Beauty Queen

1NAZANIN AFSHIN-JAMRecording Artist, Human Rights ActivistIranian-Canadian

Most people know her as the Persian exotic beauty who won the first runner-up title in the Miss World competition in 2003. While the world sang her praises her native country, Iran was abuzz with criticism. Nazanin received hate mail from Islamic fundamentalists and at the same time accolades from the youth in Iran who supported her goals and looked up to her as a role model.

Born in Tehran during the turmoil of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Nazanin’s family was forced to leave all their worldly possessions behind and flee to freedom, where her father had been jailed and tortured by the Revolutionary Guard under the new regime. This was her first taste of humanity.

Since then, she has continued her quest to help those less fortunate. From assisting the victims of the tsunami in India and Sri Lanka to supporting fistula patients in Ethiopia Nazanin has dedicated her life to all causes.

She speaks to Rohini Nagu in an exclusive interview about a cause close to her heart, her upcoming music album relapse and her bittersweet relationship with her motherland Iran.


Q. Under what circumstances did your family migrate to Canada?
A. My father was imprisoned and tortured by the Revolutionary Guard when the Revolution took place. We needed to leave the country and find peace and stability elsewhere, so my parents chose to raise my sister and me in Canada. We left when I was one year old, and I have never been back. In fact considering that protesters from Iran have managed to filter my website, and send me hate mail, I do not think it would be safe for me to return at this time.

Q. Was it difficult for your family to start all over again in a new country?
A. Yes, we led a very comfortable life before the Revolution, and having had to leave every worldly possession behind to start from scratch, in a new country, with a new language, it was a challenge. We had a very modest upbringing to say the least. It was not too long before we were settled and Vancouver truly felt like home.

Q. What is your educational back ground?
A. I have a double major degree in Political Science and International Affairs through scholarship studies at The University of British Columbia in Canada, L’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris in France and The International Study Center in Herstonceux Castle in the UK.

Q. You were also with the Royal Canadian Air Cadet. What was that like?
A. Besides having had to Iron my uniform and shine my boots, it was an amazing experience. We held parades, classes on such things as theory of flight, leadership and effective speaking. We had bush survival exercises in the forest, but the best part was obtaining my private pilot’s license and glider license on scholarship. By the end of my cadet career I achieved the highest rank of Warrant Officer First class and was squadron Commander.

Q. You then went on to become the 1st runner up at the 2003 Miss World competitions. However, after the pageant you faced a lot of criticism from the Iranian society.
A. I wouldn’t say I received a lot of criticism. On the most part I received congratulatory messages and fellow Iranians honoured my achievement. There was some criticism from Fundamentalists. It was mostly people’s ignorance that bothered me. Many people do not realize that Miss World’s motto is “beauty with a purpose” whose aim is to raise money for children’s charities across the globe. Until now they have raised 400 million dollars for various charities. Would it have been better if I stayed at home and did not participate in LIFE? I dealt with it by continuing doing and speaking out on what I believe in: women’s rights and freedoms.

Q. What was the moment in your life when you decided to dedicate yourself to humanitarian causes and helping the needy?
A. It was in elementary school when I became aware of just how sensitive I was to injustice and the suffering of others. It wasn’t until high school that I actually took initiative to do something about it. In high school I started a Global Issues club to raise awareness among my peers about the plight of the people around the world and everything I do now is to fulfil this mission.


Q. Tell us a little bit about Nazanin Fatehi.
Well in short, Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi is an 18-year-old who was sentenced to death for murder by court in Iran after she stabbed one of three men who attempted to rape her and her 15-year-old niece in a park in Karaj (a suburb of Tehran) in March 2005. She was seventeen at the time. Iran is signatory to international treaties, which forbid them to execute anyone under the age of 18; however they continue to do so.
A. When and how did you first become involved with Nazanin Fatahi’s case?
It was fate that brought us together. A stranger in Paris read the story and wanted to learn more about her so he searched the name ‘Nazanin’ and stumbled on my website by accident. He ended up telling me the story and I immediately took action.