Did you know beauty pageants are banned in Pakistan?

Pakistan forbids beauty pageants or any such demonstration within Pakistan as some lawmakers feel it goes against the religious and cultural binds of the country’s primary religion of Islam. As the majority of countries of the world have representatives competing in international pageants such as Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Earth, Queen of the World, along with others, Pakistani women never thought that they would share in the opportunities that other countries did to show the pride of their nation on an international scale.

Times are changing – the Miss Pakistan World pageant was launched in 2002 in Canada by Sonia Ahmed with the goal of the pageant to allow self-styled “progressive” Pakistani women the opportunity to showcase their talents, beauty and desire for change on the international stage.

The latest winner, Mahleej Sarkari (above), just left to compete in the Miss Tourism Queen International 2008 pageant held in China. Her Pakistan World reign ends in June. For more information on the pageant visit www.misspakistanworld.com