Girls showcase ‘real’ Pakistan at beauty pageants

Islamabad: Pakistani girls who are making a splash at beauty pageants across the globe are surprising many by taking part in the dreaded bikini rounds, a taboo in the Islamic country, and winning a crown or two.

Saman Hasnain, a Pakistani origin twenty-something mother of two, won the Mrs Pakistan World-2008 crown in Toronto last weekend.

“Hasnain’s crowning marks a time when modern and independent Pakistani women are doing all they can to gain a voice on the international stage,” said a statement on the pageant’s official website.

San Francisco-based Hasnain, who will represent the country of her birth at the Mrs World pageant this year, saw her victory as a great honour and triumph for Pakistani women.

Like all beauty pageant winners, Hasnain’s acceptance speech sounded familiar: “It is important to raise funds and help resolve issues faced by Pakistan. I hope to act as a role model, and encourage, educate and motivate Pakistani women to help achieve a strong and progressive Pakistan.”

Changing Pakistan could be tough, more so from Hasnain’s real estate office in San Francisco. Yet, Hasnain is itching “to aid a struggling Pakistan find its footing”.

The pageant’s website also waxed eloquent about Hasnain’s “charitable nature”. It said she helped “build a school in a small village in Pakistan for 1,000 children”.

Last week, Bushra Jamil, the 22-year-old third runner-up of Miss Pakistan World 2007, walked away with the Miss Tourism pageant in Malaysia.

Another contestant, Miss Pakistan World 2007 Nida Khan, bagged the Miss Internet World 2007 crown.