Tahmena Bokhari
Encyclopedia
Tahmena Bokhari is a Pakistani-Canadian beauty pageant titleholder and social worker. She was born in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
and spent several childhood years in Faisalabad
, Pakistan
. She won Mrs. Pakistan World
2010 in Toronto and became the 3rd Pakistani woman in history to represent women on an international platform. Currently she holds the title of Mrs. United Nations 2010, which she won in Negril, Jamaica. She became the first Pakistani beauty queen to bring back the title for Pakistan.
in social work from the University of Toronto
and subsequently traveled abroad, working with orphans, victims of poverty
, and natural disaster
survivors. For six weeks, she worked in the relief efforts following the October 8, 2005 earthquake in Kashmir
, including serving as a translator for foreign doctors.
As a college professor, Bokhari teaches social work at Seneca
and George Brown
colleges. She has worked as a consultant to governments and organizations, and as a public speaker and writer in the Greater Toronto Area
. She focuses on diversity, ending violence against women, health (particularly cancer), and issues involving immigrants and settlement.
Bokhari is a strong advocate for ending violence against women. She has spoken out on the murder of a young Pakistani woman, Aqsa Parvez, which occurred in Mississauga, ON, in 2007 and has challenged the term "honour killing" popularized by the media since this murder. Bokhari has also written about the issues of violence along with other social issues in her quest to work towards social justice. In addition, Bokhari is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity as well as a trainer and consultant on these issues.
2010, making her the 4th winner to hold this title. Bokhari plans to use this platform to raise a larger awareness of the issues she spent previous years working on, as well as to take on the role of a spokesperson for Pakistani women balancing family, community, career and hobbies. Her pageant experience includes winning Mrs. Kohinoor 2009, as well as being a part of the Miss Pakistan World
prior to getting married.
Toronto
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....
, 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...
and spent several childhood years 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
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. She won 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...
2010 in Toronto and became the 3rd Pakistani woman in history to represent women on an international platform. Currently she holds the title of Mrs. United Nations 2010, which she won in Negril, Jamaica. She became the first Pakistani beauty queen to bring back the title for Pakistan.
Social work
She obtained her master'sMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in social work from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and subsequently traveled abroad, working with orphans, victims of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, and natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
survivors. For six weeks, she worked in the relief efforts following the October 8, 2005 earthquake in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, including serving as a translator for foreign doctors.
As a college professor, Bokhari teaches social work at Seneca
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
and George Brown
George Brown College
George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
colleges. She has worked as a consultant to governments and organizations, and as a public speaker and writer in the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
. She focuses on diversity, ending violence against women, health (particularly cancer), and issues involving immigrants and settlement.
Bokhari is a strong advocate for ending violence against women. She has spoken out on the murder of a young Pakistani woman, Aqsa Parvez, which occurred in Mississauga, ON, in 2007 and has challenged the term "honour killing" popularized by the media since this murder. Bokhari has also written about the issues of violence along with other social issues in her quest to work towards social justice. In addition, Bokhari is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity as well as a trainer and consultant on these issues.
Mrs. Pakistan World 2010
Bokhari won the title of Mrs. Pakistan WorldMrs. 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...
2010, making her the 4th winner to hold this title. Bokhari plans to use this platform to raise a larger awareness of the issues she spent previous years working on, as well as to take on the role of a spokesperson for Pakistani women balancing family, community, career and hobbies. Her pageant experience includes winning Mrs. Kohinoor 2009, as well as being a part of the Miss Pakistan World
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...
prior to getting married.