It’d be a great idea to learn the story of Taiba Sheheryar, a Pakistani Canadian model and entrepreneur who has inspired young girls, businesses in need, and more. Having already left a mark at Mrs. Universe 2017, the world’s premier international beauty pageant, Taiba is the only Pakistani model to break through on an international stage arising from a culture that generally discouraged modeling. Pakistan, Taiba’s home nation, can be somewhat restrictive, and while acting is just now becoming accepted and considered a mainstream career, Taiba is blazing trails for modeling.
But Taiba is as much or more of a true entrepreneur as she is a model. Taiba shines in the Canadian fashion industry by supporting large Canadian designer brands. “I came to Canada in 2011 from a small town in Pakistan. I never wanted to be put in a box determined by society about how girls should be. So when I came to Canada, I broke all the stereotypes set by men under the name of social norms. I wore what I wanted to wear. I walked proudly without bending down, like how I was told and brought up. I studied what I wanted to study, I laughed loudly instead of holding a stiff, tough look which every girl is told to have on her face. I showed love and affection to every race, nationality, and gender which was not taught in my school books. I listened to loud music and watched movies which I was deprived of. I did all of those normal things which were not normal for me and a lot of girls like me.”
Taiba also works actively as a philanthropist, community builder and education advocate, helping to establish schools and programs in her home country as well as in other world regions such as South Africa. “I do still feel pain for young Pakistani girls, and do want to support them,” she explains.
Today, she’s using her large platform as a model to help promote clothing from brands that have been shuttered by COVID-19, and hopes to expand her philanthropic reach.
Learn more about Taiba at https://instagram.com/taibasheheryar?igshid=imm97xx8w2zm
