Sonia Ahmed (Urdu: سونیا احمد) (born 23 August 1980) as Sonia Iqbal Ahmed, is a

Kuwait Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Kuwait ...

-born

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

and founder of Miss Canada Pakistan Inc., now known as

Miss Pakistan World Miss Pakistan World is a national beauty pageant for women of Pakistani descent from around the world. The event used to be held in Toronto, Canada but has moved to Pakistan and is held annually in Lahore, Pakistan. History Launched in Canad ...

, Mr. Pakistan World and

Mrs. Pakistan World Miss Pakistan World is a national beauty pageant for women of Pakistani descent from around the world. The event used to be held in Toronto, Canada but has moved to Pakistan and is held annually in Lahore, Pakistan. History Launched in Canad ...

that were first held in 2002 in

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, Canada. She established the Miss Pakistan pageant on the soil of

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

in 2020 and crowned the first girl in Pakistan and in 2021, she established the

Miss Trans Pakistan Miss Trans Pakistan is a pageant for the trans women of Pakistan founded by Sonia Ahmed. It is part of the Miss Pakistan World pageant. History In 2020, during COVID-19, the Miss Pakistan World pageant moved from Toronto Canada to Lahore, Pa ...

pageant. Since 2020, the pageant is held in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

, Pakistan.

Biography

Sonia Ahmed was born in

Arain Arain (also known as Raeen) are a large Punjabi Muslim agricultural community with a strong political identity and level of organisation. At the beginning of the last century, they numbered around 1 million and were mainly rural cultivator ...

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

father from

, Punjab and mother is from Karachi, Sindh. She spent her childhood in

and did her high school and university in

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. She graduated from the

University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a Official bilingualism in Canada, bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ot ...

. Ahmed is a certified accountant. She views herself as a patriot and progressive Pakistani working to liberate Pakistani women by opening different avenues and showcase the beauty and talent of the new Pakistani generation. She is known to create the pageant industry of

through

, Mrs. Pakistan,

Miss Earth Pakistan Miss Earth Pakistan () is a national beauty pageant title presented to Pakistani delegates who participate in the Miss Earth competition. This title was initially acquired in 2005 by the president of Miss Pakistan World, Sonia Ahmed pageant wa ...

Miss Grand Pakistan Miss Grand Pakistan () is a national beauty pageant title awarded to Pakistan representatives competing at the Miss Grand International contest. The title was first mentioned in 2013 when the winner of Miss Pakistan World 2013 was assigned to re ...

Miss Pakistan Universal Miss Pakistan Universal () is a national beauty pageant title awarded to Pakistani representatives competing at the various international contests like Miss Aura International, Miss Planet and Miss Elite. The title "Miss Pakistan Universal" ...

, Ms. Pakistan, Mr. Pakistan and

events.

Career

Pakistan's pageant industry

In 2002, Ahmed created a beauty pageant called Miss Canada Pakistan and changed its name to

in 2006. She created

in 2007, for married women of Pakistani descent. She created Mr. Pakistan World in 2011, and moved the event to

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, USA in 2014. From 2002-2019 the Miss Pakistan pageant was held in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. Ahmed has sent contestants to pageants like

Miss Grand International Miss Grand International, also known as Miss Grand, is an international beauty pageant franchise that is based in Thailand. It consists of the annual national pageant Miss Grand Thailand, as well as the international competition Miss Grand In ...

Miss Earth Miss Earth is an annual international major beauty pageant based in the Philippines that advocates for environmental awareness, conservation and social responsibility. Along with Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss International, it is one ...

Miss International Miss International (''Miss International Beauty'' or ''The International Beauty Pageant'') is a Japan-based international major beauty pageant organized by the International Culture Association. First held in 1960, it is the fourth largest page ...

Miss Supranational Miss Supranational is an annual international beauty pageant, started in 2009, and with most contests held in Poland. A parallel male contest, Mister Supranational, was launched in 2016, also in Poland. The current organizers of Miss and Mist ...

and many mid level and minor competitions around the world. Her participation as the National Director of Pakistan created the pageant industry for Pakistan through

and

. During Covid, the pageant was virtually brought in

and since then has been held in Pakistan. In 2020, Ahmed, brought the pageant to Lahore, Pakistan where the first Miss Pakistan World was crowned on the soil of Pakistan,

Areej Chaudhary Areej Chaudhary (Urdu: اریج چوہدری; born 7 May 1997) is a Pakistani actress and the winner of Miss Pakistan World 2020 and was sent to Miss Earth 2020 virtually to represent Pakistan. She is also a psychologist by profession. Earl ...

. Since 2020, the pageant is held in

. Another history was made in

, Pakistan on May 25, 2021. Ahmed created the first Miss Trans Pakistan for trans women of Pakistani descent and the first trans girl to be crowned was

Shyraa Roy Shyraa Roy () is a Pakistani singer, actress and producer based in Dubai. She is known for being the first Miss Trans Pakistan for 2021 and 2022 to be crowned in Pakistan. She made her debut in Pakistani cinema through Vikram Bhatt's feature ...

. On 31st, January 2022, the Mr. and Miss Pakistan ceremoney was held in Lahore, Pakistan and 6 winners were crowned. On May 31, 2023 along with the other winners, the second Miss Trans Pakistan was crowned,

Alina Khan Alina Khan (Urdu: علینہ خان) is a Pakistani actress known for her lead roles in the short film ''Darling'' in 2019 and the feature film ''Joyland (film), Joyland'' in 2022. She is the first transgender person to have a lead role in a majo ...

. This was the fourth Miss Pakistan event organized by Ahmed on the soil of Pakistan. On the 31st of May 2024, Ahmed went to Lahore, Pakistan and completed the 5th event on the soil of Pakistan.

Entering film work

In 2014, Ahmed filmed her first documentary, "

I Shall Dance Sonia Ahmed (Urdu: سونیا احمد) (born 23 August 1980) as Sonia Iqbal Ahmed, is a Kuwait-born Canadian Pakistani and founder of Miss Canada Pakistan Inc., now known as Miss Pakistan World, Mr. Pakistan World and Mrs. Pakistan World that ...

," under her production company, Touchgate Global Inc., which was released in September 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Filmography

Controversies

Ahmed faced opposition on her holding the pageant from some conservative sections of the community. However the opposition soon ended. In August 2010, Ahmed was criticized for going ahead with the 8th annual Miss Pakistan World during the month of

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

and while Pakistan faced a humanitarian crisis due to widespread flooding.

References

External links

*
ANI Interview

Official Sonia Ahmed Site

Miss Pakistan World WebsiteMr. Pakistan World WebsiteMrs. Pakistan Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed, Sonia 1980 births Living people Businesspeople from Karachi Businesspeople from Ottawa Businesspeople from Toronto Canadian businesspeople of Pakistani descent Canadian people of Pakistani descent Canadian people of Punjabi descent Pakistani expatriates in Kuwait Pakistani Sunni Muslims 21st-century Pakistani women People of Punjabi descent Punjabi women University of Ottawa alumni Immigrants to Canada 21st-century Pakistani people 21st-century Canadian businesspeople 21st-century Canadian businesswomen Businesspeople from Lahore Pakistani company founders People from Lahore Canadian Muslims