History of Jameela Jamil in Timeline

Jameela Jamil is a British actress, activist, and presenter known for her work in both television and radio. She began her career hosting a pop culture series on Channel 4's T4 from 2009 to 2012. Following this, she transitioned to radio, hosting The Official Chart and co-hosting The Official Chart Update on BBC Radio 1 alongside Scott Mills. Notably, she was the first regular solo female presenter of the BBC Radio 1 chart show, solidifying her presence in the entertainment industry.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

February 1986: Born Jameela Alia Jamil

In February 1986, Jameela Alia Jamil was born. She would later become an English actress, activist, and presenter.

February 1986: Jameela Alia Jamil's Birth

On February 25, 1986, Jameela Alia Jamil was born to Ali and Shireen Jamil. She is of Pakistani and Indian descent. As a child, she faced congenital hearing loss, labyrinthitis, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and coeliac disease. She also experienced mercury poisoning at 21.

2008: Appeared on Music Zone on E4

Towards the end of 2008, Jameela Jamil appeared on Music Zone on E4, marking one of her early roles in television.

January 2009: Succeeded Alexa Chung as co-host of Freshly Squeezed

In January 2009, Jameela Jamil replaced Alexa Chung as the co-host of the morning TV show Freshly Squeezed, alongside Nick Grimshaw.

2009: Appeared on C4 Orange Rockcorps and volunteered to fund local community projects

In 2009, Jameela Jamil appeared on C4 Orange Rockcorps, volunteering to help create a concert to fund local community projects. She also designed her own version of SpongeBob SquarePants to be auctioned off with all the proceeds going to Childline. Additionally, she wore a chicken costume for 16 consecutive days for Comic Relief, sponsored approximately £16,000.

2009: Hosted pop culture series in the T4 strand on Channel 4

In 2009, Jameela Jamil began her career on Channel 4, where she hosted a pop culture series in the T4 strand.

2009: Deleted tweets from 2009

Jameela Jamil deleted tweets from 2009 to make her account more activism-focused.

2010: Started working as an event DJ

In 2010, Jameela Jamil began working as an event DJ, with her first show being at Elton John's birthday party.

2010: Presented The Closet

In 2010, Jameela Jamil presented The Closet, an online fashion advice show on Bebo produced by Twenty Twenty.

2011: Wrote a column for Company magazine

From 2011 to 2014, Jameela Jamil wrote a column for the women's monthly magazine, Company.

January 2012: Replaced June Sarpong as host of Playing It Straight

In January 2012, Jameela Jamil replaced June Sarpong as the host of the reality show Playing It Straight.

June 2012: Collaborated with Very to debut her first fashion collection

In June 2012, Jameela Jamil collaborated with Very to debut her first fashion collection.

2012: End of hosting pop culture series in the T4 strand on Channel 4

In 2012, Jameela Jamil concluded her role as the host of a pop culture series on Channel 4's T4 strand.

2013: Criticized Rihanna in her column for Company magazine

In 2013, Jameela Jamil criticized Rihanna in her column for Company magazine, blaming her for maintaining a relationship with her abuser for fame, smoking marijuana, and posting "provocative images on Instagram to millions of hungry followers".

2013: Worked as a model scout

In 2013, Jameela Jamil mentioned in an interview with The Independent that she worked as a model scout.

2014: End of writing a column for Company magazine

In 2014, Jameela Jamil ended her run as a columnist for Company magazine, a role she held since 2011.

2014: Voiced her disapproval of Beyoncé sexualising her public image

In 2014, Jameela Jamil voiced her disapproval of Beyoncé sexualising her public image like Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azalea.

2015: Began Relationship with James Blake

In 2015, Jameela Jamil started a relationship with musician James Blake. Additionally, she publicly came out as queer following criticism of her role as a judge on the reality series Legendary.

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2015: Launched Why Not People?

Late in 2015, Jameela Jamil launched Why Not People?, an events and membership company dedicated to hosting accessible live entertainment events for people with disabilities.

September 2016: The Good Place premiered

In September 2016, the NBC fantasy comedy series The Good Place premiered, with Jameela Jamil as a regular cast member playing Tahani Al-Jamil.

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2016: Moved to Los Angeles with plans to be a screenwriter

In 2016, Jameela Jamil moved to Los Angeles with the initial intention of working as a screenwriter.

2016: Moved to the United States

In 2016, Jameela Jamil moved to the United States to pursue acting, writing and presenting opportunities.

2017: Contributed to the production of James Blake's album Assume Form

In 2017 and 2018, Jameela Jamil contributed to the production of her boyfriend James Blake's fourth album, Assume Form. She is credited as an additional producer on five songs of the album.

February 2018: First American magazine cover

In February 2018, Jameela Jamil made her first American magazine cover on the February issue of The Cut.

March 2018: Created the I Weigh Instagram account

In March 2018, Jameela Jamil created an Instagram account called I Weigh, inspired by a picture of the Kardashians and Jenners, with the goal of promoting body positivity and self-worth.

2018: Joined the cast of Disney's Mira, Royal Detective

In 2018, Jameela Jamil joined the cast of Disney's Indian-inspired cartoon set in fictional Jalpur, Mira, Royal Detective.

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August 2019: Awarded Advocate of the Year

On August 2, 2019, Jameela Jamil received the "Advocate of the Year" award from the Ehlers-Danlos Society for her advocacy work.

September 2019: Instagram rolled out new global policy restrictions

In September 2019, Instagram implemented new global policy restrictions aimed at protecting teen users, partly influenced by Jameela Jamil's activism against toxic diet products.

September 2019: Featured on British Vogue Cover

In September 2019, Jameela Jamil was one of 15 women chosen to be on the cover of British Vogue's "Forces for Change" issue, which was guest-edited by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

October 2019: Shared Suicide Attempt Survival Story

On October 10, 2019, for World Mental Health Day, Jameela Jamil disclosed that she had survived a suicide attempt six years prior, opening up about her struggles with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

2019: Called out Cupcakke on Twitter

In 2019, Jameela Jamil called out rapper Cupcakke on Twitter for posting about doing a water fast.

2019: Hosted The Misery Index

Since 2019, Jameela Jamil has been the host of The Misery Index, a comedy game show on TBS.

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February 2020: Criticism for hosting Legendary and came out as queer

In February 2020, Jameela Jamil faced criticism for hosting the HBO voguing contest show Legendary, leading her to come out as queer in response.

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March 2020: Posed for Playboy magazine

In March 2020, Jameela Jamil posed in a suit and tie for Playboy magazine's "On Speech" issue. She wanted to be shot like a man, with no retouching, hi res, loose, comfortable clothes and completely unsexualized.

March 2020: Mira, Royal Detective debuted

In March 2020, Mira, Royal Detective debuted, with Jameela Jamil playing Mira's Auntie Pushpa.

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April 2020: Debuted podcast I Weigh with Jameela Jamil

In April 2020, Jameela Jamil debuted her podcast, I Weigh with Jameela Jamil, focusing on women's accomplishments, body positivity, activism, and racial inclusivity.

May 2020: Received Phenom Award

On May 3, 2020, Jameela Jamil was honored with the "Phenom" award at the 12th annual Shorty Awards.

August 2020: Announced deletion of tweets for activism focus

In August 2020, Jameela Jamil announced on Twitter that she was deleting tweets from 2009 to 2020 in order to make her account more activism-focused.

October 2020: I Weigh nominated for an E! People's Choice Award

In October 2020, Jameela Jamil's podcast, I Weigh, was nominated for an E! People's Choice Award.

November 2020: Claimed a third-party app caused Twitter posts to disappear

In November 2020, Jameela Jamil claimed that a third-party app caused her Twitter posts to disappear in the previous months, leading her to delete her entire Twitter post history to troubleshoot the issue.

2020: Acknowledged working as a model

In 2020, Jameela Jamil admitted to working as a model, despite previously denying it in earlier interviews.

2020: Discussed Previous Suicide Attempt on Red Table Talk

In 2020, Jameela Jamil discussed a previous suicide attempt eight years prior due to a nervous breakdown on an episode of Red Table Talk. She also mentioned undergoing EMDR therapy to treat her post-traumatic stress disorder before relocating to Los Angeles.

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June 2021: Cast as Titania in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

In June 2021, Jameela Jamil was cast as the supervillain Mary MacPherran / Titania in the Disney+ streaming series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2021: Contributed to the production of James Blake's album Friends That Break Your Heart

In 2021, Jameela Jamil contributed to the production of James Blake's fifth album, Friends That Break Your Heart, adding additional production to its first single, "Say What You Will".

2022: Voiced Wonder Woman in DC League of Super-Pets

Also in 2022, Jameela Jamil voiced Wonder Woman in the animated film DC League of Super-Pets.

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2022: Worked on DC League of Super-Pets and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

In 2022, Jameela Jamil contributed to the DC League of Super-Pets animated film and the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law live-action television series.

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2023: Signed open letter expressing concerns about editorial bias in The New York Times

In 2023, Jameela Jamil signed an open letter expressing serious concerns about editorial bias in The New York Times's reporting on transgender people.

May 2024: Discussed Health Damage from Eating Disorder

In May 2024, Jameela Jamil revealed that her past eating disorder had severely damaged her health, causing a loss of bone density and harm to her kidney, liver, digestive system, and heart.