has brought to fashion."

She reels off a list of those behind the seams in Karachi and Lahore. "Pakistani designers like Umar Sayeed, Faiza Samee, Shamaeel, Ayesha Farook Hashwani star in my cupboards. And I love long, printed saris from Indian designer Satya Paul," she says.

"Pakistani fashion stems from heavy and ornate bridal pieces. Weddings are decadent and the bride and groom are outfitted in the finest silks, embroidery and jewellery. A mother works on a daughter's trousseau for years. Intricate handmade embroidery has been part of our fashion culture for hundreds of years and has trickled down from the royals to the masses. People in Karachi and Lahore will dish out thousands of dollars on couture."

The shimmer of Zaidi's rhinestone-studded shoes - the trinity of Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti - lines multiple-tiered shelves.

"I love colour. A bright dress not only brightens up your day, but also lifts your spirit. There is nothing like rolling out of the house in a bright fuchsia number on a dull, rainy Hong Kong morning. I love Missoni, Milly and Pucci for statement pieces."

Her favourite accessories are trinkets that carry sentimental value, including a Tiffany pendant her husband gave her on their first anniversary. She also has a soft spot for everyday silver hoops. "I have been wearing hoops since middle school. My Rolex means a lot to me, as my mother wore it every day until she passed away. She also gave me her gold coin earrings, which I think are classic. Passing down jewellery is part of my culture, and I plan to do the same for my daughter."

For the New York fashionista in her, she has monogrammed necklaces from Chanel, shades from Tom Ford, perfumes by Jean Paul Gaultier and handbags from Bottega Veneta.

But having risen to fame in Pakistan, where she was voted one of the nation's most fashionable people by the local press earlier this year, Zaidi carries the Eastern aesthetic with ease. She marries ethnic jewellery with Western ensembles. It is an art she has perfected with time.

"I've been heavily into gold accessories for the past two years. I love old school Kundan and polki jewellery [large, chunky Southeast Asian pieces]. It can dress up a Western outfit or enhance traditional gear.

"I am infamous for changing outfits at my parties," she adds with a laugh. "I am very much into drama. I like to have one dress for receiving the guests and one for enjoying the party. Clothes are my passion, and I have no qualms admitting it. My closet consists of items I fell in love with 20 years ago. And I still love them."

To Zaidi, wardrobe is the ultimate personal statement. "What you wear should reflect you - an outfit should complement your personality," she says. "A loud and busy print is so not becoming on a woman with a quiet disposition. You should be able to guess what I'm like from what I wear."

Caption: Aliya Zaidi's closet is bursting with bright colours (top); part of her jewellery collection (above).
Photos: Sabrina Sikora



NOTES:

Though we met thanks to a truly awful person in Hong Kong, the silver lining remains, till date, the grand introduction to the ever-stunning Aliya Zaidi. I remain in constant delight in the presence of the gorgeous Aliya who stays in a perpetual state of grace.


Along with my other tall-drinka-water, model-turned-photographer Sabrina Sikora (aka gorgeous-much?), we spent a delightful afternoon chatting and snapping away. And this feature came about for Lifestyle, last week in South China Morning Post.

Even before I arose from the dead (magazine finally went to print and I slept for 14 blissful hours), I knew the feature had hit newsstands by the innumerable missed calls and msgs. The brown contingent maybe small in Hong Kong, but they are frightfully media-aware! Aliya and family were out of town the day the paper came out with the feature, am hoping all those who matter like it!

We shot Aliya Zaidi in Western (D&G) and Eastern outfits (AFH) but the powers-that-be-chose this look.

Now the big q; what to do next year? Hmm.

Meanwhile, outtakes below.
And the feature on the left was mine too. I really did have a Good Friday. ha.

Behind the label: AFH: Designer Ayesha F. Hashwani

Who started it? AFH was established in 2005 by designer Ayesha F. Hashwani and is known for its dizzying swathes of fabric, splashes of colour and timeless, luxurious and (surprisingly for a Pakistani designer) sexy ensembles. Applying the richness of traditional Eastern crafts and motifs to contemporary fashion trends from the West makes for beautiful looks with a distinct touch of exotica. AFH's colours for 2012 range from bright shades such as tangerine to soft muted tones and "fun-loving pastels", says the designer, "with lots of white chiffon, a must-have for summer". 

The main fabrics include voluminous voiles and light silks with a cotton blend. The Karachi-based designer's outfits have been flying off the racks at O'Nitaa in London and Studio 8 in Dubai - and are finally making an appearance in Hong Kong. 

Why we love it: for outfits that are both figure hugging and forgiving. Covering a multitude of sins with long kaftan-like shapes and flowing cocktail dresses, the designer provides a variety of lengths, styles and volumes for any woman. Whether it's asymmetrical hemlines, trains or pleats, there's no shortage of glamour at the label. 

What we'd pick: the airy, long, wispy white dress with arm-length embellishments (left; HK$4,100) and the ornate black cocktail dress (above left; HK$5,300). 

Where can you get it? Online at www.afhashwani.com or through Aliya Zaidi in Hong Kong (to book an appointment, e-mail aliya666@gmail.com or call 6088 9898). 

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan (ramakrishnanp @ hotmail.com)

Night of Fashion and Style; PK Fashion in HK: Aliya Zaidi leads the Way

When Shahneela Faruqui and Pakistan’s style icon Aliya Zaidi sent out invites to 230 guests in Hong Kong, to showcase the works of designers Rizwan Beyg, Faiza Samee, Ayesha Farook Hashwani, it was an eye-opening event and an education. A look behind the scenes of a thriving fashion community tucked away in a region that gets little international press on what happens behind the glistering seams. So the aptly titled night, An Evening of Fashion and Style, kicked off an elegant evening.

Of the awesome threesome of designers who flew in from Karachi, Beyg is the face of the establishment as his sartorial creations have donned the likes of Jemima Khan and the late Princess Diana, “I got introduced to Lady Diana by Jemima, who’s an old friend. Diana was an amazing model as she had the height and such grace. For her I created a pearl-studded outfit – I knew how much she liked pearls – and it was flattering to her complexion,” said the stage-shy designer, who ran from the spotlight when it hit him at the end of the show. “I wasn’t a fan of the late Princess before, but after meeting her, you can’t help but love her. She was sheer elegance.”

As the international girls from Vivien Li’s Lotus Models hit the catwalk in an array of multi-coloured creations, Beyg said, “I wish people knew that there is such a thing as a fashion community in Pakistan and we aren’t just making designer burkhas! The couture work, the hand-crafted, embroidered, rich-fabrics and bejeweled items – there’s a world out there.”

At the Aberdeen Marina Club, we saw a few notable faces in the crowd who got glimpse of that sizzling sartorial world, including, Purviz Shroff, Bhagwanti Mohan, Avisha Harilela, Shirley Hiranand, Reyna Harilela, Divia Harilela, Janana Suleymanli, Radhe Chellaram, Harry Banga and Indra Banga among others, who stayed well into the night as a charity auction culminated the evening.

Without question, the star of the night was Aliya Zaidi, aptly supported by her cheering husband Asghar Ali. Said the statuesque former supermodel, “I wanted to showcase the established and the rising stars of the fashion industry from Pakistan. Each outfit we auctioned was picked up – and all the money goes to The Citizens Foundation, a charity that provides education to underprivileged children. Seeing the response, I hope we can do this event every year. Creating awareness, education and a fun, fashionable night out.”

Beauty with a purpose indeed.

Published in South China Morning Post. 

By P. Ramakrishnan
(e-mail: ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)