Giving beauty a fair chance
Vivek Gupta, Hindustan Times
Despite the restrictions levied on beauty pag eants for women in Pakistan, Torontobased Sonia Ahmed, has been actively promoting the concept for Pakistani women.
When she started Pakistani beauty pageants in Canada in 2003, it was not without fear in her heart. Nine years on, a slight sense of anxiety still exists, despite having created platforms such as Miss Pakistan World and Mrs Pakistan World. The winners of Miss Pakistan World represent Pakistan in Miss Earth International and other global beauty pageants.
\'\'We made sure that we sent the right message back home -women need independence. Moreover, we shouldn\'t be restricted from celebrating our beauty,\'\' says Sonia Ahmed, in conversation with HT City during a private visit to Chandigarh.
\'\'Our winners proudly participate in events such as Miss Earth and Miss Tourism Queen International. What\'s lacking is that we are not able to send our girls to big events such as Miss International and Miss World pageants, since the organisers expect the beauty pageant to take place in the contestant\'s country sooner or later,\'\' she adds.
About when the scenario in Pakistan is expected to change, if at all, Sonia says, \'\'It is difficult for me to guess when the situation will change in our country. I just feel that the need of the hour is for our society to open up towards women.\'\' Sonia, who migrated to Canada from Pakistan in 1997 and is now a Canadian citizen, says the idea of Miss Pakistan Canada came about while she was studying at a university in Canada. \'\'I was interested in modelling but when I googled Miss Pakistan beauty pageant, nothing popped up. Then I decided to create a stage that could showcase the beauty of Pakistani women to the world, and it worked! Zehra Sheerazi was crowned the first Miss Pakistan Canada (now Miss Pakistan World) in 2003.\'\'
About how her clan back home reacted to her bold step, she says, \'\'As I progressed, so did the threats.
Even today, the Pakistani embassy in Canada does not endorse our venture, but we have managed to create our own destiny.\'\'
Sonia does believe that things in Pakistan are changing for the better. For instance, \'\'Pakistan now produces its own beer, and would soon start exporting it to the US as well. Fashion shows are also organised, though in closed quarters. But there still is a section of society that continues to put restrictions on our entertainment industry.\'\'
She recalls how the laws bent against women during General Zia-ul-Haq\'s period and how restrictions were laid on music and sports. \'\'Pakistan is still a male-dominated society, and women\'s rights are still a major issue,\'\' she adds.
Nevertheless, Sonia continues to send bold signals to the so-called moral practitioners back home. In 2006, she created controvery with the concept of bikini contests in her pageants. Her 2010 blog article, Hypocrite Pakistanis, also ruffled a few feathers. Sonia says, \'\'I can\'t bear hypocrisy.
On one hand, our society does not allow women to be sexy, and on the other, places such as Hira Mandi are legalised.\'\'
Sonia, however, is very excited about Veena Malik fighting conservative mindsets. \'\'I\'ve heard that Veena is holding a Swayamvar on TV. I must applaud her for such a bold decision, because in Pakistan, no one would approve of her marrying an Indian man,\'\' she concludes.
Beauty Unveilded
Jasmine Singh, The Tribune, Dec. 5
\'Sorry, could you repeat that again. Miss Pakistan World.\' We tried to strain our ears. Did we hear it right, the woman greeting us on a lazy Sunday afternoon is the founder of Miss Pakistan World beauty pageant. It is bad manners to stare at someone blatantly but we couldn\'t help scanning her. While we are lost imagining how a beauty pageant in Pakistan is practically possible, what do they ask in question answer round (What do you have to say about Kashmir?), the pretty looking woman in question approaches us in a sweet and sophisticated voice, \"Hello, I am Sonia Ahmed founder of Miss Pakistan World beauty pageant, which has now entered its ninth year,\" she smiles wondering when will we get that \"what are you saying\' look of our face. Yes, we are curious right away. And Sonia has loads to tell.
After finishing studies, Sonia moved out to Canada for further studies where she started the Miss Pakistan contest. \"Whenever I would Google Miss Pakistan, the search engine would dish out hundred results on Miss India but nothing on Pakistan. That\'s when I thought that I should do something for Pakistani modeling,\" she says. A beauty contest in Pakistan, models walking the ramp, unbelievable.
Sonia smiles. She is soon going to clear our doubts. \"No the Miss Pakistan contest is being held in Canada for last nine years now. I can\'t think of doing something like this is Pakistan, not in another twenty years.\" Go on, this is interesting. \"I have faced tough resistance from Pakistani people, the government and the embassy. They have even stopped visas of some contestants going to Japan for the contest. They cannot tolerate anything like a beauty contest,\" Sonia adds.
Despite the backlash Sonia has been successfully organising the contest for Pakistani girls from around the world. \"I am doing this thing outside Pakistan so I am safe,\" she can probably read our mind. \"My parents were initially skeptical with this idea. Now after nine years they feel okay about it. These pageants help Pakistani girls get work in television shows and dramas across European countries and elsewhere,\" she proudly states. So, what is the Miss Pakistani World pageant like? Sonia cracks, giving a deep smile, \"It is like any other pageant like Miss India or Miss USA. We have all kinds of rounds including the swim suit round.\" This is some show we think. Well, Sonia has something exciting to add. \"Last year we started Mr Pakistan contest and it has won great response. As long as you have men walking the ramp, men in Pakistan don\'t have a problem, but when it is women, it is a taboo,\" there is concern and slight anger in her voice.
Don\'t we have enough Pakistani actresses making it big in Bollywood? You simply can\'t ignore Veena Malik these days! \"Yes they are. The modeling industry in Pakistan however is under warps where work is not for public display. I wish to hold a beauty contest in Pakistan some day. I hope to see it happening someday, maybe when I get old,\" she smiles.
Tim Robbins said something interesting in the movie Shawshank Redemption- Hope is a good thing; maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies
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Some media clipings of Sonia Ahmed during her stay in Chandigarh these days. 05.12.11,
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