Meet Zain Shami

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zain Shami.

Zain, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in the eighties in Los Angeles it was rare to see anyone who looked like me, be it in real life or television. I always knew I wanted to change that; I wanted a young Zain to open up her tv screen and see a Muslim woman on there who wasn’t a second class citizen. I craved change, I’d literally wake up in the middle of the night in a fit of hunger, something needed to be done.

While working at Disney my coworkers encouraged me to try stand-up comedy. I always knew I was funny but this newfound form of encouragement was enlightening. I decided to become the change I wanted and all of a sudden it was like finding myself; comedy was what I needed to feed my soul. I have never done an open mic, I don’t know if that’s brave or crazy but I booked shows right away and didn’t even have time to test my material. I realized very quickly that the world wanted to laugh WITH a Muslim woman not pity her, they left my shows with an uplifting sensation. They were always scared- be it for us or of us-but they left knowing we are not only going to be okay but they definitely had nothing to fear.

I soon found myself not only booking comedy shows and playing at amazing venues for hundreds of people but I soon started to dabble in acting and fell in love with the stage. I’ve done many music videos, like Jessie J’s Queen, in which we told the world that all women are beautiful, smart, confident Queens! That same year I was featured on the James Corden show, Greys Anatomy, Shameless, and One Day at a Time just to name of few. I was also able to book amazing commercials with company’s like Twitter and Nike. My life has taken a whole different turn and I’m confident its what I was always destined to do.

Has it been a smooth road?
Being a hijabi stand-up comedian you would think I would find it hard to connect with an audience but it’s actually been the opposite. I have received only love and praise from so many amazing people especially my fellow comedians. Plus as the saying goes, haters gonna hate, I’m just gonna enjoy my time before it’s too late!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am the first Hijabi Muslim Women American Comedian, I talk about everything, no topic is off-limits! My aim is to humanize the Muslim woman, we bleed, we laugh, we cry and yes we even cum!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The future I want for myself and other women like me is to be able to open the TV and see a hijabi on screen who isn’t a refugee or a servant to the men in her life. For myself, I hope to be on an award-winning sitcom, loved by people from all different walks of life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: zaincomedy

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