Sloatsburg woman wins Miss Pakistan World title

[color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]SLOATSBURG — Zanib Naveed entered what is perhaps the only international beauty pageant designed specifically for young Pakistani women, hoping the experience would help her make contacts in the entertainment industry.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]She never expected to win.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]The 25-year-old Naveed, who was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and grew up in Sloatsburg, beat out 11 other Pakistani women for the title of Miss Pakistan World 2012 this summer.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]“I was there to have fun,” she said during an interview at her family’s home Friday. “I was surprised when I won.”[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]During the four-day contest held in Mississauga, Canada, Naveed joined contestants from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and elsewhere in learning and performing traditional dances. They faced questions about Pakistani culture, history, social issues and international relations from a panel of judges[/color]

[color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]It concluded Aug. 24 with Naveed being crowned the pageant’s winner. Two other pageants, Mr. Pakistan and Mrs. Pakistan, were held concurrently.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]Naveed, who earned a degree in finance and economics from Pace University in 2009, said she studied up on her home country in preparation for the event.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]“I never knew about my country this much until I actually entered the pageant,” she joked.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]An actress, dancer and aspiring model, Naveed credits her supportive family and friends for helping her to victory.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]Unlike some women in the contest, Naveed said, she had the full backing of her mother, father and two brothers behind her.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]“As a girl in our culture, when she steps out to do this, the parents either don’t support you or the parents are criticized,” she said.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]As news of the pageant and her win hit the media, she said, some Pakistanis posted critical comments on YouTube and blogs, saying clothing worn by contestants was too revealing and the women were openly defying strict Islamic rules.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(44, 44, 44)]But Naveed brushes off the criticism, preferring to view pageant contestants as a “living example” of what educated, independent Pakistani women like herself can achieve.[/color]

Wait until them religionists get hold of this news...they will all go bonkers...an educated woman participating in a beauty pageant??? They will consider her an outcast.