Sonia Ahmed

Early life

Sonia Ahmed was born in Pakistan. She spent her childhood in Kuwait, Karachi, Canada. Ahmed attended Carmel School (Kuwait) convent in Kuwait after which her family moved to Ottawa in Canada, where she attended Notre Dame Catholic High School. Always an academic, Ahmed was awarded a medal for being ranked in the top 15 academically at her high school in Canada and also received a $8,000 scholarship to attend the University of Ottawa where she earned a degree in Business. Ahmed continued in CGA (Certified General Accounting) up to the 4th level and then left it to pursue the pageant as full-fledged business in entertainment. Ahmed, grew up in Kuwait and learnt many languages which included written & spoken Hindi, Arabic, Urdu & French besides English.

Founder of Pakistan's pageant industry

Ahmed was the first person to established a pageant industry for Pakistan. She created all three pageants and gave a strong structure to all competitions. Living in Toronto, Ontario, Ahmed considers herself a driving force for the "progression" and "liberation" of Pakistani women on a global scale. Working through her pageants, Ahmed aims to build cultural connections to showcase the beauty and talent of what she considers a new Pakistani generation. In 2002, Ahmed had announced the first pageant for Pakistan in the world, called Miss Canada Pakistan, and for three years Ahmed continued the pageant in Canada for Pakistani girls residing in Canada only. In 2006, Ahmed changed the pageant name to Miss Pakistan World, and carried on the pageant internationally and hence established the first official pageant for Pakistan. Ahmed consider's these events as a sort of civil rights movements, through which it is hoped that the young and married women of Pakistan are able to gain a voice on the international stage.

In 2007, Ahmed established the Mrs. Pakistan World pageant for married Pakistani women from around the world. Winners were crowned from countries like USA, Canada and Norway. It was unimaginable for married Pakistani women to be seen in beauty pageants, and Ahmed made sure that married women of Pakistani descent were given an opportunity. Though the pageant was small, it did not go unnoticed, and took part in major international pageants like Mrs. World, Mrs. Universe and Mrs. Earth.

In 2011, Ahmed went ahead with the Mr. Pakistan World event, a male competition for Pakistan to generate more youth to participate in areas where a lighter side of Pakistan could be shown.

After the inclusion of the Mr. Pakistan World competition, the community participation increased with less resistance. Pakistan's entertainment industry began changing as well and hence there was more stability in the acceptance of beauty pageants by Pakistan. This led to more scope for the competition out of Canada. In 2014, Ahmed moved the Miss Pakistan World and Mr. Pakistan World pageant to the United States and the 12th Miss Pakistan World an 4th Mr. Pakistan World took place in New Jersey, USA. In 2016, Ahmed got successful sending her first delegates directly from Pakistan to represent Pakistan in international pageants. Diya Ali was the first representative from Pakistan in 2016, and won the Miss Perpetual title in Manila, Philippines at the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant.

Debut as a Director

In 2014, Ahmed filmed her first documentary, "I Shall Dance," under her production company, Touchgate Global Inc., which released in September 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In 2016 Ahmed started her Lollywood film production under her company Touchgate Global Inc. in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The name of the movie is "Na Band Na Baraati," starring Qavi Khan, Azra Mohyeddin, Atiqa Odho, Ali Kazmi, Anzhelika Tahir, Nayab Khan and Mikaal Zulfiqar.

Other works

Ahmed has been active part of charities around the world. In November 2011, Ahmed was invited to India, where she took part in various schools in regards to speaking on India Pakistan relations and on women's issues. Ahmed has also been an avid supporter of President Pervez Musharraf and has always shown her appreciation in the media.

Since 2012, Ahmed has started writing for publications in Canada and India

Controversies

In 2003, Ahmed was facing issues with holding the pageant as some conservative sections of the community were against the existence of Miss Pakistan World. As time went on, the controversies fizzled out.

Moreover, Ahmed, was in the news several times expressing her likeness for the then President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. Ahmed maintains that she is a hard core fan till to date.

In August 2010, Ahmed was criticized for going ahead with the 8th annual Miss Pakistan World, when Pakistan was hit with floods 3 weeks prior to the actual event. Ahmed stood her grounds and said that the plans for holding the event would go on regardless. The other controversy surrounding the event was that it was held in the month of Ramadan. In an interview, Ahmed stated that the event was held after the fasting hours, and that Ramadan is a celebration not a mourning period. Ahmed has also always spoken very openly about her opponents who were mainly the conservative Pakistani community around the world.

Ahmed has also backed controversial Pakistani actress Veena Malik on cover shoot for an Indian magazine FHM. Ahmed also came on Indian live news channels, Tez Khabarain and Aaj Tak and defended Malik, against a local Mufti, actress Dolly Bindra and actor Raza Murad.