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Miss Pakistan World (Urdu: دوشیزه دنیا پاکستان; transliteration: مس پاکستان ورلڈ) is an annual beauty pageant held in Canada and organised by the Miss Canada Pakistan Inc. since 2002. It acts as the primary international beauty pageant for women of Pakistani descent.

In 2002, a need for greater promotions and availability for Pakistani women to join the world of beauty was answered with the creation of Miss Pakistan World.^{[dubious – discuss]} Ideally, the pageant would be held in the represented country of Pakistan, but religious agenda does not allow for such contests to be held there as of yet.^{[citation needed]} The creation of the pageant began in Canada due to the multicultural ideals found in Canada. Through perseverance and international success, Miss Pakistan World has since become recognized internationally and spans the globe in search for Pakistan’s next international beauty.^{[citation needed]}

Creator, Sonia Ahmed saw the lack of exposure and opportunity for young Pakistani women and decided to take her own successes^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]} in the beauty and business industry and develop a platform for Pakistani girls from all over the world to showcase their beauty, intellect and love for the entertainment world. The Pakistani-born socialite, now living in Toronto, Ontario, has been met with criticism but has shown the true strength in women by bringing home 6 international titles in 5 years of competition.^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]}

Still expanding, MPW has worked with Miss Earth, Miss Tourism Queen International, and Queen of the World, Miss Tourism, Miss Globe and other global pageants.^{[citation needed]} Their readiness to join forces with Miss Universe and Miss World is stalled by the pageant’s inability to be held on Pakistani soil. This is an initiative that Ahmed and her team hope to make happen in the future. Until then, MPW continues to be a major player in almost every other international pageant. In 2006, MPW furthered their initiatives with the creation of its sister pageant, Mrs. Pakistan World – a pageant for married Pakistani women. The first woman to wear the crown, Misbah Iqbal went on to compete in Mrs. World 2007.^{[citation needed]} This marked the first time in history that a married Muslim woman competed in an international pageant.^{[citation needed]}

MPW continues to work hard to achieve a greater understanding as well as a strong platform for all women of Pakistani descent and to afford them a voice on the international stage. The 6th annual pageant will take place on May 23, 2008 in Toronto.^{[citation needed]} To the delight of all involved in the pageant, and especially its creator, the successes of MPW have begun to meet all expectations and ambition.

Women born in Pakistan, but now living elsewhere have all participated in the pageant. Most recently the pageant entries received a huge growth as number of participants increased to 586 contestants (15% increase since 2006, and a 412% increase since the pageant's formation).^{[citation needed]} In 2003, Zehra Sheerazi was named the first ever winner of the beauty contest and remains the youngest of those crowned thus far.

In 2005, Miss Pakistan World 2005, Naomi Zaman took home two international titles. The first at Miss Tourism Queen International 2005, as Best in Talent and Miss Disco: Girl of the Year.^{[citation needed]} The following year, Miss Pakistan World 2006, Sehr Mahmood took home the title of Queen of Elegance at the European pageant Queen of the World.^{[citation needed]} Meanwhile, Miss Pakistan World’s 3rd Runner Up, Mariyah Moten won Miss Charity at Miss Tourism Queen International as well as Best in Media at the Miss Bikini International pageant held in China in 2006.^{[citation needed]} The past year showed Miss Pakistan World 2007’s 2nd Runner Up, Nida Khan bring home 2nd Runner Up at the Miss Internet World pageant.^{[citation needed]}

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The pageant is considered by the organizers as a step towards a progressive shift in the nation. Organisers say they provide women of Pakistan a platform to compete with the world. Miss Pakistan World’s mission is to find positive, energetic role models who will represent and inspire Pakistani youth within their community, as well as internationally. Miss Pakistan World works to allow Pakistani women from around the world the opportunities to showcase their beauty, talents, and richness of culture both locally and on an international scale. The pageant is open to all women born in Pakistan to apply and embraces the diversity found within their country’s heritage.

2003 – Zehra Sheerazi (Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan)

2004 – Batool Cheema (Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan)

2005 – Naomi Zaman (Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan)

2006 – Sehr Mahmood (Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan)

2007 – Mahleej Sarkari (Bakhshapur, Balouchistan, Pakistan)

2008 - Natasha Paracha (Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan)

Miss Pakistan World has been held in Ottawa, Canada for its first year; in Mississauga, Ontario (a suburb of Toronto) for the past 4 years; and will be held there again on May 23, 2008 at the Versailles Convention Center in Mississauga, Ontario.

Discussions on the future locations of the Miss Pakistan World have included the United States and Dubai, UAE, and eventually Pakistan, however Canada’s media and financial support continues to provide reasoning to keep the pageant near Toronto.

Miss Pakistan World has received some coverage from South Asian news sources such as Times Of India, PakTribune, Pakistan Chronicle, The Kahleej Times, Manila Standard, as well as television outlets such as Zee TV, Sahara TV, ATN and GEO. Mainstream media has also shown exception interest through outlets such as The Washington Post, The Oregon Telegraph, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, The San Francisco Chronicle, and many more. International television outlets such as CityTV, Global, CTV, CBC and CP24 have all covered the event as well.

International broadcast of the event belonged exclusively to ATN until GEO TV bought the rights in 2006.

In 2006, Misbah Iqbal was crowned the first ever Mrs. Pakistan World and took reign for 2007. The spin-off pageant of Miss Pakistan World is in its second year and has shown an increase in applicants at the same level as Miss Pakistan World. Mrs. Pakistan World 2007 was the first married Muslim woman to compete on the international stage in the Mrs. World 2007 pageant.

In December 2007, shortly before the assassination of former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto, a Pakistani woman living in San Francisco, Saman Hasnain was crowned Mrs. Pakistan World 2008. Saman Hasnain belongs to Lahore, Pakistan. Her reign began during a year when progressive Pakistani women felt that much of their hope for liberation had been taken away. Hasnain aims to compete in the Mrs. World 2008 pageant and bring more awareness and appreciation to Muslim women throughout the world.

Miss Pakistan World

Mrs. Pakistan World

International Titles

Conservative extremists have condemned Miss Pakistan World, and its sister organization Mrs. Pakistan World from continuing. When the first Miss Pakistan World competed in an international pageant in 2003, the Pakistan Cultural Secretary commented that “such contests are a total contrast to the social and cultural values of Pakistan. Our religion, Islam, disapproves all such acts.”

Although some feminists object to such pageants as well, the Miss Pakistan World pageant acts as a movement to liberate Pakistani women who have found it difficult to move forward in a male-dominating society. Religious radicals still hope to continue the tradition that women stay covered while in public by use of a hijab. Progressive Pakistani women are fighting for the same rights and freedoms of women from more contemporary society.

Much controversy has followed the Miss Pakistan World pageant. Throughout the world Muslim extremists have shown great disapproval with this pageant, as they feel the focus is Pakistani women should not participate in a competition that forces them to wear bikinis even though other Muslims countries like Turley, Malaysia, Lebanon and Egypt are in the forefront in Beauty Pageants.

When Mariyah Moten represented Pakistan at the Miss Bikini Universe pageant in 2006, Muslim leaders showed outrage when she won Best in Media. “We have asked our missions in Washington and Beijing to investigate this because it is against our policy, culture and religion.” Senior Culture Ministry official Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry said. “She is an American passport holder. She is an American national of Pakistani origin, so how did she get entry as a Pakistani?” Chaudhry’s statements were never followed through on although they brought about more controversy in the media and threats to stop Pakistani passport holders living abroad their legal rights to travel within Pakistan without the use of a VISA. Again, threats that never came to fruition.

President Sonia Ahmed stresses, “the inclusion of a swimsuit is to ensure that the winners have a place within the international pageant world. Beauty contests such as Miss America have made claims that they are venturing away from the swimsuit category, but to day, they still include it. Each international beauty pageant such as Miss Universe, Miss World or Miss Earth has a swimsuit category within their competition. If I did not include it in Miss Pakistan World, the winner would be at a severe disadvantage to move on to a higher level within the industry.” Ahmed continues, "Until the international pageants remove the swimwear section of their pageants, I will continue to include it in mine."

Although controversy remains high in Pakistan, focus is beginning to shift towards the idea that it is time to start listening to the new generation of Pakistan. The December 10th, 2007 murder of a 16 year-old Pakistani girl at the hands of her father for not wanting to wear her hijab out in public along with the assassination of Pakistan’s main hope for a future of liberation, Benazir Bhutto, brought about a sharp positive turn for Miss Pakistan World. The idea of free choice and freedom of speech for Pakistani women have entered the spotlight, and begun to overshadow any and all extremists’ negative views of the pageant.

GEO TV had called the Miss Pakistan Team in April 2008 for the latest controversy, "I love Musharraf". Mahleej Sarkari, Miss Pakistan World 2007's statements shocked Pakistan when she declared that she would date the President of Pakistan if given a chance. GEO TV's host Nadia Khan called it a publicity gimmick. The team was called to Dubai and the President of the company took live calls from the audience. Later on Nadia Khan turned the tables on the guest by doing a two hour long show without the guests and stressed that the Pakistani community should stop that.^{[citation needed]}

Conversations between GEO and the Miss Pakistan World team were recorded and added on youtube which clearly showed GEO TV conspiring against the pageant. Not only that Nadia Khan falsely said that the team was detained in the airport but that too has never been proven yet. Instead videos of the Dubai incident are on youtube which clearly showed that the team was at the airport and filming at the airport.^{[citation needed]}

The pageant's president Sonia Ahmed along with 2007 winner Mahleej Sarkari were invited to the Nadia Khan Show on Geo TV to debate this criticism. Discussing some of the issues, Ahmed and Nadia Khan, the host of the show fell into a harsh exchange of words and the host was snubbed strongly by the president of the pageant towards the end of the show. Khan went on to criticise the pageant in follow-ups for her show for which the television network never apologised for. Ahmed accused the network of promoting yellow journalism.

Mahleej Sarkari's controversial statements calling President Musharraf a 'hunk' and wanting to date him were not well received and were often quoted in Indian media to arouse and stir controversy. Photos of contestants from El Salvador and Jamaica holding a picture of Musharraf in his army uniform and blowing kisses at it were published along with the winner's comments.^[3] Although Pakistani media hasn't shed much light on the events, some media analysts consider the statements a publicity stunt. The promotions for the pageant were also criticised for using the name Pakistan within its title, where critics would argue that the usage was only for advertising purposes and gimmicks rather than actually promoting Pakistani culture. The organizers think other wise and beleive that this is for the softer image of Pakistan.^{[citation needed]}

If I did not include it in Miss Pakistan World, the winner would be at a severe disadvantage to move on to a higher level within the industry. Until the international pageants remove the swimwear sections, I will continue to include it in mine. Sonia Ahmed, the pageant's president on the inclusion of swimwear competition within the pageant's format. The pageant has faced a lot of criticism due to the inclusion of a swimsuit competition in the pageant format.However, Ahmed stressed the inclusion was vital as it gives the pageant an international credibility and that girls participating in the pageant should feel comfortable wearing swimsuits if they were to participate in pageants at an international level.

• Miss Pakistan World web site, verified 2007-01-02.
• Mrs Pakistan World web site
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7340000/newsid_7347400/7347462.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2

Pakistan Category:Pakistani beauty pageant contestants