Shahena Ali

Early life

Ali was born in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, England. Her parents are Siraj Ali and Begum Momtaj Khanom, and she was brought up in an environment where cooking and food was a passion, and she was involved in a busy family restaurant.

Ali started her interest with food during her early years in her parents' kitchen, taught initially by her mother and later, experimenting by herself and learning tips and techniques from friends who lived abroad. She learned to cook food at home at the age of nine, starting with the basics and helping her mother in the kitchen.

Education

Ali has a background in food, business beauty, medicine and the sciences. She graduated with a degree in Economics and Accounting from City University London and then attended Cass Business School. After completing her degree, she worked as a city fund manager in bond asset management. She then decided to move into Medicine and started studying at Swansea University School of Medicine and then moved into the field of naturopathy and naturopathic nutrition to follow her passion for natural health, food and cookery.

Career

In 2007, Ali left her six figure salary as a bond fund manager, and founded the beauty brand The Powder Lounge and Lash Bars. She established it as a specialist in treatments and premium products, with Powder Lounge and Glamour Express brand concessions located in flagship high street stores such as Selfridges, Topshop, Debenhams and Superdrug in the UK.

Ali is a television and radio health and nutrition expert, television cook, food and health writer, food presenter, naturopathic nutritionist, naturopath (natural medicine) and medicinal food expert. She has knowledge about Indian cookery, medicinal and healing foods, as well as foods related to anti-ageing and beauty. She provides an approach to traditional Indian, Bengali and Middle-Eastern cookery by transforming basic ingredients into healthy dishes. She has an original perspective of using food ingredients for health benefits such as energy levels, physical and mental performance and aesthetic improvement, such as the ageing of skin, hair and nails.

Ali is a food and beauty features writer for Vanity magazine, and has contributed to other national publications on Indian, Bengali and Middle-Eastern cuisines. She is a regular columnist and writer for Zaikha Magazine. She writes on subjects such as how food affects our physical and mental performance, and its effect on mood, appearance, ageing and illness.

She is regularly featured on television for UKTV Good Food, radio for BBC Radio, and national magazines and newspapers. She has appeared at live events such as food festivals in Covent Garden in London as well as the Zee TV Carnival, and other media events. She has also made numerous appearances on national radio and television programmes including several times on BBC Great Food Live and featured on Channel 4 programme Taste.

She is ambassador and spokesperson for the Department of Health's (NHS) 'Change4Life' Campaign. She is internationally recognised as an authority on healthy eating and cookery. She has also had international interest from the media. She is currently undertaking projects with US and UK brands, celebrity chefs and firms.

Ali is also the creative director for an Indian restaurant group. She researches, develops, prototypes, and introduces contemporary and fusion dishes on the menu for an Indian restaurant group as well demonstrating and cooking, centuries old Indian recipes. The group was selected to cater for the launch of the Bangladesh Food Festival at the Houses of Parliament.

In March 2008 and April 2010, Ali appeared in the Live Kitchen at the MS Life conference in Manchester Central.

Awards

In 2011, Ali received the Channel S Awards 'Contribution to the Community' Award for London for her outstanding contribution to the British Bangladeshi Community through the food and beauty industries.

Personal life

Ali lives in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, and is divorced. She is a keen runner and has participated in several events including the City Square Mile Run and the Flora Women's Run.