…this time, it’s Shazia Kirmani, of Houston/Dallas, Texas (thanks for the tip, Sadaf). She’s an ABD whose parents are from Pakistan, and she’s one of the contestants on Bravo TV’s excruciatingly boring show, Top Design. I ain’t tryin’ to hate, but I couldn’t get through all of the one episode which I had DVR’d in preparation for writing this post.
That’s sad, really, because I asked for and received a subscription to Conde Nasty’s HG as one of my sixth-grade graduation gifts, way back in 1986. I already had this. Keeping all that in mind, you can understand why I was extra let-down at the utter crappiness of this show. But I digress. Let’s meet Shazzers:
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Shazia was part of the first generation of American born children in her family. From a very young age her father pushed her to become a doctor, but after her first semester at The University of Texas at Austin studying Biochemistry, Shazia realized she was more passionate about redesigning her bedroom than anything that was going on in the classroom.
Upon graduation, she accepted a position at the Gap as a visuals specialist, where she finally found the direction she needed. At the age of 25, familial and societal expectations thrown to the wind, Shazia entered The Art Institute of Dallas studying Interior Design. Three short months after graduation, she was awarded a contract with a multi-billion dollar healthcare services company and from there she started her own company, Egospace Interiors, Inc.
Shazia is inspired by everything – the environment, politics, fashion, etc. She prefers her designs to be functional, with a touch of contemporary edge. In 2006, her apartment was recognized in Dallas’ D Home and Garden Magazine and she was named the ‘It’ gal of interiors.
Now at 30, Shazia is as successful and ambitious as ever. Her company is growing and she is taking on commercial/residential rehabs and clientele such as The Trelivings, whose patriarch, Jim Treliving, is star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den and owner of Boston Pizza International. By staying true to her deepest desires, whether business or personal, Shazia has mastered the ability to take on any challenge without letting fear of the unknown stand in her way. [bravotv]
I love Bravo for Project Runway, Top Chef and my dirty little secret, The Real Housewives of New York City, so I tolerate their shameless cross-promotional crassness (“You only have five minutes to get your models to the TRESemme Hair station. TRESemme hair products provide professional quality hair care at an affordable price. Make it work!“), but just barely.
On the episode I only minimally fast-forwarded through last night, Top Design hopefuls were instructed to create a window design to showcase a dress created by…wait, for it…wait, for it…past contestants of Project Runway. While it was fun to see crunchy Sweet P, the exquisitely sensitive Andrae, and the ferocious Santino again, it was NOT FUN to watch TD teams create some of the most boring installations I’ve ever seen. I noted a few snarky comments about Shazia’s “work ethic”; I guess people think she’s a bit lazy. I don’t know. I do know that when her team was in the bottom two, and she was up for elimination, and they asked her that horrid, “Who would you send home? You or your teammate?” question, she nobly refused to answer it. I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes, Shazia. That was honorable.
What I wouldn’t do, is randomly bring up Pakistan as some sort of eye roll-inducing diversion tactic when the Judges are decimating my work. It was jarring. And I don’t know that it had anything to do with the display which she helped create. But hey, perhaps I missed the connection, when I was nodding off during the show.
I don’t know that I’ll be watching this Top Design again, but I am excited for Shazia, because these reality train wrecks often lead to bigger and better things. I wish her luck (which she’ll apparently need– most forums predict she won’t last much longer).
Let’s hope she’s better than Sanjaya or Toral from The Apprenctice…reality tv casting agents have not been kind to the Desi community in the past.
all these reality tvs shows are very tacky
While I am glad to read about a Muslim girl choose her own path and follow it on her own terms, I would have preferred a discussion on the happenings about Shazia’s ancestral land, where the American Army is bombing hundreds of innocent civilians, including women and children, whose sole fault is that they being into the wrong faith in a cursed country.
This is not a critique, just a humble request. Honestly.
Yes, I know, If I don’t like what I am reading, I should start my own blog.
Sorry for the typos.
3 · Zainab M. said
Zainab, thanks for being so kind and civil. Usually, we get death threats or troll-spew in these situations (re: dissatisfaction with what we post), so I really appreciate how nice your comment was. Was there an article on the news tab which dealt with this/did you send us a tip? We really do try to blog about as much as we can, in what limited time each of us has. 🙂 My bunker-mates and I write about whatever interests us, which is why there’s such a random selection of topics covered; no disrespect is intended by our NOT writing about something.
Not at all, but I think you should start one anyway. There aren’t enough vibrant female voices online. 🙂
altmuslim is looking for lady bloggers.
i see the peg bundy outfit is back in style
🙂
Someone please give this man (woman) a blog or at least make him a guest blogger
I second that. Manju needs his own blog real estate.
look at the fruit in the pic.
bess – The quality of writing displayed by the Sepia bloggers and some comments here makes me realize that I do not possess the talent to write for a decent blog. And even If I did, I would be reluctant to contribute to a blog, which caters only to Muslims.
p.s. I can well imagine the outrage amongst some of my co-religionists and Liberal South Asians, if Anna were to write for a Christian blog or Abhi for a Hindu blog.
It’s quality of thought that makes for a great blog. So get busy with the audacity, sister. Let’s hear your thoughts!
Wasn’t meaning to put you in a corner ; )
Thank you Zainab. I am deeply touched. If we were all to drop a pebble in the pool of ignorance, the rockpile would become the mountain we each aspire to and hence we shall be whole.
OT perhaps.
Teachers, stylists…
What i am spoiling for right about now is for is a post from/about desi i bankers.
What i am spoiling for right about now is for is a post from/about desi i bankers.
Manju, get on it. For now in the comments section until guest bloggery becomes a reality. Hey, maybe a sepia mutiny reality show to bcome a guest blogger.
15 · amaun said Hey, maybe a sepia mutiny reality show to bcome a guest blogger.
I volunteer to be the somewhat awkward “majority” person!
Houston sucks! born in Arkansas. wonder if she has an accent.
You mean the ancestral land to which America has given billions of dollars? And what have we got in return? You know what namak harami means or don’t you?
Congrats Shazia, just stay away from those laddoos in the background.
And even If I did, I would be reluctant to contribute to a blog, which caters only to Muslims.
alt.muslim doesn’t just cater to muslims. it’s got a wide range of voices and wide range of readers. i post at talkislam.org and i’m an atheist (and i don’t identify as a ‘cultural muslim’ whatever that is). so don’t let the label discourage.
(not every poster at sepia mutiny has been ethnically south asian for example)
errata: talkislam.info/
Trin – “You mean the ancestral land to which America has given billions of dollars? And what have we got in return? You know what namak harami means or don’t you?”
Yes, I do mean the land to which America has given billions of dollars. I also understand America’s strategic compulsions in the region, but this tactic is wrong, and could potentially backfire or much, much worse.
We have been bombing the FATA neighborhood, off and on, since late September 2001, so in that regard there is nothing new.Except that now the whole world, including the average Pakistani reads about it every morning.
I know this is being done in the hopes to have the Pakistani public put pressure on Kayani to, either retaliate against America or go after the Taliban/al Qaeda combine for which he received billions of dollars in “aid”.
The dangerous part is that, if Kayani is unable stop American bombing, because he doesn’t wish to finish the Taliban for “strategic depth” reasons, then Baitullah Mehsud will be rally his troops to go after the Americans and/or their friends in the region, namely, India. For all we know, the Delhi bombing is a prelude of what’s to come if America doesn’t back down.
Alternately, Kayani could also scapegoat Zardari,who is still consolidating power, and overthrow him in a coup d’etat. But that doesn’t change much vis a vis his options.
she’s hot looking…
At the age of 25, familial and societal expectations thrown to the wind, Shazia entered The Art Institute of Dallas studying Interior Design
This is pretty fantastic.
she’s hot looking…
Im sure this characteristic is not uncorrelated to her success in her chosen field, and subsequent selection to appear on a reality tv show.
I too love Bravo and DVRed the show coz I saw a desi gal…wrong decision.. The show is as bad as Blayne “licious” a. The judges are boring, the worst dismissal line delivered in the coldest way possible and full of attention whores and arrogant bitches… But I watch coz I wanna see how bad it gets. Shaz comes across as super lazy and super bad time managemet skills. In her first intro she says she is special coz she is “brown” and that ” it’s very rare to see Pakistani designers. they are usually doctors or lawyers” …ughh so she’s the token minority ( though there was one black lady & an asian) Her ass should be sent home soon
Trin and Zainab, please stay on topic. Further discussion on foreign aid will be deleted.
SM Intern – Sorry.
Razib – “alt.muslim doesn’t just cater to muslims. it’s got a wide range of voices and wide range of readers. i post at talkislam.org and i’m an atheist (and i don’t identify as a ‘cultural muslim’ whatever that is). so don’t let the label discourage.”
Does alt.Muslim or talkislam.org have any non Muslim contributors?
speaking of desi reality TV, I just got a forward this morning of a reality TV show they tried making in the motherland. i don’t think it is going to well, as you can tell about a minute and a half into things: Link here
There’s a news tab people, use it.
Also, if you must post a link in the comments, at least try to make it a hyperlink by using html tags or the snazzy buttons provided. I’ve fixed the comment above, in the future please avoid copying and pasting http://www.learntolink.com etc.
Let me preface this by saying congratulations to Shazia for representing the artistic side of the Desi community. It’s amazing and quite impressive.
That being said, I only saw the “create a store-front window display episode,” and unfortunately, she seems somewhat vacant upstairs, and it seems some of her art decisions are made without a basis, or on a “just because” stance. Her BS skills during the critique worry me, just because I have seen much of the same in other art critiques I have been a part of, or have run myself. I hope she comes back strong the next episode!