She’s been featured alongside high-profile comedians Ken Jeong, Ramy Youssef, Beth Stelling, and Chelsea Handler and can also be seen on the animated series #1 Happy Family. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Salma Hindy. The Toronto, CN native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Salma Hindy
Hometown: Toronto. CN/ Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @salma.hindy (for everything). @salooma911 for Twitter
Years in Comedy: 7+
Comedic Influences: Ali Wong, Ramy Youssef, & Nick Nemeroff
Favorite Comedy Album: Nick Nemeroff “The Pursuit of Comedy Has Ruined My Life”
Favorite Comedy Special: Ali Wong “Baby Cobra”
Favorite Comedy Movie: The Hangover
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Really enjoying Dave now. Barry also amazing.
Favorite Comedic Character: Zach Galifianakis in between two ferns
Favorite City to Perform In: Toronto!!!! honestly fireeeee crowds.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Sex, Immigrant Parents, Dating, & Men!
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Young women of color for sureeee (Gen Z’s & millenials)
Favorite Comedy Club: New York Comedy Club is great vibes. Love Westside in LA.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I saw SNL and Whose Line Is It Anyway in high school and was like “what is that I wanna do it”
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remembered that I was going to faint right before going up and I remember people laughing during my set and that kept interrupting me because I wasn’t counting on getting laughs.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Storytelling, very loud and animated. Self-deprecating, witty, charming.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I talk about my life journey: growing up very religious Muslim, taking the hijab off after 22 years, having my first kiss at 30, losing my virginity at 31, dealing with vaginismus, etc. So I write about what I’m currently going through (like trying to stop using men as a fantasy addiction and live in real life).
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Very open very good. Audiences sometimes fear laughing at Muslim-detrimental jokes for fear of being problematic. So I gotta call it out more or be more-rounded in my jokes.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Good question. I would judge it by: a clear voice (people know your story and style), regular work (that pays the bill), making deep connections with colleagues and friends that will be with you in this lonely industry forever, building a strong fan base and helping people feel seen through my storytelling.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Hoodo Hersi, Ramy Youssef, & Ahamed Weinburg.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Opening for Chelsea Handler and going on her private jet, meeting Ken Jeong and him validating me that I could be a comedian and engineer at the same time (which is what I was working as in my first 4 years of comedy)
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
To separate my potential from my performance, to curb my ego, to take care of myself if i have a bad set, to lower expectations based on certain factors, to treat it like a job in certain ways.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They always want me to make them laugh on the spot! Which like…I will…but just don’t expect it.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It’s all tough work but it starts with you nailing a 5 min set (open mics), then performing on bigger shows, then traveling around and showcasing at festivals, then getting reps and getting recognized, building an online following, producing your own shows, develop material till you have enough to record an album. Keep growing and elevating.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
The gatekeeping, exclusiveness, and initial harshness/dryness we extend to newcomers. I wish comedy was more of an encouraging place because the art itself is already so fucking hard.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
To just get as much stage time as possible. that’s always the answer.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Creature with No Shame (my current hour that I’m working on).
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Seeing Mandy Moore at a recording and building myself up all day on what I’m gonna say when I see her and just saying “hi”
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
At an Arab restaurant in Mississauga, ON (I was competing with the water fountain), at a Free Masons Temple.
A Salma Hindy Fun Fact:
I am a painter and belly dancer.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Would LOVE to tour all throughout California, America, Europe, the Middle East. Would love to perform an hour in Arabic in my motherland: Egypt. That would be my ultimate dream.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Be your fullest self.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It seems things are transitioning more online and into TV. I truly believe every comedian should work on having transferable skills toward other aspects of.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
Hmmm probably We Are Lady Parts. I would do like an Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) event day or something. Otherwise, maybe Broad City.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would choose the Elysian Theatre and I would choose Hoodo Hersi, Sabeen Sadiq and Steph Tolev.
What’s next for you:
Developing my hour of stand-up and touring California (at least SoCal/LA) later in the year. Then taking it worldwide.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because life is dark and light and there HAS to be humor to seamlessly balance the two. This is my fullest wisdom of life.
Follow Salma Hindy’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Salma Hindy
Youtube: Salma Hindy
Personal Website: Salma Hindy
