Jameela Jamil
- Place of Birth: born Jameela Alia Jamil on February 25, 1986 in London, United Kingdom
- Industry: Entertainment and activism
Early life and Education
Jameela Jamil was born in Hampstead, London, to Ali and Shireen Jamil. As an infant and child, Jamil had numerous health problems, including congenital hearing loss and labyrinthitis, and had several operations. The corrective surgery helped Jamil to achieve 70% hearing in her left ear and 50% in her right ear. When she was nine, Jamil was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which affects the body’s connective tissue. Aged 12, she received yet another diagnosis of coeliac disease.
As a young teenager, Jamil suffered from anorexia nervosa. She ascribed to societal pressure like magazine articles selling weight loss products. Aged 17, a car hit Jamil, which caused several bones to break and damage to her spine. Doctors told Jamil that she might never walk again, and she was made to undergo lengthy steroid treatment and physiotherapy before slowly recovering. Following the accident, Jamil was unable to complete her A-Levels at Queen’s College School due to her lengthy recovery.
As a young adult, Jamil’s health problems continued. She experienced mercury poisoning through leakage from improperly removed amalgam teeth fillings, damaging her digestive system.
Early Career
After working as a model scout, model agent, and photographer, Jameela Jamil debuted on television as a host for Freshly Squeezed, a British breakfast TV show, and T4, a Channel 4 scheduling slot.
Road to success
From co-presenting TV shows to being the lead host on comedy and talk shows, Jamil’s career in television grew over the coming years as she became a familiar face on British TV. The actress also made her mark as part of the main cast in the American fantasy comedy series, The Good Place and as a multi-faceted voice-over artist in various roles for movies.
Between 2022 and 2023, Jamil starred in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, and Poker Face.
Philanthropy
Jameela Jamil is actively involved with various socially conscious and philanthropic organizations and initiatives. She is particularly passionate about body positivity, human rights, LGBTQI+ rights and support, and civil rights.
Through her activism, Jamil fights unrealistic beauty standards, body shaming, diet pills, Photoshop, and fatphobia.
Projects and organizations Jameela supports
I Weigh
In March 2018, Jamil launched I Weigh, a community allyship platform. Her goal was to connect, empower, and amplify diverse voices through original content. Through I Weigh, Jamil explores a wide range of social issues. The topics are inclusive and range from mental health and climate change to body positivity and how marginalized groups are represented.
Besides the website, I Weigh has a presence on Instagram and a regular podcast. I Weigh is committed to breaking down stereotypes and inspiring people globally to make positive change in their communities and online. I Weigh helped to change global policies around how social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook show diet and detox products to young people. Currently, the organization is campaigning for two bills to reach the Senate.
#EndPeriodPoverty
Joining forces with Always® and International Paper, Jameela Jamil is fighting period poverty. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that all young people have access to free period products when they are at school so they don’t have to miss school because of their period.
Coppafeel
Jamil also supports Coppafeel, UK’s first breast cancer charity focused on creating awareness amongst young people. The goal is to give them the knowledge and tools to get to know their bodies and empower them to start healthy habits. The initiative helps Gen Z and Millennials to have the necessary education giving them the best possible chance of surviving breast cancer.