January
2, 2008 San Francisco Woman
is Mrs Pakistan World By Gurmukh Singh
Toronto
For the Pakistanis devastated by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
last week, there is now some cheer. San Francisco-based Saman
Hasnain is the new Mrs Pakistan World 2008.
The pageant, which is into its second year, was organized by
Toronto-based Miss Canada Pakistan Inc. that has also been running
Miss Pakistan World for Pakistan-origin girls worldwide since 2002.
Hasnain, the 37-year-old mother of two and real estate agent by
profession, was short-listed for the competition and crowned Mrs
Pakistan World by voters online.
She will now represent Pakistan in Mrs World 2008 and Mrs Globe 2008
pageants.
Hasnain said: "In my role, I would like to change the world's
perception of Pakistani women. I hope to act as a role model, and
encourage, educate and motivate Pakistani women to help achieve a
strong and progressive Pakistan."
She said she would also expand her charitable work in Pakistan where
she has already built a school for 1,000 children and worked with an
NGO Development in Literacy.
Miss Pakistan and Mrs Pakistan organizer Sonia Ahmed told IANS: "The
assassination of Benazir, who was the voice of modern Pakistani
women, is a blow to us. But we want to show the world that Pakistani
women have a global voice and a desire to progress."
Hasnain's crowning, she said, was another step by modern Pakistani
women to have a voice on the international stage.
"Pakistani women are not what they are projected in the media. They
are modern, progressive women who want to live an independent life,"
she said.
Since Pakistan does not allow beauty pageants for religious reasons,
Sonia said: "Liberal Pakistan-origin women have a platform in Canada
to tell the world that they are among the most beautiful women in
the world. We have a terrific response. Even hijab-clad girls and
women apply for Miss Pakistan and Mrs Pakistan. But we reject them"
Bikini parades, she said, are a must for those seeking to contest
for Miss Pakistan, which is held some time in the middle of the year
in Toronto.
"We are making Mrs Pakistan a big pageant on the lines of Miss
Pakistan. Right now, Mrs Pakistan contestants send us their photo
portfolios. We hold phone interviews with them, quiz them and then
shortlist them. Those short-listed vie for Mrs Pakistan as people
vote online for them."
Interestingly, Toronto, where the beauty pageant is based, was
recently shocked when a Pakistani Canadian strangled to death his
16-year-old daughter, Aqsa Parvez, for refusing to wear a hijab.
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