Muniba Mazari

Muniba Mazari Baloch was born on March 3, 1987, in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan. She attended Army Public School and later pursued a BFA at college in her hometown. At the age of 18, her studies were paused due to marriage. In 2008, at 21 years old, a car accident left her paraplegic with multiple severe injuries, including a spinal cord injury. Doctors indicated she would likely never walk again or become a mother. Despite these prognoses, Mazari embarked on a journey of recovery and transformation, beginning to paint while in the hospital as a form of distraction and therapy. This period marked a significant turning point in her life, leading her to embrace her new circumstances and advocate for others facing similar challenges.

Following two years of being bed-ridden and undergoing physiotherapy, Mazari regained enough mobility to use a wheelchair. In 2011, she adopted her son, Niele. Her career subsequently diversified, encompassing roles as an artist, activist, anchor, model, singer, and motivational speaker. Her art, primarily acrylics on canvas, is showcased under her brand, ‘Muniba’s Canvas,’ with exhibitions held in Lahore and Dubai. Her motivational speaking career gained prominence after a TEDx event in Islamabad in November 2014, where she delivered a message of hope and perseverance. This led to her working with Pakistan Television (PTV) as an anchor. Her advocacy work extends to supporting underprivileged children’s education and speaking on issues of gender inequality and discrimination across Pakistan.

Mazari has achieved international recognition for her work and advocacy. In December 2015, UN Women appointed her as Pakistan’s first National Ambassador, an event that highlighted her dedication to ending gender-based discrimination and working towards gender equality. She was also named one of BBC’s ‘100 Women’ for 2015 and included in Forbes’ ’30 Under 30′ list for 2016 in the Media and Marketing category. Additionally, she received The Karic Brothers Award in 2017 for humanitarian services. Brand partnerships with Pond’s and Toni & Guy further established her as a public figure, with Toni & Guy featuring her as their first-ever wheelchair-using model in Asia for their ‘Women of Substance’ campaign. Muniba Mazari continues to use her platform to promote mental health, diversity, and inclusivity, encouraging self-acceptance and challenging societal norms.