A lot has changed since I last met Mehreen Syed about five years ago. Back then she was one amongst a multitude of pretty faces dotting the modelling arena. Of late, she has not only left the competition far behind to become one of the most prolific and recognizable faces of Pakistan, she’s also carved out a role for herself as an entrepreneur (CEO of Pakistan’s first fashion academy), a wife and a mother. What’s more, Mehreen chose to get married and have a baby smack in the middle of her rising popularity.

There was a time when famous women all over the world were discouraged from finding a husband, the common perception being that it would hurt their prospects by making them old and passé. Times have changed and such backward notions of female desirability no longer apply. We have everyone from Kareena Kapoor to Megan Fox tying the knot at the height of their stardom, with little detriment to their careers.

Pakistan is no different and while actresses and models are settling down, their wedded bliss seems to be dependent on one glaring caveat: abandoning their profession, if not permanently then at least for a little while as the girl goes about embracing domesticity to please the hubby and the in-laws. Being in front of the camera remained taboo until recently; why else is it that most of our top models either didn’t marry till they retired or took a break from modelling right after marriage only to ease back into it once the proverbial dust had settled.

Mehreen’s case stands out, for not only did she continue to retain her position at the top through her marriage and subsequent pregnancy, she did it as a high society bahu. Her husband Ahmed Sheikh in a well-established industrialist and her mother-in-law is the famed couturier Nasreen Sheikh; theirs is a family firmly entrenched in Lahore’s elite circles. Mehreen was faced with the daunting task of making a space for herself in such a setting, and that she managed to do so without having to sacrifice her career and her individuality is a feat worth applauding.

"I think I’ve finally destroyed the myth that models can’t be ‘nice’ girls," she remarks as we settle down for a chat in her palatial new home. Was it easy challenging this stereotype, I want to know? "There was an initial period of awkwardness because people love to talk and obviously, they were going to talk about me given that I was a model. But when my in-laws saw the real me - a girl who’s well-balanced and dedicated to her profession, yet willing to compromise for her family - they accepted me wholeheartedly."

That comes as no surprise, for Mehreen has been winning hearts since she first arrived on the scene a decade ago. The girl is blessed with a natural charm and a moral compass that a lot of starlets/models don’t come equipped with. While many of her contemporaries were flitting about the world sponsored by, ahem, ‘friends’, there was Mehreen - practicing her walk, making her portfolio stronger and getting the right campaigns. As Ather Shahzad’s golden girl, she did have the advantage of their name but her success has also been the product of a strong ambition, tenacity and a certain amount of thick skin. "Before I finally got my break with Ather Shahzad, I had been rejected numerous times, laughed at by photographers, told I could never be a model with that face," she recalls.

‘That face’ is now one of the most celebrated and beautiful ones in the country. If Mehreen was gorgeous before, the contentment and happiness that marriage and motherhood have brought into her life are making her positively glow these days. "I feel blessed," she says, "to have such a beautiful home and a loving and supportive husband."

It’s easy to spot the natural affection between the husband and wife. We’re meeting early in the morning and Mehreen’s fresh out of her home gym, a place that she says her husband drags her to at 7am every morning. "He’s a slave driver," she jokes, "and he was as adamant as I was that I needed to get back into shape right after having the baby. He’s played a huge role in helping me lose my pregnancy weight. He’s my rock in every way." Mehreen introduces us and he quizzes me about the interview in a way that is more endearing than patronizing. He is genuinely interested in his wife’s career and proud of her achievements and after a short and polite conversation, Mehreen packs him off to his office. "I like to involve him in everything I do; we discuss every aspect of my work. Such openness leaves very little room for misunderstandings to creep in. I’ve gained his complete trust. After all, ghar tou aurat se banta hai."

A sentiment like that might have Gloria Steinam turning in her grave but while Mehreen can dish out platitudes about a woman’s role in the household that will put a Stepford wife to shame, don’t be fooled into thinking she’s anything but her own boss. Yes, she abides by the decorum of a traditional household where the parents-in-law get the utmost respect, but while doing so she’s maintained a solid presence on the ramp as well as on magazine covers and her social engagements have not suffered either. "People love to make up stories, I’ve heard that I don’t get along with my mother-in-law, when in reality we share the most wonderful relationship. She’s been working all her life, so she respects me for my career and the fact that I’m committed to it."

Mehreen’s dedication to her work is acknowledged not just by her family but by the fashion industry at large. She worked right through her pregnancy, forgoing runway shows for fashion shoots that would strategically hide the bump. A healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables and a regular dose of multivitamins ensured that she looked ravishing despite suffering from severe bouts of morning sickness.

While the demands of her 4-month-old daughter Aman are keeping her on her toes and up during nights, Mehreen is still not ready to slow down and take a break. The one concession she has made is to be more selective and work around the baby’s schedule. "We’re both extremely hands-on parents and my daughter is my number one priority now," says Mehreen, who displays none of the fatigue that one normally expects from first-time moms. Dressed in a simple white kurta, with hair tumbling down her shoulders and a face sans make-up, Mehreen is a vision of serenity. Add to that a body that is fitter and leaner than that of any Hollywood celebrity, and one would think she made the whole baby story up. As if to prove that some women really are lucky enough to have it all, Mehreen brings the tiny bundle, who’s just woken up from her nap, into the room.

"Can you really believe that this is me?" she asks, marvelling at how her life has been transformed as she gazes in awe at the baby in her lap. "I’m a mom! I cannot get enough of this new role. You know, I’ve heard women complain about the exhaustion and the sleepless nights, but I’m loving every single minute of it. I feel lucky that I’m getting to live through such a miraculous experience."

Life’s been good for Mehreen on the professional front too. 2013 saw her finally pick up the Lux Style Award for Best Model, a trophy she says she had been expecting to win for a long time but had been unable to bag. By her own admission, last year saw her send in her strongest portfolio showcasing work with a varied range of photographers and make-up artists instead of just Ather Shahzad and the jury finally rewarded her for this diversity. Models who refuse to work with more than photographer have traditionally suffered at the LSAs and rightfully so; hopefully more will be willing to follow in Mehreen’s footsteps now and embrace experimentation.

As for Mehreen, she says she’s happy to just sit back and watch as her life unfolds in front of her eyes. "I know there are bigger and better things in store for me. But all I want to right now is to live in the moment. For ten years, I worked hard and planned for my future. Now I want to enjoy the fruits of that labour."