MUNAZZA BANGASH

For as long as I can remember, my Bio and About have always been: “Munazza Bangash is a writer who often fails at writing her own bio. So, we’re skipping that.” So, I cannot describe the amount of stress I feel (and also relief) that I’m writing an actual introduction today.

Call it Acceptance. It feels like the right time to sit down and let the world know about me. I’m nothing special, and I’m proud of that. I’m nothing extraordinary. And so I never wanted to write a bio. But I am unique. I am me. And I don’t want to be anyone else or hide behind pseudonyms or find ways to avoid talking about myself.

If you’re here and are actually interested in knowing about me. Wow! I’m honored and incredibly grateful. You’re a superstar. Thank you for everything.

I was born in 1995. My name is Munazza Bangash. Hard to pronounce. I know! That’s why I changed my name to M. Phoenix when I first published my book Let It Fall. Much palatable. Easier to digest. I’ve realized since then that it wasn’t the world that would’ve been unaccepting. It was me. I was not ready to show the world my true self. Munazza – Purity. Moo-na-zaa. My father named me. Bangash – My surname comes from a tribe of Pakhtuns.

I have been into…everything!

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be it all. A pilot. A doctor. A teacher. An author. A makeup artist. A singer. A designer. Everything. The world was huge, and there was so much I could do. The choices were endless.

And then I grew up and found out it was not possible to be a teacher by morning, a pilot during day time, a doctor in the evenings, and a singer by night. So, I started experimenting. And after years and years of trial and error and efforts of trying to find myself, I found two things I fell in love with and became really good at.

I became a makeup artist and a writer!

I’m not here to talk about my makeup artistry journey, but if you’re a well-wisher, you’d be happy to know that it’s been very rewarding, and I wouldn’t be anywhere without being in that career first.

I got married to the love of my life in 2021. Our tropes were Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, and He Fell First. We both come from different backgrounds, even though we’re both Bangash. So, when I did marry, I had to leave everything behind, all my ambition, my job, my city, everything. It was hard, but I was in love. I am. But I see more clearly now that it doesn’t do to lose yourself in another person.

We had to be in a long-distance relationship, and I couldn’t go back to my unmarried life (cultural things), and so wallowed and I let myself go and wondered when it would get better. But one thing about me (that I love and that simultaneously annoys me) is that I’m a Phoenix (hence, the pen name). and I rise. No matter what situation I’m in, I’ve seen this in myself that I never want to waste a single minute. I’ve lost my teenage years to depression (another long story), so every waking moment I spend on the face of this earth, I want to make the most of it. Exhausting? Yes! Rewarding? Absolutely!

So, I started writing. And within a year, I wrote, edited, formatted, designed, and published my debut novel “Let It Fall!” What a dream a come true. It took tears, blood, and screams, and no support at all, but I did it. It’s one of my proudest accomplishments ever.

Then, I started working remotely as a writer in publishing agency. I’m currently working there as a Content Team Lead. I’m so happy to have taken this decision because I’ve learned a lot there!

So, I’m doing it all. Makeup artistry, running multiple social media accounts, my job at the publishing agency, and publishing my own books. And not just that. I make time for myself, my family, my husband, my friends, and my religion. And I read books and talk about them on my Bookstagram. And I make content for my personal Instagram account, because I love looking back at it, and my author account, because I’ve gotta market my own books. And I’m exhausted most of the times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

People sometimes ask me why I’m so hard on myself and who is it that I’m trying to impress…

Myself.

My ambitious, young, pure self who wanted everything all at once.

I will make her proud.