Mrs. Pakistan World 2010 - Tahmena Bokhari

Mrs. United Nations 2010 - Tahmena Bokhari - Mrs. Pakistan World 2010

2010-11-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

Tahmena Bokhari - Mrs. United Nations Pakistan 2010

2010-11-11T17:43:00.001-08:00

Tahmena Bokhari - Mrs. Pakistan 2010

2010-11-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

Tahmena Bokhari - Mrs. Pakistan 2010

Mrs. Pakistan Tahmena Bokhari meets Amanat Ali and Jawad Ahmad

2010-10-31T10:27:00.001-07:00

Mrs. Pakistan Tahmena Bokhari meets Amanat Ali and Jawad Ahmad

Mrs. Pakistan Tahmena Bokhari meets Sunidhi Chauhan and Chang

2010-10-23T10:36:00.001-07:00

Mrs. Pakistan Tahmena Bokhari meets Sunidhi Chauhan and Chang

Mrs. Pakistan Tahmena Bokhari raises funds for Pakistan Floods

2010-10-20T03:35:00.000-07:00

Toronto Community Raises over $15,000 for Pakistani Flood Survivors

heARTS for Pakistan successfully pledges support towards the worst humanitarian tragedy

Toronto, ON - Over 200 Torontonians came together at heARTS for Pakistan this Monday, October 18, 2010 at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, where over $15,000 was raised, with approximately $5000 matched by CIDA and the Canadian government, for survivors of the Pakistani floods which devastated the country back in August.

Partnered with the Humanitarian Coalition, heARTS for Pakistan, a silent art auction and fundraiser, successfully engaged the Toronto community and provided an opportunity for the arts community across Canada to collaboratively support international efforts to bring relief to victims of the floods in Pakistan.

The worst humanitarian tragedy of the decade according to the United Nations, the Pakistani floods have affected one-fifth of Pakistan and have left over 20 million people displaced. As governments around the world struggle to assist survivors of the floods, the UN has requested international donors to come together to raise the hundreds of millions of dollars now required in aid. The most vulnerable now face twin perils of hunger and disease as food supplies have been devastated and sources of clean water severely contaminated.

Among others, speakers at the event included Scarborough MP Jim Karygiannis, who has accompanied doctors to Pakistan since the floods and spoke about the heartfelt plea of the Pakistani people. He encouraged people to open their hearts and their wallets and in an impromptu on-stage bidding, collected $780 in donations in under five minutes, for the cause.

The silent art auction sold 70 of the generously donated art pieces, while providing the Toronto community a chance to bid on beautiful art work, serving as lasting reminders of an effort to help flood survivors re-build their lives in Pakistan, well beyond the event.

The night came together with special guest appearances by strong supporters of the arts including Toronto’s Deputy Mayor, Joe Pantalone; MP for Scarborough, Jim Karygiannis; Mrs Pakistan World, Tahmena Bokhari; Miss India Canada, Anchal Sharma, singer from popular pop/rock band JoSH, Q, along with community dignitaries, business leaders, and of course Canadian artists.

"A crisis can build a community and show us at our best. This is definitely the case for heARTS for Pakistan, who brought together volunteers, artists, sponsors and supporters to raise critically-needed funds for Humanitarian Coalition members' Pakistan flood-relief efforts" said Humanitarian Coalition spokesperson, Denise Koulis. "The money raised by heARTS for Pakistan will save lives and help rebuild communities."

About H4PK: Building on the success of heARTS for Haiti in Vancouver, heARTS for Pakistan was a silent art auction and fundraiser held on Monday, October 18 at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, to raise money and awareness for the victims of the floods in Pakistan back in August. 100% of the proceeds went to support the Humanitarian Coalition’s flood relief efforts in Pakistan. For more information, please visit: www.hearts4pakistan.com

About Humanitarian Coalition: Four of Canada's leading aid organizations have founded the Humanitarian Coalition: CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada. The members of the Humanitarian Coalition work together to increase the impact of Canadian humanitarian responses and reduce administrative costs. For more information, please visit: www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca

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Multi Faith Candlelight Vigil for the Pakistan Floods Victims

2010-10-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tahmena Bokhari attended a very important event at the Markham Civic Centre this evening. Multifaith prayers were held by Social Services Network with community partners to honour the victims of the Pakistan floods. Bokhari stated, "It was truly an historic event to have leaders of diverse faiths present and to have such diverse community members all stand together in support of Pakistanis half way around the globe. I hope this event triggers more of its kind so that we can learn from each others' respective faiths and join hands in solidarity for all humanitarian efforts. Events such as this also serve as a platform through which Canadians are speaking to the world by role modeling our values of humanitarianism, compassion, sharing, community spirit, multi-faith, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural spirit, and all in hopes for a better world. I am inspired by all of tonight's speakers and guests."

Rally to end Violence against women with Nirmala Armstrong

2010-10-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

Mrs Pakistan Tahmena Bokhari Speaks at Youth-led Rally to End Violence Against Women

2010-10-17T13:43:00.001-07:00

Tahmena Bokhari, Mrs Pakistan World, made a very special appearance on October 16th 2010 at the Rally to End Violence Against Women in Markham, Region of York, Ontario, Canada. Seneca Professor Bokhari has been a long time advocate for women and as a social worker, she has worked with victims, abusers, families and communities through counselling sessions, workshops and group work on violence related issues. In addition, Bokhari has a long history working locally as she coordinated the first South Asian-focused Take Back the Nigh March in York Region and she also formerly worked with the Town of Markham on the diversity strategy.

The rally was a youth-led initiative wa in response to the Markham Councillor Jim Jones’ plea of guilty to sexual assault charges. Jones is running again for his position and protesters strongly feel that he should step down. The youth of Markham approached Armstrong, the only female candidate for regional council in the upcoming local election, to organize a protest to inform and appeal to the public. Attendees also included Lui Temelkovski, MP (Oak Ridges-Markham), and Stephen Kotyck, Markham Mayoral candidate. Women survivors also spoke at the event on personal stories of abuse by men. It is estimated that 1/3 women will experience one or more forms of (sexual) violence at some point in their lives.

Statistics by the Canadian Women’s Foundation include the following:

Half of Canadian women (51%) have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
Every minute of every day, a Canadian woman or child is being sexually assaulted.
One to two women are murdered by a current or former partner each week in Canada.
Spousal violence makes up the single largest category of convictions involving violent offences in non-specialized adult courts in Canada over the five-year period 1997/98 to 2001/02. Over 90% of offenders were male.

Bokhari stated, "It is important that women take on more positions of leadership, and even in a country like Canada we have a long way to go on this. When we look at male public figures, we hardly ever wonder, ‘Is he a good father? A good husband? What’s he like when he is not in the office?’ But when it comes to women, we often wonder, ‘How will she manage home and work life? What kind of mother and wife is she? What about her morals and values? What is her personality like?’ The expectations we have placed on women regarding their roles in the domestic sphere are just part of the many barriers women face to taking on positions of public leadership. Hence, as we review corporate and public sector hierarchies, we see less and less women near the top.”

Bokhari went on to say, “In addition to this, we must ask ourselves as a society, what is happening in our culture when men in positions of power, authority, public trust and working on tax payer salaries are violating the very values that Canadians are known for around the world. We have town councillors, currently the case in the news about a military man, and we have teachers, police officers and more, all men in positions of trust who have been abusive to women.”

Asked to come back again to address the youth, Bokhari reminded the youth that, "people in public office are there to represent, you, your family and to reflect your interests. You vote for them and your tax dollars pay their salaries. It is critical that you find out where they stand on issues that matter to you. For example, what do they know about violence against women and how do they feel about the concerns of women and youth? Where are they and why are they not here? How do they feel about someone who pleaded guilty of sexual assault to be in office? Did you know that youth are one of the declared communities of focus at the Town of Markham? Did you know that the Mayor has a Youth Committee that he works with? If not, find out how you can become more informed and engaged with municipal affairs. Youth here have access and opportunity through our democratic system which many around the world do not. Do not take this for granted. I commend your efforts today. However, I encourage you to not stop at this grassroots rally, but to take your cause even further."

The youth marched on a corner in front of the Civic Centre, where voting has already begun. This is all in hopes that their efforts will change the outcomes of the election.

To learn more about this initiative and Armstrong’s campaign, you can visit the webpage of Nirmala Armstrong at http://nparmstrong.ca/

To learn more about Tahmena Bokhari’s news and events, you can join her page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TahmenaBokhari

Kismet Wedding Show - Tahmena Bokhari Mrs. Pakistan World 2010

2010-10-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Pakistani Beauty queen raises funds for Pakistan Floods

2010-10-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

Citizen of Vaughan - Tahmena Bokhari

2010-10-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

In her official and non-partisan capacity, Tahmena Bokhari attended a political community event for candidate Julian Fantino for MP in Vaughan, ON.

With regards to the event, Bokhari stated, "As a proud resident of Vaughan, I am highly interested to hear about the vision of any potential candidate for public office, whether that be for Mayor or MP. Vaughan is a growing city with even faster growing diverse communities and we are beginning to engage with all of the various complex issues related to such growth. I want to know if potential leaders have factored this into their planning. As a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin and a woman, as well as a diversity professor, consultant and member of Vaughan Diversity Committee, I am interested to know if potential leaders can appeal to me.”

Bokhari went on to say that her questions about all potential candidates include, “Do the want-to-be leaders have an understanding of the issues and the interests of the specific diverse communities that make up my home town? Is their vision inclusive of seniors, immigrants, women, youth, faith groups, ethnic groups and does their vision include a sound and balanced approach to current and potential social challenges and problems related to housing, transportation, small business, violence, and isolation? Are they aware of problems related to ignoring social capital? Do they have a track record that indicates commitment to social inclusion? In addition, we need strong, ethical and strategic leadership in the areas that make up our quality of life such as economic development, preserving green space and environmental efforts, public transportation, and a strong culture, recreation and arts scene. And that’s not all, are these leaders tuned-in to the global forum? Can they reflect the values of Canada that brought my family here? Can they remain true to the humanitarian legacy that we are known for around the world? I believe any one who wants to earn a salary by speaking on behalf of Vaughan, must have a clear path with respect to each of these issues."

It appeared that very few Vaughan residents and no local and other media were present. The only media appeared to be a conservative-supporting radio station. This may be due to Vaughan being known as a Liberal riding.

On a personal note, Bokhari stated that she commends any citizen who wants to serve the people, "Political views aside, it takes courage and is a tremendous personal and family commitment to run for public office. New immigrant communities should look at the example set by the waves of immigrants in Canada's history. This includes how they contributed not only the cultural and economic landscape but also in the formation of municipal, provincial and federal policy. It is in every Canadian's interest to ensure that all of our voices are represented."

Tahmena Bokhari, Mrs. Pakistan World 2010 Photoshoot with Luis Enriquez

2010-02-11T21:01:00.001-08:00

Latest Shoot with NEO PHOTO- Tahmena Bokhari, Mrs. Pakistan World 2010

2010-02-11T20:58:00.000-08:00

Tahmena Bokhari, Mrs. Pakistan World 2010, University of Toronto's Newspaper

2010-02-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

http://thenewspaper.ca/the-inside/item/198-heres-looking-at-mrs-pakistan

Tahmena Bokhari, Mrs. Pakistan World 2010 on Rogers TV

2010-02-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.rogerstv.com/get.asp?lid=237&rid=17&mid=52&gid=63580#10_126_3665

What a proud moment for Pakistanis here in Canada, as this really really made me proud to see what Pakistani women are truly about. You (Tahmena Bokhari) are an inspiration and pride for the Mrs. Pakistan World company. You have brought justice, unselfishly to this company. Thank you!!! Really really proud of you!

Radio Interview of Tahmena Bokhari on Dunya Radio USA in Washington, DC, USA

2010-01-31T18:23:00.001-08:00

Radio Interview of Tahmena Bokhari on Dunya Radio USA in Washington, DC, USA

http://dc191.4shared.com/flash/player.swf?

Porter: This beauty queen has brains and bite

2010-01-14T22:04:00.001-08:00

Porter: This beauty queen has brains and bite

By Catherine PorterColumnist

Published On Thu Jan 14 2010

Tahmena Bokhari admits a feminist beauty queen seems an oxymoron, but says it’s an important step in women’s rights. “We really have to challenge ourselves on how women can show the different sides of themselves.” (Jan. 11, 2010)

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

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Tahmena Bokhari is Mrs. Pakistan 2010. She was crowned in a Mississauga motel in December.

The Canadian Muslim is also a diehard feminist.

Get your head around all that.

"It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?" she says from the couch in her family's spacious Woodbridge home, dressed conservatively save the hot-red high heels she's wearing. She will tell you that, while she's tall for a Pakistani woman, at five-foot-five, she's short for a beauty queen.

"My definition of liberation for women is when women can really choose what they want to be and how to be it, without social, financial and cultural consequences or backlash," she says.

Bokhari is wearing black pants, a red shirt and a black jacket. Diamonds drip from her ears and pearls dance around her throat. She's pretty, but not supermodel calibre.

If she were a pin-up model, it would be for a feminist calendar.

She's educated, with a master's degree in social work from the University of Toronto. She's toiled in women's shelters. She organized York Region's Take Back the Night march five years ago.

She teaches social work courses at both Seneca and George Brown colleges and is a diversity consultant, sitting on Vaughan's diversity committee.

After the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, she flew by helicopter to Muzaffarabad and spent six weeks helping with the relief efforts, focusing on women's health in the refugee camps. She worked as a translator for foreign doctors. She speaks five languages.

In her blog about the trip, she quoted Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and black feminist poet bell hooks.

She is nothing like the cute, bubbly Miss South Carolina Teen USA who became a symbol of pageant vacuousness and a YouTube sensation three years ago, with her answer to why one-fifth of Americans can't find the USA on a map. (She sputtered on about South Africa and then Iraq. Watch it if you are feeling glum. It's a sure pick-you-up.)

Bokhari could eat you alive in a women's studies class.

"Are beauty pageants a stage where women are objectified and graded according to male standards of beauty?" asks the 31-year-old, nimbly revising my question.

"We really have to challenge ourselves on how women can show the different sides of themselves – beauty, intelligence, sexuality, culture, motherhood. Women are always on the tightrope. You can't be too thin, too fat, too old, too provocative ... Men don't have to go through this. It's a sign we have a lot more to do."

Dissent is at the heart of both the Miss and Mrs. Pakistan competitions. The Miss came first. Sonia Ahmed started it seven years ago as "shock treatment" against the pervasive model of a "good Pakistani" woman she found when she moved here from Karachi a few years earlier: demure, quiet, submissive.

"In our culture, if a woman laughs loudly, she is considered not a good woman," says Ahmed.

The response, she says, was outrage – from both conservatives and progressives.

"The feminists who would be appalled by this should understand, if we did this in Pakistan, women would be murdered and have their heads cut off. This is about women's rights. We don't want another Aqsa Parvez murder in our community."

To effect real change, she later realized, she had to get to the mothers. Change their image of themselves, and you'll change their entire families, which in cases like Bokhari's, extends to 120 people.

After three years, Ahmed started Mrs. Pakistan. Bokhari is the fourth winner.

There are no catwalks. No talent shows. No bathing suit competition, although Bokhari will have to don a bikini when she competes for Mrs. World and Mrs. Globe titles later this year.

The competition sounds more like Jeopardy! than American Idol. Over a week last December, eight married women from Europe and the U.S. were grilled by Ahmed and four other panellists with questions like, "How should we deal with the India-Pakistan conflict?" and "What is your stance on abortion?"

Ahmed says Bokhari is the strongest candidate to date.

Bokhari wants to use the title to spread the word on both a progressive Pakistan and women's rights. After years of finding herself a rarity at women's marches, she hopes the crown will buy her access to the unconverted: Pakistani-Canadian women who think their only option is marriage and kids.

"That's fine, if that's your goal," says Bokhari. "But they might want to have a career or hobbies. I want to encourage Pakistani women to get out there. I'm all for choices for women."

Bokhari herself never wanted to get married, she says. She had too much planned: school, a trip across Asia to study the many faces of Islam, her passion for photography. But a couple of years ago her grandparents both died. They had raised her for her first six years of life, in Pakistan, before she joined her parents in Canada. Her grandfather's dying wish was that she marry, she says.

Last August, she did: to an accountant she'd known since high school. He's the quiet one who brings in her glass of water during the interview.

Catherine Porter's column runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. She can be reached atcporter@thestar.ca

Porter: A beauty queen with brains, and bite - thestar.com

2010-01-14T02:01:00.000-08:00

Porter: A beauty queen with brains, and bite - thestar.com

Mrs. Pakistan World 2010 - Tahmena Bokhari

2010-01-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

How do you feel about representing a conservative and Islamic Pakistan in your role as Mrs. Pakistan World 2010?

Tahmena's answer:

As Mrs. Pakistan World 2010 I am here to represent a lighter side of Pakistan. As a social worker, I am using this platform to create the necessary change in the hearts and minds of Pakistanis and the people of the world so that we can create a stronger Pakistan.

In terms of the question of me representing a conservative and Islamic Pakistan, I would ask whose Pakistan and whose Islam are we talking about? My Islam? Your Islam? The Islam of the terrosists? The Islam of those who persecuted Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan? The Islam of those who are among those fighting between the Sunnis and the Shias? The Islam of the men who claim religion as the reason women should not be seen or heard in public? The Islam that is only defined as one with strict rules and regulations enforced by anger and physical violence?

These are not my Islam.

My Islam is loving, compassionate, caring, forgiving, supportive, humane, educated, informed, self-preserving, giving, understanding, patient, positive, creative, open to new ideas and full of inner peace. My Islam is one which has taught me to love myself, love my body, appreciate life and respect my fellow human beings, man, woman, child, white, black or disabled. My Islam is one in which judgements are left to a supreme being who is more knowledgeable than I. My Islam is one in which everyone is given a fair chance to live a quality life of success and happiness. My Islam is one in which women are not forced to sell their bodies or steal food in order to feed their childen. My Islam is one in which individuals look within them to better the world before pointing fingers. My Islam is one in which everyone is included and accepted. My Islam is not shame, hate or fear based. I challenge people to remove any feelings of hate, anger and discrimination that they may have associated with their understandings of Islam.

Speaking of Pakistan, I would argue there are different religions in practice and more importantly, there are those who identify as Christian Pakistanis, Hindu Pakistanis, and Parsi Pakistanis and so on. Speaking of a country with over 170 million people, each person or community will have their own ideas of Islam and what it means to be a Pakistani. I do not claim to represent all of them and nor do I claim to be a symbol of Islam. It was never my goal to represent all Pakistanis or all Muslims.

I would also say that the many of the various icons of Pakistan have not been solely figures of religion or religion-focused. Pakistani icons that come to mind include political figures like Benzir Bhutto and Fatima Jinnah; poets like Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Parveen Shakir; the first woman architect Yasmeen Lari; human rights activist Asma Jahangir; and more recently new female fighter pilots in the Pakistani armed forced. These are the people who have helped make the country what it is yet none of their careers or accomplishments were solely based on their role modeling of Islam nor did they specifically preach Islam. They are known for their talents, professional skills, service to the community and leadership in their particular industry...all of which are required to develop a country.

I also ask why we are so precoocupied with what is Islamic, espcially when it comes to women? I believe we are overly preoccpuied with this question and too focused on picking at the so-called sins of others, especially picking on women. I have worked in Pakistan with so many kinds of people, there are women who have to resort to prostitution because they have no source of income, there are gay men forced to live in the closet, married to women and having affairs with men, there are children and orphans who are abused, deformed and forced into a life of begging on the streets, there are people who are forced to steal because of the economic and social conditions, and there are people who have died of common illnesses because they could not afford or access a doctor or medicine. Yes, all of this is happening in Islamic Pakistan, and is all this Islamic? We somehow forget to ask that question. Yet, when a woman is making progress in any way or coming into the public realm, all of a sudden this question arises about her ‘Islamic-ness’. I think we should instead be asking, “Is this justice?” When we focus on justice we all of a sudden start to see possibilities for change on all of the social problems and can work oursleves to a higher quality of life. Many would argue that that is the true meaning of Islam.

Mrs. Pakistan World 2010 - Tahmena Bokhari

2010-01-07T10:30:00.001-08:00