Faiza Salim is a standup and improv comedian who also hosts corporate and public events and does sitcoms and films occasionally. Additionally, she is also active on her social platforms, where she edits, directs, and performs.
To say that Faiza Saleem is a Wonder Woman is an understatement. She is the youngest of 4 children and has always been very pampered and taken care of. Here’s a fun fact: Faiza is a lawyer-turned-comedian! Yes, she chose comedy over her career as a lawyer. But what made her do so? Was it societal pressure, or was it her own choice? Let’s find out!
From Lawyer to Laughter
After completing her degree as a lawyer, Faiza Saleem started practicing law at a corporate level. After a year only, she was promoted to the role of head of department, where she was once hired at a junior level. The main purpose behind her choosing the law was to bring about a change in the system. She would go to police stations and travel around in a rickshaw just to bring a change that she had the potential to. Everything was going great until one day in 2015, she went up to her boss and resigned. What made her resign from such a reputable position was anxiety. She wanted to get out of there. She felt like she didn’t fit in the role of a lawyer and just wanted to escape.
Faiza Saleem’s Inspiring Journey
Faiza Saleem always wanted to do arts and go to NAPA, but she didn’t get permission for that. So, what did she do? Even while practicing and studying law, Faiza was doing theatre and short films. She was working as a stand-up and improv comedian. Along with this, she started creating video sketches on her social media, which gained the attention of many. She was labeled an influencer, a blogger, and whatnot. But all she wanted to do was follow her dreams and pave a path for herself in a society where plus-size women had little acceptance in the field of comedy.
Faiza Saleem believes that being a comedian in a place like Pakistan is hard, especially when you are educated and leaving behind a career. You have to work at the expense of your self-respect. Ten years back, when she started standup comedy, she was the only female in the line. And then there is gender discrimination. Male comedians tend to get away with their comments, but when it comes to females, the naysayers don’t stop blabbering. She says that the life of a female comedian is not easy in Pakistan. There are so many restrictions. “You can’t talk about politics, culture, colorism, use slang language, and so much more. You have to worry about the cringe culture and take into consideration that you don’t use phrases or words that might be embarrassing for Gen Z, so you don’t offend them.”
What Faiza Saleem thinks about working in television dramas
According to Faiza, when it comes to working in television dramas, plus-size women are the joke themselves! The entire script revolves around body-shaming them. She says that everybody has their own journey, and they should focus on their own instead of putting their nose in other people’s lives and happenings because when someone says something bad about you, it is destructive, not constructive.
Faiza believes that comedy is not bringing someone else down by calling them fat, dark, short, or tall. Comedy is when you make people laugh without putting someone else down or crossing boundaries. She has experienced extreme body shaming, has come across many demeaning phrases, and thinks that it is never-ending. All she does is ignore these comments. She has made it to magazine covers, ramp walks, and modeling for well-known designers, including Nishat Linen, Sana Safinaz, and Lulusar, and has come a long way. Her success is a slap on the faces of people who criticized her.
Her definition of success
“Struggles persist even in the social media realm, where portraying happiness is a norm.”
Her definition of success is waking up and feeling good about herself and the people around her. She feels fulfilled when she does something positive for someone every day. Faiza Saleem loves to focus on self-improvement. She has confidence in her abilities and believes that success will eventually follow.
“There’s no formula for success; consistency and self-belief are key. Over time, even substandard efforts can lead to mastery, as seen in content creators’ journeys. Let’s promote a positive environment, mind our own business, and uplift each other. Success lies in persistence and self-belief, not in putting others down.”
You can connect with Faiza Saleem through her social media profiles.
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
LINKEDIN
TIK TOK
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