B E A U T Y
In conversation with
Masarrat Misbah
MASARRAT MISBAH, entrepreneur and social activist
talks to SANEELA JAWAD, about her life, beauty and
commitment to her NGO.
Masarrat Misbah is one of the most popular names in the Pakistani fashion and media industry. A veteran
beautician turned philanthropist, she is one of the first to introduce the trend of professional beauty
salons in Pakistan. Following which she started the Depilex Insititute which became one of the leading
beauty institutes in Pakistan.
While known for its internationally qualified staff, what makes Depilex stand out from other institutions
is perhaps the launch of the Depilex Smile Again Foundation in 2003, set up to help acid burn victims
live a normal life, free of strife and stigma. The Foundation was considered as an NGO in 2005.
We got a chance to speak to the beautician herself at her Depilex Head Office in Lahore where she takes
us through her life as a beautician and a philanthropist.
Tell us about your journey in the beauty
industry?
I started back in Karachi during the 1980s, where I
opened my own salon at Tariq Road at a time when
the concept of a beautician was not considered
noble in our society.
Being a single parent, I knew I had to fight all
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odds to stand for what I believed in; the concept of
empowering women.
I got my professional training from London after
which I returned and with the help of my family
and a British friend, we started the Depilex Beauty
Clinic.