Popular Turkish influencer Türkan Atay, widely loved in Pakistan for her Urdu-language content and dubbed “Pakistani Bhabhi” due to her marriage to a Pakistani man, has publicly accused designer Maria B of failing to fully pay her for a professional shoot in Turkey earlier this year.
In an emotional Instagram video, Türkan claimed she was approached by Maria B’s team for a 2025 photoshoot and clearly outlined her charges per outfit, which covered production costs including models and venue. Despite completing the project and sharing the content as agreed, she said the brand only paid a partial amount, later attributing the discrepancy to a “misunderstanding.”
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“It’s been three months—they’re wasting my time and treating me like a fool,” she said. “Return my money. I earned it, and I’ll never work with you again.”
Following a statement from Maria B describing the matter as a “regrettable misunderstanding,” Türkan responded via Instagram Stories, accusing the designer of deleting messages and avoiding direct communication.
“Maria Baji, I hear you loud and clear — but I have the full chat screenshots. Why delete your messages? Why not pay us?” she asked, calling out the brand for being unprofessional and dishonest.
Maria B later issued a formal statement defending the brand’s reputation, claiming its 25-year history of ethical collaborations with influencers. She added that a meeting had been arranged to resolve the issue, but Türkan chose to post a “defaming reel” instead.
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The incident has triggered widespread criticism of Maria B online, with many social media users accusing the brand of gaslighting and using religious sentiment to deflect criticism. Support poured in for Türkan, with users praising her courage for speaking out. “She said what many influencers are afraid to — brands treat them as disposable,” one user commented, while others highlighted similar grievances with major fashion labels.