100 Most Beautiful & Influential: Zahraa

Exclusive interview with 100 Most Beautiful & Influential nominee and Tiara Model: Zahraa

What pageant titles have you held before if any (if none that’s fine)?
I currently have not held any titles, but I hope to compete in the near future.

What type of modeling have you participated in?
I have done a wide range of modeling from High Fashion Runway, Bridal wear (South Asian, Indian and American), print, advertisement, and commercial. During this time I had the privilege to meet so many wonderful and inspirational people and I am so thankful that I had the opportunities I did and I look forward to what the future will bring.

What makes you a success?
Success can be defined and looked at so many ways, but to speak on my own behalf, what makes me a success is no matter what the circumstance is, no matter how many times I fall or things may be difficult or whatever the road block in the way, I will not let it stop me, I will use it as fuel to speed me up. Our hands are meant to create, so any negative situation or event that has occurred in my life, I will grab it in my hands, and mold it into something positive, beautiful and insightful, I will not let it weigh me down or ruin my day, and I will use it to keep moving in a positive direction and to keep going with even more energy than before to reach my goals.

I come from very humble beginnings; and I grew up in a single family home, nothing has ever been handed to me, and everything I have in my life, I have work tenfold for to just get a fair chance to show what I believe I am capable of. I know if I am given that one chance I will exceed everyone’s expectations even my own because I know sometimes you are given one opportunity and it’s up to you create it into the master piece you want to display as your life. It doesn’t matter where you come from it matters where you end up and that is a choice, I choose not to be ordinary but extraordinary.

Tell us some of your accomplishments?
I have worked my way through school and support myself and I am proud of my academic accomplishments. I have completed Bachelors in Biology; I will be graduating with my Masters Degree in 2012, and working on completing my M. D. as well. I believe that every individual has outer beauty no matter your shape, color, age, there is a beautiful spark in everyone and what I strongly support is academics because I feel that we need to nurture and acknowledge our minds as a forever youthful beauty.

Another accomplishment I am proud of is I have been able to model during this time that has not only brought me self confidence but helped me embrace the skin I’m in. I am an avid art lover, I believe medicine is art, dreaming is art, modeling is art and life is about being well rounded and balanced and I feel so blessed to have been able to take part in the modeling industry. I have worked with amazing designers, and walked on runways and learned so much about the industry, the time and dedication it takes to create what we see around this. I hope to keep growing as a model and grace magazine covers and keep very active in this industry. I don’t believe we should limit ourselves to one genre in life but to go and branch out into our other goals and dreams and make them reality.

If it wasn’t at one time truly impossible, then it truly wasn’t great. Knowledge is infinite and a choice, if we choose to limit our knowledge then we have created are own boundaries. The only limitations in life are the ones we acknowledge, we created invisible barriers, and in order to break them you need to take off your illusions of chains and burst into the amazing being that you are.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

We’re given today but not promised tomorrow so whenever I see this question I find it very interesting. If I could choose where I wanted to be 5 years from now, I would want to be a role model; I would like to give inspiration, show hope, and radiate love. What I mean by this specifically is I would like to be successful in my medical career and provide care and help third world countries that don’t have the ever day basics we take for granted. I would like to continue my modeling; I would love to have been on a cover of magazine and show that we can be more than ‘one’ thing when we grow up.

We can embrace all the carvings that make us so unique and grow with them instead of trying to break them off to fit a false mold society created. I would like to be in an influential position where I can really share my story, my struggles and scream at the top of my lungs with arms wide open that nothing is impossible, and share how the strength of human will can overcome any obstacles if we only believe in ourselves more and I am living proof of that.

Are you involved in any charity work or is there a charity you like or would like to support?

I am involved in many organizations; I support the American Breast Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis foundation, American Cancer Society, the Debbie- Rand Memorial Service League, Memorial Service League Inc., and Human Rights Organization at Florida Atlantic University. I was part of a team that helped create a free medical clinic during my time at medical school called SFH (students for health). While I was there I helped train over 100 volunteers in basic clinical skills, I was also the clinic Site Manager were I oversaw eight volunteers who would typically treat 100 patients in a span of 2-3 hours. I also helped build Clinical Skills for the Volunteer workers in several clinic sites throughout the country, as well as be on the SFH Advisory Board, at the launch of SFH. I also assisted in gathering health data on 500 children for an assessment report that was used for a feasibility study to determine whether to establish a state-of-the-art Children’s Hospital on the island. Lastly I helped organize and build relations between SFH and the ladies from the local Breast Cancer Society, including organizing the President to speak at the medical school; I am also part of National Honors society (2004-present) & the American Medical Student Association. I would like to be involved in Doctors without Borders, as well as help provide scholarships for pageant title holders, aspiring models and inner city kids. I want to support aspiring models to pursue their dreams and not to limit themselves to one genre in life but to let all their true colors flow and see what they are really capable of.

Photography by: Ray Manrique Makeup: Sophos by Sophia Motlani