Today we’d like to introduce you to Hajera Naeem.
Hajera, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The process of exploring ‘Great American Dream’ led me to the pageants organized by a Pakistani community. I wanted to portray the positive image of pageantry to the East Asian community. Opportunities kept on coming my way, and I kept on bagging them like a kid in the candy store. Of course, it was not easy, with a full-time job and my passion for modeling and traveling. I had to cut back on my favorites to my passion and love for pageantry. There are no limits to where my passion and this path can take me. Every day is a new day, and it brings new opportunities for me.
Has it been a smooth road?
First of all, as being a Muslim girl entering this huge industry where you have to work with all set rules and requirements of pageantry. I worked hard and proved myself. Being a Pakistani woman, it is not only you but also your family and community has to accept you and your decisions. Its a big deal for society to accept your decisions. I learned a lot from this experience, and it helped me grow a lot as a person and especially as a woman.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Miss Southwest Global United States 2019 story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m a model aiming to change the course of the modeling industry, starting from a smaller scale to make people accept women from more diverse backgrounds. My hard work, experience, passion, looks, confidence, and skill set, sets me apart from others. My work is my passion and priority, and it speaks for itself. I’m proud of my contracts and wins from my experiences. Especially being lucky and fortunate enough to walk in NYFW and being a part huge pageants like miss Earth USA and Miss Global United States. I have achieved my first step of my mission by showing women from Pakistani backgrounder that anything is possible.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see this industry growing and getting bigger all over the world. There is space for everyone in this industry, depending on how passionate one is. In the next 5 to 10 years, fashion and pageants are set to be more meaningful than the past. It’s not just about looks and appearance anymore. I see beautiful women with serious professions being a part of this industry, and that makes me very proud of being a part of this world. Pageants and fashion is all about women empowerment and also empowering men too. its a very balanced industry.
Contact Info:
- Email: hajra.n.shahbaz@hotmai.com
- Instagram: hajera.naeem
- Facebook: hajera naeem
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