Before stepping into the world of acting, Zainab Qayoom was a successful model, having reached the peak of her fashion career in 2004 with a Model of the Year nod from the Lux Style Awards. She got together with her old friend from the fashion industry, Asim Tiwana, on his show Star & Style recently and talked about shifting careers and finding her calling as an actor.

Qayoom recalled announcing her retirement as a model and told him she went on to host a few TV shows before moving to dramas. “At some point, I got tired of looking into a camera and saying, ’Welcome, I am your host ZQ,’” she said with a chuckle.

When asked if the transition was challenging, the actress said she was terrible at acting initially. She recalled going up to a filmmaker once and asking why he never cast her at the start of her career, “He told me, ‘ZQ, you just weren’t a very good actor [at the time].’”

She admitted she didn’t have the voice to play female leads. “My voice was so shrill when I would scream. I think I act better as the hero or heroine’s mother than as a heroine.”