Momina Mustehsan

Momina Mustehsan is a Pakistani singer and songwriter who gained international fame through her vocal performances. She rose to prominence following her debut on Coke Studio season 9 in 2016. Her music has reached millions of viewers across various digital platforms.

Early life and education

Mustehsan was born on 5 September 1992 in Quetta, Balochistan, into a Shia Muslim family. Her father, Kazim Mustehsan, is a retired brigadier in the Pakistan Army and a recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Because of her father's military service, she lived in several cities including Paris, Kyiv, and New York City. She mainly grew up in Islamabad after attending Lahore Grammar School.

She moved to the United States to pursue higher education at Stony Brook University. In 2016, she graduated with double majors in applied mathematics and biomedical engineering. Although she has achieved musical success, she received no formal training in music. She first performed as a member of her school choir and later recorded a cover of "The Blower's Daughter" in 2004.

Career

Mustehsan first entered the music industry by contributing the song "Sajna" to the Junoon 20 anniversary album in 2011. She co-wrote and performed the single "Pee Jaun" with Farhan Saeed in 2012. In 2014, she recorded the vocals for "Awari," a track composed by the band Soch. This song was later included in the Indian film Ek Villain. Mustehsan reported that she recorded this track independently while studying in New York.

Her career reached a turning point in 2016 when she debuted on Coke Studio season 9. She performed "Afreen Afreen" with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, which surpassed 300 million views on YouTube. This achievement made her the second Pakistani artist to cross 100 million views on the platform. She also performed "Tera Woh Pyar," a song that has collectively received over 175 million views.

The singer released several notable singles throughout the following years. In 2018, she released "Aaya Na Tu" with Arjun Kanungo, which gained over 70 million views. She collaborated with Bilal Saeed on the song "Baari" in 2019, and that track earned more than 90 million views. In December 2020, she released the sequel "Uchiyan Deewaran," which reached 16 million views within one week.

Mustehsan has faced both critical acclaim and public controversy during her career. Her rendition of "Ko Ko Korina" in season 11 was widely criticized by viewers and officials. However, she also received positive reviews for the title song of the television series Alif in 2019. She continues to record music while maintaining that she does not seek celebrity status.

Personal life

Mustehsan has used her platform to advocate for various social causes. She speaks publicly about feminism, women's rights, and gender equality within Pakistan. She has also shared her personal experiences regarding mental illness and depression. In 2018, she expressed her opposition to the family separation policy in the United States via Twitter.

Her philanthropic efforts include donating her 2016 earnings to construct water wells in the Thar Desert of Sindh. She has also supported polio awareness campaigns and discussed initiatives for distant education in rural areas. In September 2016, she announced an engagement to Ali Naqvi, a banker based in California, though the engagement ended in early 2017.

Awards and recognition

The singer has earned several prestigious international distinctions. In 2017, the BBC included her in its list of 100 most influential women. Forbes recognized her in the "30 Under 30 Asia" list in 2018. Additionally, Stony Brook University named her one of its 40 most successful graduates during that same year.