The Pakistani Spectator

Many people are sceptic about pageants and in Pakistan it’s unthinkable to hold one right now. Why did you get into this pageant thing?

I got into this as by mistake, when I was in the University of Ottawa trying to think of different concepts of bringing Pakistani culture to celebrate “Cultural Week” in my university. As soon as I got the idea of having a beauty pageant, I started getting mixed reactions, and when I thought long enough I wanted to get it done more than anything in my life. I never spent this much time on any cause, as I came to understand how much we as Pakistanis need this. I spent my final university years and left my Chartered Accountancy in this battle of convincing and achieving what I thought I could for my country. And I made history as introducing and giving birth to Pakistan’s First and only Pageant Industry.

What did you hope to achieve?

I wanted a platform for Pakistani girls to achieve success in the field of entertainment. I wanted them to get the confidence of competing in the field of arts and entertainment. We need entertainment to flourish and this has to come from our homes. Our families have to respect and love entertainment and thus Miss Pakistan World as well as Mrs. Pakistan World saw that support from families of contestants and audience members as well as judges. I achieved already 25 international pageants around the world in just 7 years in which Pakistan has already achieved many sub-titles. Of course we have a long way to go, but we are going slow and steady and will hopefully get more accomplished in a few years. Our success in international pageants is just around the corner. There was a time when Pakistanis in any country around the world could not imagine a married woman with children doing anything in the entertainment field after marriage. But the married women’s pageant for Pakistanis has been flourishing for the past 4 years now. This itself is an accomplishment as these women, their husbands, their in-laws, their children and family members are now a part of this. This itself is an accomplishment where not only do we have Miss Pakistan World but also Mrs. Pakistan World.

It is thought that pageants are all about showing off body and to appease the lust of audience. Is that true?

First of all, a pageant is about both beauty and knowledge on various subjects. So yes, one must have a good physique as we do not want a 500 pound Miss or Mrs. Pakistan representing Pakistan. That is not healthy and no one should be a role model as we want to promote a well proportionate and healthy Miss or Mrs. Pakistan. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but in pageantry beauty means confidence, attitude, and talent in arts and entertainment and a big yes to a fit & healthy physique.

Secondly, when we talk about lust, that’s something subjective, and people (men) can lust even if a woman is wearing a shalwar kameez. It is all about the mentality and what a person is about. The audience members are fathers, uncles, grandfathers, cousins, brothers, in laws, husbands, brother in laws of the contestants and they support their daughters sitting between those same audiences. Besides, bodies are shown off on the ramps of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, in the fashion industry of Pakistan, in the Lollywood movies of Karachi and in the Gujjar movies of Punjab in Pakistan as well. They have never been questioned at all instead those movies go sold out in Pakistan, especially in the state of Punjab. Compared to those ways, Miss Pakistan World and Mrs. Pakistan World are prestigious events which families attend in a dignified manner.

How do you select the girls for the pageants?

There is an online application process, followed by a telephone interview, and with photographs to assess the physique of the individual, as well as an understanding of the contestant’s education, achievements, and Pakistani background. After taking all that into consideration we then decide if we would select that particular candidate as a finalist for the next Miss Pakistan World pageant.

What are the criteria for becoming the winner of the beauty contests?

The criteria are to be a go-getter and to expand this industry for Pakistan. The girl, who wants to win, will win and therefore get herself into international pageants and still have that go-getter attitude.

During the pageants, does fighting, leg-pulling and bickering occur among the girls?

All events have crazy back stages, as well as disappointments as some girls don’t make it to the top 5. The 10 days the contestants spend with us before the pageant, are used to teach tolerance and make them understand that just by coming to the Miss Pakistan World pageant, is in itself an achievement. So far I guess both these pageants are lucky enough to have tolerant and educated girls who know how to deal with their disappointments.

Tell us your most memorable moment during any pageant?

My most memorable moment during my pageant was when the first girl was crowned Miss Pakistan World. I saw the audience coming towards me as that was a moment I could feel people tapping my shoulder, holding me and saying congratulations to me, and yet I felt that I was not there at all, instead I felt I was at a level a bit above watching my show. It took me a moment to come to my senses and the next thing I remember was that 7 years had passed and I felt exactly the same when the 7th Miss Pakistan World was crowned. So all in all, the most memorable time for me is when I see any Miss Pakistan World or any Mrs. Pakistan World being crowned. As every year it’s the same memorable feeling all over again.

Is there any girl whose beauty left you stunned?

The girl whose beauty has left me stunned is the current Miss Pakistan World 2009 –  Ayesha Gilani. She is an individual who is truly beautiful from the inside. No matter what came her way, she stood strong and continued with her duties as Miss Pakistan World. She never turned back and kept on continuing forward. I have run out of things to give her as duties of Miss Pakistan, but she has kept on asking me what’s next. She is also one of the only girls in 7 years who has completed the whole year in just 6 months, hence making me work extra which I don’t mind.

Some people think that beauty contests violate the modesty and dignity of the women and its degrading. Do you agree?

People who think like that are unhappy people or they have too much time on their hands to think. I believe to each its own. People should let others live in whatever way they want to, that will be the only way those people will grow as human beings. There is dignity in the Miss Pakistan World and the Mrs. Pakistan World pageant, only if one looks at it with dignity. If one has no dignity then automatically they will look at everything around them without dignity. A woman without the dupatta on her head will be violating modesty for them or a woman wearing jeans and a t-shirt in Karachi’s empress market will violate dignity for them, a woman in shorts at a beach will violate dignity or modesty. As I said, people who believe that a beauty contest violates dignity or modesty are the ones without it.

Is there any plan to hold such event in Pakistan?

When President Musharraf was in power, we trusted the government to provide security and safety in Pakistan. In fact we wanted to hold the pageant in the President’s house with an extravagance of entertainment and performances for the year 2009. Unfortunately, the governments changed and our hopes for 2009 were not achieved. But once when Pakistan is stable, then we will go forward. It is just a matter of Pakistan’s political and religious sections improving.

What are your future plans?

Future plans are simple, just making our name in the international markets and finding great role models to achieve these goals. Pakistan in 7 years has achieved a lot in the pageant world. I am proud of this industry and I am proud of all the girls who have brought this industry forward. They are bold, strong and go- getters who have paved this road for future Miss Pakistan’s. It is their hard work combined with my vision that has brought us where we are. We will never stop; no matter what comes our way, as this is how it’s going to be for Pakistan’s thriving beauty pageant industry.