Even in this generation where influencers dominate social media and the advertising industry, it’s still rare to come by an over 50-year-old digital content creator. Many famous personalities lose their confidence when they get older. However, for the Pakistani fashion icon Sobia A. Shaikh, age is not an obstacle to her career.
At the age of 16, Sobia entered the modeling industry when she was scouted by an agency in Pakistan. Before this, she had never been a big fan of dressing up. However, after spending about 11 years as a model, she had the privilege to meet many famous designers in the country, which gradually sparked her interest in fashion.
In college, she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Degree and worked in the advertising industry at Young & Rubicam. At the same time, she was also working as a model. In 1997, Sobia and her husband moved to San Francisco, where she continued her career in advertising until she decided to start her own line of handbags.
In 2011, the company ISLY Handbags was launched, and while there have been many obstacles, the brand remained successful. However, after about six years, Sobia decided to shut the business down. She realized that, although it was financially rewarding, it was too stressful, and it stopped her from spending time with her husband and children.
For six months, she did what her busy life had deprived her of. She started cooking more often, which has been her longtime hobby, and which she considers as a therapeutic activity. Since she also had more time in her hands, she became more active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
After the short break, Sobia created the Shaikhen and Stirred blog in September 2018. Initially, she planned to use it to share lifestyle tips with others. However, numerous brands started to contact her on the blog and its Facebook page and offered her collaborations. As someone who loves fashion, Sobia willingly accepted the offer from clients that she personally likes and would recommend to others.
The thing about the Shaikhen and Stirred blog that draws people towards it is that Sobia is always honest about herself and about giving advice. She’s proud of her age, her aesthetic treatments, and everything she shares online comes from her heart. Having experience in modeling, advertising, and being an entrepreneur also makes her a very effective influencer for promoting brands.
Sobia has attained many achievements throughout her years in different industries. She has also worked with about 40 brands now. Even so, she remains humble, and she always makes sure to give back to her community. She volunteers to fundraise for numerous non-profit organizations, and she’s also an active board member of UNICEF USA Northwest Region.
Sobia’s journey tells a story of aiming for more without neglecting other aspects of your life. She didn’t settle for only one career because she knew she had more than one talent to showcase to the world. However, no matter how much success she attains, she remains loyal and devoted to her family and community.
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