The Sensational Life & Death of Qandeel Baloch

Book excerpt: Fouzia Azeem, also known as the Pakistani model, actress, and singer Qandeel Baloch, first auditioned for Pakistan Idol in 2013. A video clip of her audition immediately went viral via the Internet. She became the first Pakistani woman to also gain social media celebrity status while posting selfie photographs and videos to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that were considered both controversial and risqué by the traditional and conservative Pakistani social standards. Her brother took her life in July 2016, claiming it was an honor killing--punishment for the 'shame' her online behavior brought to the entire family. A huge media frenzy followed, fast-tracking the Anti-Honor Killings Law bill in The Parliament of Pakistan yet further dividing her family concerning Qandeel's death.