Tag

Latest Interviews

Browsing

Hadiyya Aazer is no stranger to the world of public relations, but it’s her personal journey that has captivated and inspired countless women. Known for her jaw-dropping weight loss transformation, Haadiya has become a beacon of motivation for those striving for self-improvement and wellness. Beyond her work in PR, she has expanded her influence into the beauty industry with the launch of ‘H Salon & Spa’, offering a space where self-care and empowerment go hand in hand.

In this interview, Haadiya shares her story, her passion for beauty, and the drive that keeps her constantly evolving.

You’ve had an inspiring weight loss journey that many look up to. How did this transformation influence your personal and professional life?

My weight loss journey has transformed both my personal and professional life. Personally, it gave me newfound energy and confidence, allowing me to be more present with my family. Professionally, it boosted my focus and determination, helping me grow my salon business and connect more deeply with my audience as an influencer. It’s shown me that discipline and consistency are key to success in all areas of life.

Being a well-known PR person in the media industry, how has your role evolved over the years, and what key lessons have you learned along the way?

Over the years, my role as a PR person in the media industry has evolved from managing basic communications to crafting strategic narratives that resonate with audiences. The key lessons I’ve learned are the importance of building genuine relationships, staying adaptable in a fast-changing landscape, and always being authentic. Consistency and credibility have been vital in shaping my professional growth.

With a successful career in PR, what motivated you to venture into the beauty industry and open H Salon?

My passion for beauty and the desire to create a space where people can feel confident and empowered motivated me to open H Salon. I wanted to combine my PR experience with my love for beauty, offering personalized services that reflect the latest trends while building strong client relationships.

What is the vision behind H Salon, and how does it stand out from other salons in the industry?

The vision behind H Salon is to provide a personalized, luxury experience where clients feel pampered and confident. We stand out by blending the latest beauty trends with exceptional customer service, ensuring each client leaves feeling their best. As both a salon owner and influencer, I aim to create a space that’s stylish, innovative, and welcoming, setting new standards in the beauty industry.

Can you tell us about the services H Salon offers? Is there a signature treatment or experience that sets it apart?

H Salon offers a range of services, from haircuts and styling to skincare treatments and makeup. What sets us apart is our signature personalized consultations, where we tailor each treatment to the client’s unique needs and style. Our luxury hair treatments, combined with a focus on modern beauty trends, ensure every client receives a bespoke experience that makes them feel truly special.

How did you curate the team for H Salon? What qualities were you looking for in your stylists and beauty experts?

When curating the team for H Salon, I focused on finding stylists and beauty experts who are not only highly skilled but also passionate about their craft. I looked for individuals with creativity, a keen eye for trends, and a dedication to providing exceptional customer service. It was important to me that the team shared my vision of making each client feel valued and confident, while also staying innovative in the beauty industry.

Did your own beauty and wellness journey influence the offerings at H Salon in any way?

Absolutely! My personal beauty and wellness journey played a significant role in shaping H Salon’s offerings. I wanted to create a space where clients could enjoy not just great beauty services but also feel empowered in their own skin. This is why we focus on personalized treatments that cater to individual needs, blending beauty with wellness to ensure a holistic experience.

The beauty industry is constantly evolving. How do you plan to keep H Salon innovative and aligned with the latest trends?

To keep H Salon innovative and aligned with the latest trends, I focus on continuous education for my team, ensuring they’re up-to-date with new techniques and products. We regularly introduce trending services and invest in the latest beauty technologies. By staying active in the beauty community, both online and offline, I’m always in tune with emerging trends and incorporate them into the salon experience to keep it fresh and exciting.

As a business owner, what challenges have you faced in launching a salon, and how have you overcome them?

Launching a salon came with its challenges, from building a skilled team to ensuring consistent quality in services. Balancing creative vision with the operational side of the business was also tough. I overcame these by focusing on strong leadership, creating a supportive work environment, and staying adaptable. My PR experience helped me build the brand, while maintaining clear communication and fostering a customer-first approach ensured the salon’s success.

Self-care is a big part of the beauty industry. How do you prioritize your own self-care while managing your business and career?

I prioritise self-care by setting aside time for myself in my daily routine, whether through exercise, meditation, or enjoying quiet moments. As a business owner, I understand the importance of leading by example, so I make it a point to practice what I preach. I also delegate tasks to my talented team, allowing me to focus on both my well-being and the salon’s growth. Finding balance is essential, and I believe that taking care of myself ultimately enhances my ability to serve my clients and lead my team effectively.

Aaleen recently completed her Dressage lessons Level 1 from the Emirates Equestrian Centre in Dubai and will be continuing her training there.

“It is my dream to represent Pakistan in the Grand Prix and bring home a gold medal for my country IA. I have taken the first step towards my dream to make it come true & IA make it into a reality in the near future. Please keep me in your prayers & support me with your well wishes”

Aaleen you have the honour of being the only upcoming female dressage rider in the history of Pakistan; tell us a bit about yourself

Hi,my name is Syeda Aaleen Bokhari and I’ve been riding since the age of 5. I’m a horse enthusiast or you can say a horse fanatic. I have learn’t my basic riding from Pakistan Rangers.

My father whose my very first coach/trainer is himself a very keen horseback rider and a Tent Pegger from his school days at Aitchison College. It was he who engraved Dressage into my head and my heart as a child. Telling me stories of Royal School of Vienna which is one of the best Dressage schools out of the four pillars.

So here i am today turning my dreams into a reality Alhamdulillah with the support of my parents and both my phupho’s.

What is the concept of dressage?

The word “Dressage” means training in French. The main concept of Dressage is to make the horse move in precise movements from barely showing signals from it’s rider. It’s a next level form of trust and bond between the two.

The rider is responsible for building it’s muscles to it’s fullest potential. A Dressage rider is supposed to train his/ her horse to be calm yet confident. To be submissive yet attentive and to have a unique bond with it’s rider.

Like the famous term goes “Dressage is like a ballet on a horse back.”

What is the difference between a horse rider and a dressage rider?

The difference between a normal rider and a Dressage rider is vast i.e a dressage rider like i explained before has to build the horse from scratch and take it to it’s full potential. Dressage is the highest expression of horse training.

Where as the normal rider is supposed to have a seat ( how to sit on a horse) to learn how to hold reins and how to balance himself/ herself on a horse. From basics you go into professionalism.

Why horses? And What was your riding “career” like as a kid?

Horses, horse riding and horse breeding all run in my blood. The passion for horses was something I inherited from both my paternal and maternal side. I find horses to be such unique,elegant and beautiful beings that they captivated my heart since i was a child and still do. I was just a basic rider like everyone else as a kid and that’s how it all started.

What was your FIRST favorite horse breed – the one you loved most now and as a kid?

My most favourite breed is a Fresian. The one i love now is Mr Medici a “Thoroughbred “who is a Hong Kong derby champion and belongs to one of maternal grandmother’s.

A horse named Toofan (Half bred) at Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) was my horse whom i rode as a kid.

If you could ride with any trainer in the world, ASIDE from your current trainer, who would it be?

Ofcourse It will be Charlotte Dujardin and Patrick kittle .

Tell us about the training challenges you have to face and how do you overcome them?

Getting trained for dressage is not easy at all. I have to remember all the meters and the alphabets. It’s like doing algebra all over again mentally without a paper and pen. Everytime i feel or felt that I’m doing something wrong i would come home and draw it on a paper to memorise it. If i make one wrong move i would have to do it all over again because i have to be perfect with the alphabets and the meters. There is absolutely no room for mistakes.

Tell us about your favourite horse and your relationship with it

Mr Medici (medo) i can go on and on about him. He is my love at first sight. I even have a tattoo of him on my arm haha.  He is my rottweiler in a horse’s body as he is so possessive and protective about me. He is my Break through after the bad fall i had as a child and i completely stopped riding. He trusted me before i trusted him. He made me realise that i shouldn’t let my fears get into my way. I treat him as my child. Every year i specially travel to Murree just to meet him in the summers. I can do just about anything and everything for him like  grooming him from head to toe or cleaning up his pellets without even remotely  feeling gross about it. He is my son and i love him to all the galaxies and back. It is a never ending love story.

What is one item on your horse-related bucket list?

“Maybach saddles” they are just pure love.

How was your experience at Dubai Emirates Equestrian Centre?

My experience in Dubai Emirates Equestrian Centre was absolutely amazing. I got to meet people from all over the world with different stories and experiences. My Spanish coach “Mr Alonso” who mostly trains for competitions gave me a very tough time in the arena as he is ex military. Once i fainted also. As at time’s i have back to back “45mins each” classes and that particular day i didn’t even get a 5 minute break to catch my breath. So yes my coach has definitely made me stronger and more confident with myself and my riding.

What do you do when you are not training or spending time with the horses?

As I am not training presently, i will be training others at Lahore Polo Club as a trainer to teach  basic and advanced riding. I want to train my students properly as I’m very particular about horses and riding. So basically there is not a day when I’m without a horse lol.

What is Aaleen’s day like?!

As ironic as this might sound but it’s the truth …I’m a sloth at home lol. I love being in bed scrolling through insta and listening to music as everyone else. My daily step count is max 48 steps lol.

Where do you see yourself as a dressage rider in the upcoming five years?

First and foremostly i see myself  completing all of my dressage levels INSHALLAH by the will of Allah swt and the prayers of my loved ones especially (My Fato pho) without whom i would not be where i am today. If not this year then definitely next year i will be competing in an international competition INSHALLAH. It is my dream and wish to win a gold medal in the Grand Prix for Pakistan INSHALLAH and hold the Pakistani flag really high.

Any advice for all the female aspiring dressage riders?

For all the girls out there. Never give up on your dreams or your passion. Ignore all the superstitious talks that exist about horse back riding and do it without even thinking. There will be bad days but never give up. Even if you fall get back on the horse. Never let your fear take away your dreams.

Everything you need to know about the show

Mira Sethi is enjoying the success of her recently launched talk show “Hello! Mira Sethi” on the entertainment YouTube channel, “WatchNa.”

The country’s top celebrities including prominent actresses Maya Ali and Mawra Hocane opened up about their struggles and personal life on the show.

Hocane, who served up a critically acclaimed performance in the Hum TV drama serial “Sabaat,” talked about the 2015 controversy involving veteran actor Shaan, who called for her industry boycott after her tweets in support of the Indian film Phantom’s release in Pakistan.

She reflected on that time in her life. “I told my parents people here want to kill me because I said something wrong. And even today I don’t want to defend myself, I am scared of it. I say you know what? I am wrong! But are you really going to take my life for it?” said Hocane.

Maya Ali opened up to Mira Sethi on her battle with depression and anxiety. Ali, who has achieved success in commercial blockbuster films and drama serials, talked about how her issues got worse with time.

“I remember my exams were close and I was studying, I went to get a glass of water after that I was not in my senses. When I woke up I was in the hospital, I asked my mother to go home as I had to study, she told me that I have been in the hospital for two and a half days. It was very different for me, being 16 years old, I couldn’t understand anything. I came home and presumed that I am fine, slowly I started feeling changes in my body.”

Born in Lahore on January 12, 1987, to parents Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin, Mira Sethi is an actress and writer. Sethi also served as an assistant book editor at The Wall Street Journal and wrote widely on the issues confronting Pakistan over a span of two and a half years.

Her collection of short stories titled “Are You Enjoying?” will be hitting bookshelves in April 2021.

Pin It