Sonia Ahmed
Encyclopedia
Sonia Ahmed Kuwaiti born Pakistani, founder of Miss Canada Pakistan Inc. also known as Miss Pakistan World
, Miss Pakistan World and Mrs. Pakistan World
, is a pioneer in the international beauty and talent pageant industry for Pakistan.
after which her family moved to Ottawa
in Canada
, where she attended Notre Dame Catholic High School. Always an academic, Ahmed was awarded a medal for being ranked in the top 10 academically at her high school in Canada and also received a $8,000 scholarship to attend the University of Ottawa
where she earned a degree in Business. Ahmed continued in CGA (Certified General Accounting) up to the 4th level and then left it to pursue the pageant as full fledged business. Ahmed, grew up in Kuwait and learnt many languages which included written & spoken Hindi, Arabic, Urdu & French besides English. Ahmed's father Mian Iqbal Ahmed Bashir belonged to Punjabi
Arain
family settled in Faisalabad
, Pakistan and her mother is a native from Karachi, Pakistan.
, Ontario
, Ahmed considers herself a driving force for the "progression" and "liberation" of Pakistani women on a global scale. Working through her pageants, Ahmed aims to build cultural connections to showcase the beauty and talent of what she considers a new Pakistani generation.
The pageant organizers consider their event as a sort of civil rights movements, through which it is hoped that the young and married women of Pakistan are able to gain a voice on the international stage.
In August 2010, Ahmed was criticized for going ahead with the 8th annual Miss Pakistan World, when Pakistan was hit with floods 3 weeks prior to the actual event. Ahmed stood her grounds and said that the plans for holding the event would go on regardless. The other controversy surrounding the event was that it was held in the month of Ramadan. In an interview, Ahmed stated that the event was held after the fasting hours, and that Ramadan is a celebration not a mourning period.
Miss Pakistan World
Miss Pakistan World is a beauty pageant held in Mississauga, Ontario. Its contestants are women with mostly Pakistani heritage from Pakistan, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom...
, Miss Pakistan World and Mrs. Pakistan World
Mrs. Pakistan World
Mrs. Pakistan World is a beauty pageant for married Pakistani women from around the world. It is held in Toronto, Canada. Its contestants are women with mostly Pakistani heritage from Pakistan, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The winner represents Pakistan in international beauty...
, is a pioneer in the international beauty and talent pageant industry for Pakistan.
Early life
Sonia Ahmed attended Carmel Convent Catholic School in KuwaitKuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
after which her family moved to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where she attended Notre Dame Catholic High School. Always an academic, Ahmed was awarded a medal for being ranked in the top 10 academically at her high school in Canada and also received a $8,000 scholarship to attend the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
where she earned a degree in Business. Ahmed continued in CGA (Certified General Accounting) up to the 4th level and then left it to pursue the pageant as full fledged business. Ahmed, grew up in Kuwait and learnt many languages which included written & spoken Hindi, Arabic, Urdu & French besides English. Ahmed's father Mian Iqbal Ahmed Bashir belonged to Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
Arain
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
family settled in Faisalabad
Faisalabad
Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
, Pakistan and her mother is a native from Karachi, Pakistan.
Career
Living in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Ahmed considers herself a driving force for the "progression" and "liberation" of Pakistani women on a global scale. Working through her pageants, Ahmed aims to build cultural connections to showcase the beauty and talent of what she considers a new Pakistani generation.
The pageant organizers consider their event as a sort of civil rights movements, through which it is hoped that the young and married women of Pakistan are able to gain a voice on the international stage.
Controversies
In 2003, Ahmed was facing issues with holding the pageant as some conservative sections of the community were against the existence of Miss Pakistan World. As time went on, the controversies fizzled out.In August 2010, Ahmed was criticized for going ahead with the 8th annual Miss Pakistan World, when Pakistan was hit with floods 3 weeks prior to the actual event. Ahmed stood her grounds and said that the plans for holding the event would go on regardless. The other controversy surrounding the event was that it was held in the month of Ramadan. In an interview, Ahmed stated that the event was held after the fasting hours, and that Ramadan is a celebration not a mourning period.