Quratulain Balouch

Balouch was originally named "Shaheera" but later renamed "Quratulain" at two years old.^[4] She grew up in Pakistan and moved to the United States when she was around 18.^[4]

She returned to Pakistan five years later in 2011 where she became involved with working at an NGO that did relief work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir.^[4] While working at the NGO, she met members of the music industry, who noticed her talent during an impromptu performance.^[4] She was encouraged to post her music on YouTube, which kickstarted her music career.^[4]

Balouch stated that while she had had a connection with music growing up, she never considered pursuing it as a career in her youth, and the path emerged through fortunate opportunities.^[4] She has shared that her family was unhappy about her career path, but later came "to terms with the fact that I was born to sing."^[5]

Balouch has no formal music education. She grew up listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Muhammad Juman, Pathanay Khan and others.^[6]

Her singing career started with her cover of Reshma's "Ankhian Nu Ren De" in 2011. She came into the limelight when she featured alongside Jal in the song "Panchi" as part of season 4 of Coke Studio.^[7][8] She rose to fame after her award-winning performance of "Woh Humsafar Tha" for 2011 drama serial Humsafar.^[9]

In 2012, she represented her country in a live performance with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.^[10][6] In 2016, she made her debut in Bollywood with song "Kaari Kaari" in film Pink.^[11]

Balouch has shared her love of Sufism as both the answer to her spiritual questions and the inspiration for her music.^[5]

In the past, Balouch has expressed that feminism requires action over “shouting for ‘rights’” causing her to garner backlash and criticism before clarifying she appreciates women who “work everyday towards what they believe in.”^[12]

Balouch has stated she dislikes being referred to as QB, due to sharing the initials Qandeel Baloch, clarifying she respects her as a “reflection of the society.. speaking her truth.”^[4]

On 5 September 2025, Balouch was injured by a bear attack while camping in Gilgit Baltistan, on a trip to assist victims of the 2025 Pakistan floods.^[13] She describes the incident, along with a car accident she was in, as making her “stronger, more resilient, and less fearful,” seeing her survival as a second chance at life that have motivated her to keep going.^[14]