Born and raised in Pakistan, Mahwish Hameed completed her early education at St. Joseph’s Convent School, a private Catholic school for girls. She spent most of her life in the vibrant streets of Karachi, which have shaped her distinctive outlook on life. After studying medicine for two years, she realised she had a more scholarly inclination and decided to change her academic path. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Greenwich University and later received a scholarship to pursue an MA in English Language and Literature on the island of Cyprus.

While working as an Admissions Officer for the Eurasia Region at Near East University, she met her future husband. After taking a brief sabbatical from work and studies to get married, she returned to Near East University as an English Language Instructor. Her career is marked by diverse experiences; besides teaching English, she has also worked as a writer and editor for a lifestyle magazine, a Turkish–English translator in Türkiye, an IELTS instructor, and a social media manager, among other roles.