Veteran actress and model Jia Ali has opened up about one of the most talked-about chapters in Pakistan’s fashion industry, sharing her perspective on former supermodel Ayyan Ali and the controversy that dramatically changed her career.
Jia, who has remained associated with the fashion and entertainment industry for decades, has often been candid about her experiences. In a recent interview, she looked back at the time when Ayyan was rapidly becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Pakistani fashion.
Ayyan had made a name for herself at a remarkably young age. Her face appeared on major billboards, she walked high-profile fashion shows and quickly became one of the industry's most sought-after models. Jia and Ayyan had also worked within the same fashion circles, giving Jia a firsthand view of the environment surrounding the young model.
While discussing those days, Jia recalled noticing unusual things around Ayyan. According to her, they would see Ayyan transferring files and expensive cars arriving to pick her up after shoots. Jia said she found it striking that someone so young was suddenly receiving such enormous attention and access.
Ayyan's career later took a dramatic turn when she was arrested in 2015 in a currency-smuggling case that became one of the country's biggest media stories. Her arrest, subsequent court appearances and prolonged legal battle kept her in the headlines for years.
Jia revealed that she had actually warned Ayyan during that period. She said she had told the young model that the people surrounding her could eventually take advantage of her and then abandon her when she was no longer useful.
