Sonia Ahmed

Sonia Ahmed (Urdu: سونیا احمد) (born 23 August 1980) as Sonia Iqbal Ahmed, is a Kuwait-born[1] Canadian Pakistani and founder of Miss Canada Pakistan Inc., now known as Miss Pakistan World,[2][3] Mr. Pakistan World[4] and Mrs. Pakistan World[5] that were first held in 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[2]

Sonia Ahmed
سونیا احمد
Ahmed during an event in U.K
Born (1980-08-23) 23 August 1980
Sharq, Kuwait
Citizenship
Alma materUniversity of Ottawa (BBA)
Occupations
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Writer
Years active2000–present
Title
Websitesoniaahmedofficial.com

She established the Miss Pakistan pageant on the soil of Pakistan[6] in 2020[7] and crowned the first girl in Pakistan and in 2021, she established the Miss Trans Pakistan[8][9] pageant. Since 2020, the pageant is held in Lahore, Pakistan.

Biography

Sonia Ahmed was born in Kuwait to Arain[10] Punjabi father from Lahore, Punjab and mother is from Karachi, Sindh. She spent her childhood in Kuwait and did her high school and university in Ottawa, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Ottawa. Ahmed is a certified accountant.[11] She views herself as a patriot and progressive[12] Pakistani working to liberate Pakistani women by opening different avenues[13] and showcase the beauty and talent of the new Pakistani generation.[14][15][16][17][18][19] She is known to create the pageant industry of Pakistan through Miss Pakistan World, Mrs. Pakistan, Miss Earth Pakistan, Miss Grand Pakistan, Miss Pakistan Universal,[20][21] Ms. Pakistan, Mr. Pakistan and Miss Trans Pakistan events.

Career

Pakistan's pageant industry

In 2002,[22][23] Ahmed[24] created a beauty pageant called Miss Canada Pakistan and changed its name to Miss Pakistan World in 2006.[25][26][27][11][28] She created Mrs. Pakistan World in 2007, for married women of Pakistani descent.[29][30] She created Mr. Pakistan World in 2011, and moved the event to New Jersey, USA in 2014.[31][32] From 2002-2019[33] the Miss Pakistan pageant was held in Toronto, Ontario.

Ahmed has sent contestants to pageants like Miss Grand International, Miss Earth, Miss International, Miss Supranational and many mid level and minor competitions around the world. Her participation as the National Director of Pakistan created the pageant industry for Pakistan through Miss Pakistan World, Miss Grand Pakistan, Mrs. Pakistan World, Miss Earth Pakistan and Miss Trans Pakistan.

During Covid, the pageant was virtually brought in Lahore, Pakistan and since then has been held in Pakistan. In 2020, Ahmed, brought the pageant to Lahore, Pakistan where the first Miss Pakistan World was crowned on the soil of Pakistan, Areej Chaudhary. Since 2020, the pageant is held in Lahore, Pakistan.

Another history was made in Lahore, Pakistan on May 25, 2021. Ahmed created the first Miss Trans[34] Pakistan[35] for trans women[36] of Pakistani[37] descent and the first trans girl to be crowned was Shyraa Roy. On 31st, January 2022,[38] the Mr. and Miss Pakistan[39] ceremoney was held in Lahore,[40] Pakistan and 6 winners were crowned. On May 31, 2023[41] along with the other winners,[42] the second Miss Trans Pakistan was crowned, Alina Khan.[43] This was the fourth Miss Pakistan event organized by Ahmed on the soil of Pakistan.[44]

Entering film work

In 2014, Ahmed filmed her first documentary, "I Shall Dance,[45][46]" under her production company, Touchgate Global Inc., which was released in September 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[47]

Filmography
Year Film Credited as Notes Ref.
Director Writer Producer
2014 I Shall Dance[45][46] Yes Yes Yes Selected at the YellowKnife Film Festival Feature [45][46]
2024 Pakistan's Minority Queen[48][49] Yes Yes Yes Short Documentary/ Post Production[50] Short

Controversies

Ahmed faced opposition[51][52] on her holding the pageant from some conservative sections of the community. However the opposition soon ended[53]. [54][55][56] In August 2010, Ahmed was criticized for going ahead with the 8th annual Miss Pakistan World during the month of Ramadan and while Pakistan faced a humanitarian crisis[57] due to widespread flooding.[58]

See also

References
  1. https://www.geo.tv/latest/495137-former-beauty-queens-encourage-young-girls-to-join-pageants
  2. "Pakistan May Not Be Ready For Its Beauty Queen". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  3. "DIVERSITY WATCH - Media - 2003 Archive". Diversitywatch.ryerson.ca. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  4. "The newly appointed Mr. Pakistan World 2021 is Syed Shah". Its South Asian. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  5. "Porter: This beauty queen has brains and bite". Toronto Star. 14 January 2010.
  6. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/blog/sonia-ahmeds-vision-elevates-miss-pakistan-t-1748339.html?fbclid=IwAR0M2ZwPY15t_XvIO_iSyH8Ic4feKjf-hlC87mXIC3QFAe2krWb5eF9T5GA
  7. https://gnnhd.tv/news/25140/sonia-ahmed-a-leading-light-in-pakistans-entertainment-industry-beyond
  8. "Is change really in the air for Pakistan's transgender community? | Opinion". Newsweek. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  9. NewsDesk (2021-05-24). "Shyraa Roy Crowned Miss Trans Pakistan 2021". Oyeyeah. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  10. Times, Parliament. "Sonia Ahmed: Our Real Hero - Daily Parliament Times". www.dailyparliamenttimes.com.
  11. "Pakistani beauty pageant aims to celebrate womanhood". Indianexpress.com. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. https://beautypageants.in/Everything-you-need-to-know-about-Miss-Pakistan-World/eventshow/58239378.cms
  13. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1083762-pakistani-beauty-pageant-winners-call-for-young-girls-participation-to-improve-pakistans-soft-image
  14. "Celeb talk: The world at her fingertips". Khaleejtimes.com\Accessdate=15 November 2014.
  15. "Miss Pakistan World". Tribune.com.pk. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  16. "Pak beauty pageant organiser sick of hypocrite Pakistanis". Zee News. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  17. "Pakistani beauty queen opposes deal on Shariah law". Mid-day.com. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  18. "Crowning glory for 'Miss Pakistan' beauty pageants". Theasaintoday.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  19. IANS. "Stop Sharia laws, kick out Taliban nomads: Miss Pakistan World". siliconindia. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  20. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/showbiz/miss-pakistan-universal-a-fresh-chapter-in-p-1750241.html
  21. https://gnnhd.tv/news/25582/miss-pakistan-universal-paving-the-way-for-pakistans-pageantry
  22. "Crowning glory for 'Miss Pakistan' beauty pageants - Features, Sports". 6 December 2006.
  23. "Miss Pakistan Sonia Ahmed". Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  24. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle". www.tribuneindia.com.
  25. "Pakistani beauty pageant aims to 'celebrate womanhood'". 5 December 2011.
  26. ""Miss Pakistan World is a step towards showing a different Pakistan" – Sonia Ahmed". 25 March 2010.
  27. "Pakistani Canadian kills daughter over hijab". dna. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  28. Archived December 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  30. "Farah mahmood - Pakistan gets its Mrs. Pakistan World 2013 - Farah Mahmood". Newswire.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  31. "Pakistan shines in Mr Ocean 2017". 30 November 2017.
  32. "2014 Miss Pakistan World Pageant coming to Edison". Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  33. https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2023/dr-shafaq-akhtar-a-new-face-for-pakistan-s-representation-in-pageants
  34. "Sialkot Born Singer Actress Shyraa Becomes First Miss Trans Pakistan | Daily Outcome". 24 May 2021.
  35. "Model and singer Shyraa Roy selected as Pakistan's first Miss Trans Beauty Queen". 26 May 2021.
  36. "Becoming Miss Trans Pakistan turned Shyraa Roy's life around and she wants the same for her community". 23 April 2022.
  37. "Shyraa Roy, Miss Trans Pakistan 2021". 22 May 2021.
  38. https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2023/dr-shafaq-akhtar-a-new-face-for-pakistan-s-representation-in-pageants
  39. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1071369-dr-shafaq-to-feature-in-egypt-pageant-event
  40. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2341611/miss-pakistan-universal-mr-pakistan-global-crowned-in-lahore
  41. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2421264/diverse-events-attract-lahores-citizens
  42. https://www.geo.tv/latest/492275-doctor-turned-model-kapotaqkhy-chanchala-becomes-miss-pakistan-world
  43. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2419910/night-to-remember-joylands-alina-khan-crowned-miss-trans-pakistan-2023
  44. https://www.geo.tv/latest/492275-doctor-turned-model-kapotaqkhy-chanchala-becomes-miss-pakistan-world
  45. "I Shall Dance – A film by Sonia Ahmed". Archived from the original on 7 July 2014.
  46. "I Shall Dance (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  47. "I Shall Dance: A documentary on dance in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  48. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/showbiz/dr-shafaq-akhtar-a-global-ambassador-of-pak-1749142.html
  49. https://gnnhd.tv/news/25320/im-committed-to-showcase-pakistan-on-global-stage-says-dr-shafaq-akhtar
  50. "Dr Shafaq vows to win more laurels for Pakistan". Dunya News. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  51. Bh, Aparita (8 April 2006). "Beauty and belief: a balancing act". The Globe and Mail.
  52. "Pakistani beauty pageant to go ahead". The Toronto Star. 19 August 2010.
  53. "Belly dancing at Miss Pakistan contest". Hindustan Times. 2006-04-07. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  54. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  55. "DIVERSITY WATCH | Media | 2003 Archive". 2011-06-06. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  56. "Crowning glory for 'Miss Pakistan' beauty pageants - Features - The Asian Today Online". 2014-11-29. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  57. Allen, Kate (19 August 2010). "Organizers criticized for running Pakistani pageant in wake of flood disaster". The Globe and Mail.
  58. Waheed, Alia (2010-08-19). "Miss Pakistan World pageant's timing causes dismay". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
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