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The first Miss Pakistan World winner, Zehra Sheerazi from Karachi, Pakistan.

Miss Pakistan World (Urdu: دوشیزه دنیا پاکستان; transliteration: مس پاکستان ورلڈ) is an annual and unofficial national 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 all the while not being endorsed by either the Government of Pakistan^[1], the Pakistani fashion industry, or the general Pakistani media. It wasn't much recognised up until 2007, when the organisers were questioned about their controversial marketing stunts and gimmicks.^[2]

The organisers pose the basis of the pageant to allow self-styled "progressive" Pakistani women the opportunity to showcase their talent and has prepared models for international beauty pageants like the Miss Tourism Queen International.^[3] Asked why the pageant is not held on Pakistani soil, the organisers tend to shift their replies towards the religious intolerance that is aimed at such pageants in Pakistan. This contradicts the fact that brands like Procter & Gamble have been organizing beauty pageant in recent years such as "Palmolive Face of the Year" and more recently "Pantene Shine Princess". Both these shows have been held in Pakistan.

[edit] History

Crowning moment at the 2008 Miss Pakistan World. The pageant has seen a 412% growth in women enrolling for the competition since its inception in 2003 and has welcomed just as many controversies.

Pakistan's foundation were laid on Islamic ideologies and adheres to a conservative attitudes when it comes to exposure of one's body. In the 50s, Pakistanis tried to achieve a liberal sense of being by declaring it would be sending a contestant for the world renowned Miss Universe beauty pageant but would then roll back its desires after knowing that it was necessary for women to clad themselves in a swimsuit.^[4]

Since then the Pakistani attitude has shifted from a moderate to a very conservative one when it comes to matters of beauty contests and pageants. Lawmakers are particularly concerned when addressing such issues in view that it would stir rage in and hurt the fundamentalist Muslim religious sects and would lose the nation to chaos and riots if they were to officially declare such a competition on its soil. On one hand, the nation struggles with fundamentalist rising, on the other it is continuously fighting to promote a renewed sense of liberal understanding that Musharraf likes to call 'enlightened moderation'.^[5]

It was thousands of miles away from Pakistan in Canada that models like Yasmeen Ghauri achieved popularity as a Muslim model of Pakistani descent and it would still be Canada that hosted the first ever Pakistani beauty pageant, the "Miss Canada Pakistan" pageant. Organised by Sonia Ahmed, a Canadian-Pakistani woman, the pageant was held in the 2002 in Ottawa, later to be moved to Toronto. The pageant was only limited to entrants from Canada. After its initial success, the pageant board decided to broaden its scope to allow unmarried Pakistani women from across the globe to enter. The pageant was retitled "Miss Pakistan World" (MPW).

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). In 2003, Zehra Sheerazi was named the first ever winner of the beauty contest and remains the youngest of those crowned thus far.

Still expanding, MPW has worked with Miss Earth, Miss Tourism Queen International, Miss Globe and other global pageants. Their readiness to join forces with Miss Universe and Miss World is stalled by the pageant’s inability to be held on Pakistani soil. In 2006, MPW furthered their initiatives with the creation of its sister pageant, "Mrs Pakistan World", pageant for married Pakistani women. The first woman to wear the crown, Misbah Iqbal went on to compete in Mrs World 2007. This marked the first time in history that a married Muslim woman competed in an international pageant.

[edit] Pageant Image

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.The Government of Pakistan, however, seems reluctant to associate the name of the country with the pageant. Geo TV and other well-known and liberal channels seldom cover the pageant due to its low quality standards.

The pageant does not need the government's endorsement as much as it desperately needs endorsement from the Pakistan fashion industry. Critics have pointed fingers at the standard of grooming the pageant employs and the appalling quality of costumes worn throughout the pageant. The evening gowns are reminiscent of high school prom dresses that do less to promote class or poise and much an excuse to include that part of the pageant. Recently evening wear made by Pakistani designers have acquired their fair share of limelight through the red carpet events of the Lux Style Awards, an annual extravaganza held in Pakistan and other such events but not the pageant itself.

The biggest disappointment is the traditional dresses which are in garish colours with unflattering textures and cuts. Most Pakistani people would not want to associate themselves with the show, not because of their religious inclinations towards sections like the swimsuit contest, but because of its failure at maintaining any quality standards whatsoever.

[edit] Criticism

Much controversy has followed the pageant along with its success. Where conservative Muslims have shown great disapproval with this pageant, the usually vague association of the pageant title with Pakistan is often questioned. Like all other international pageants, this competition, even though relatively unknown to the public, has attracted criticism for objectifying women and being in deep contrast to Pakistani traditions.

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.

2007 winner Mahleej Sarkari at Miss Tourism Queen International. She was at the centre of a few controversies for the better half of her reign as Miss Pakistan World.

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. Although Pakistani media hasn't shed much light on the events, most 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.

Fingers have been pointed at the pageant board's inclusion of a swimsuit competition with the pageant format. 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. If it weren't for this very part of the pageant, critics speculate the show could be hosted on Pakistani soil. Recent endeavours like the Pantene Shine Princess beauty contest stripped its format of the various competitions that required models to wear skimpy and even after being hosted in Pakistan was largely accepted by the Pakistani people. While the Pantene Shine Princess pageant helps young girls achieve their goals by helping them obtain grants from colleges and helping them in other ways, the Miss Pakistan World has not been reported as serving the general Pakistani public. Times of Karachi put the subject of exposure in swimwear, that the Canadian pageant practices, in front of a judging audience as "having physical appearances assessed and judged in a cattle market".^[4]

In 2006, Mariyah Ashraf Moten was selected to compete in the Miss Bikini Universe pageant, the Government of Pakistan disowned with contempt the association of the name Pakistan with the title.^[7] The organisers of the Miss Pakistan World pageant have been thorough even in proving Musharraf's cap on religious extremism and adoption of 'enlightened moderation' is nothing but fad but what the pageant officials failed to recognise was the fact that it was necessary to ask for permission from the government at least. In fact, Ahmed has made it clear that they haven't had any formal discussions with members of the government or any official in the government regarding the association of the pageant's identity with the name of the nation. It was found that American Moten wasn't even a Pakistani citizen. In one statement, senior Ministry of Culture official Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry stressed that the ministry had asked the missions in Washington and Beijing to investigate into the policy of whether a person not holding a country's passport still be allowed to participate under the country's name.^[8] Moten wasn't the first to accept the blame. Neelam Noorani in 2002 was put under the fire as Tariq Janjua, the then Culture Secretary said that “such contests are a total contrast to the social and cultural values of Pakistan, our religion Islam disapproves all such acts.”^[7]

[edit] Racist Comments

While returning to Canada from Dubai after their appearance in the Nadia Khan Show, Sarkari and Ahmed's passports were reportedly confiscated by the police at the airport after Ahmed passed a racist comment directed at on the customer services personnel for delaying the processing of their documents. They were restricted from boarding the plane unless they apologise for their misbehaviour. The organiser and the crowned winner would still not apologise and it was after a member of the Geo TV staff apologised on their behalf were they allowed to board the plane.^[9]

[edit] Crown Winners

Miss Pakistan World 2006 Sehr Mahmood, Karachi, Pakistan

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, Sindh, Pakistan)

2008 - Natasha Paracha (Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan)

[edit] Locations

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 23rd, 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.

[edit] Coverage

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.

It should be noted that prior to the comments regarding Perverz Musharaf, the show was in relative obscurity.

[edit] Mrs. Pakistan World

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 of 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.

[edit] All Title Holders

Miss Pakistan World

Mrs. Pakistan World

International Titles

[edit] Expansion of the Pageant

President of Miss Pakistan World Sonia Ahmed, Karachi, Pakistan

The company first began as a base for Pakistani Canadians to become a part of the pageant industry. In 2005, contestants from USA, UK and as far as Hong Kong, China were included. It has now become standard for potential delegates to fly into Toronto, with family and friends to compete in Miss Pakistan World.

The company began with an eye on unmarried Pakistani delegates to participate. Once success was achieved with Miss Pakistan World, the organization launched Mrs. Pakistan World pageant. As Pakistani married women showed interest in the pageant industry, the company launched its first Mrs. Pakistan World in 2007.

Since conception, the organization began competition in the international pageant scene with only 1 international pageant under their belt. Today they have represented Pakistan in over a dozen international pageants.

The organization has begun to allow those delegates placing in the runner-up position to move on to the international stage.

[edit] External links

• 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

[edit] References