THE ANNUAL beauty pageant held in Islamabad this weekend, had a cool eye feasting for fashion lovers in Pakistan. The Pakistani beauty queen, Natasha Paracha, who hails from Islamabad, has been adorned with the crown of Miss Pakistan World.
The iconoclastic event will possibly strengthen Pakistani women. Iconoclastic, because, Pakistan is a country that strictly prohibits such display of a woman's body. It will enable them to accept gender-oriented challenges in a society.
Paracha, 23, is a graduate from the University of California at Berkeley. Before her, Mahleej Sarkari held the title of Miss Pakistan World. Last month, she had roused a ruckus by calling Pervez Musharraf a hunk and wishing to date him.
It was the sixth annual beauty pageant held in the country. Paracha stole the show as she flaunted herself and proved her talent. She outshone a bevy of Pakistani damsels and succeeded in adding the feather in her own cap. Now, the beauty queen will represent her country at various other international beauty events.
Presently, she is living in New York, where she founded the Pakistani Student Association (PSA) at the University of California, Berkley. She has also opened a non-profit organisation called 'Vision of Development', which works for the uplift of women in backward areas of Pakistan.
As soon as she was crowned, she elicited that in the coming year, she would represent Pakistan at beauty pageants and create awareness that nearly 51 million Pakistanis cannot avail medical facilities.
The runners up were, Tahira Iqbal from Lahore, Nosheen Idrees from Jhelum, Binish Zaidi from Karachi and Samera Bilal from Gujrat (in Pakistan).
Iqbal was awarded with Sherwood Miss Congeniality title; Zaidi, as Miss Smooth Skin and Miss Talent while Bilal, as Miss Perfect Ten, and Mehvish Sheikh from Lahore, was chosen Vimi Spa Miss Photogenic.
A large number of Pakistani beauties from across the world, thronged Islamabad and took part in the contest.
Sonia Ahmed, the pageant founder says, “Pakistan's slow changing movement to liberate
its women prohibits such an event. Women, who want to stand up for change and progression, have no choice but visit Canada or elsewhere to participate in such contests.
“Pakistani women have always been forced to be subservient. They are denied the opportunities to raise their voice against injustices. It was only after living in Canada that, I realised that women really do have the power to make a change in society.”
She added, “The event focuses on beauty, talent and cultural strength while allowing these young women to feel a part of the mainstream instead of being ostracised by the West.”
