Sahar Biniaz
{{short description|Canadian actress}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox pageant titleholder
| name = Sahar Biniaz
| image = Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 (TOIFA).jpg
| caption = Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013
| birth_name = Sahar Biniaz
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|17|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| height = 1.72 m
| hair_color = Brown
| eye_color = Brown
| title = Miss Universe Canada 2012
| competitions = Miss Universe Canada 2008
(1st Runner-Up)
Miss Universe Canada 2012
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2012
(Did not compete)
}}
Sahar Biniaz (born November 17, 1984) is a Canadian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Canada 2012. She had a recurring role on the hit TV show Sanctuary as the Hindu goddess of power Kali.
Biography
Biniaz was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India to an Iranian family. She grew up in Iran, and a few years later, her family moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she became a naturalized Canadian.{{cite web |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sahar-biniaz-crowned-miss-universe-canada-2012-343053 |title=Sahar Biniaz Crowned Miss Universe Canada 2012 [photos] |website=International Business Times |date=20 May 2012 }} She graduated with honors from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting School in Los Angeles.
Pageant history
Biniaz competed in the Miss Universe Canada 2003 pageant where she did not place. She went on to compete in beauty pageants representing Canada, including winning 1st runner-up in Miss Universe Canada 2008. Four years later, she competed in the same pageant and won the title of "Miss Universe Canada 2012". She also won the Revlon Professional Best Hair award.{{cite web|url=http://www.beautymania.biz/2012/05/pageant-updates-miss-universe-canada.html|title=EXCLUSIVE: Miss Universe Canada 2012 Results!|publisher=BeautyMania.Biz |date= 2012-05-19|accessdate=2012-05-19}}
Personal causes
At the age of 14, Biniaz was mauled by a family pit bull. "The Richmond resident was the victim of a pit bull attack herself at the age of 14, a year after her family adopted a five-month-old pit bull from a breeder. The pit bull 'came from a really nice environment', she said, but 'then I ended up getting 16 stitches. Biniaz still bears the scars on her chest to this day."Nursall, Kim. Miss Universe Canada joins call to restrict pit bulls in BC. Vancouver, BC: The Vancouver Sun. 31 Aug 2012. Page A6, col. 2.
As a result of being a pit bull victim, in 2012, she decided to join the fight for pit bull controls and "plans to make the effort a major part of her [Miss Universe Canada] reign... noting that with her Miss Universe Canada title she now has a voice to bring more awareness to this issue."
She consequently became the object of vitriol from pit bull advocates, who lobbied the Miss Universe organization to strip her of her title for speaking out.Peverley, Lance. Trolls, pit bulls and a universe of misinformation. Peace Arch News. 24 Oct 2012. Accessed 14 June 2022 at https://www.peacearchnews.com/opinion/column-trolls-pit-bulls-and-a-universe-of-misinformation/ Some pit bull advocates accused her of not really being Canadian and not representing Canadian values.Beyeler, Anne. "Miss Biniaz is not Canadian and does not represent Canadian values." Strip Sahar Biniaz of her title! Accessed 14 June 2022 at www . change . org/p/denis-davila-national-director-of-miss-universe-canada-strip-sahar-biniaz-of-her-title
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Pageant ! Placement |
|---|
| 2003
|Unplaced |
| 2003
| Miss Global Beauty Queen | 1st Runner-up[http://www.missglobalbeauty.org/keepersofthecrown.htm Miss Global Beauty – Keepers of the Crown] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135916/http://www.missglobalbeauty.org/keepersofthecrown.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}{{non-primary source needed|date=January 2023}} |
| 2008
| Miss Tourism Queen International | 2nd runner-up{{cn|date=January 2023}} |
| 2008
| 1st runner-up{{cn|date=January 2023}} |
| 2012
| Winner{{cn|date=January 2023}} |
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2005
| Teacher | |
| 2009
| Watchmen | Foreign Newscaster (as Sahar) | |
| 2009
| 2012 | Showgirl (uncredited) | |
| 2010
| The Search for Santa Paws | Posh Poodle Woman | Video |
| 2012
| Ambrosia | Leila | |
| 2013
| Tom Dick & Harriet | Car Model | TV movie |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television roles ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2006
| Sabine | 6 episodes |
| 2007
| Hottie | 1 episode |
| 2008
| Sylvia | 1 episode |
| 2010
| Natrina |
| 2007–2010
| Shayera Hall, aka the DC Comics superhero Hawkgirl |
| 2010
| Kali | 4 episodes |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130530124329/http://www.beautiesofcanada.com/muc/ Miss Universe Canada]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100726162228/http://saharbiniaz.com/ Sahar Biniaz Official Site – The Official Sahar Biniaz Website]
- {{IMDb name|2336665}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-ach}}
{{S-bef|before=Chelsae Durocher}}
{{s-ttl|title=Miss Universe Canada
|years=2012}}
{{S-aft|after=Adwoa Yamoah}}
{{S-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biniaz, Sahar}}
Category:Canadian people of Indian descent
Category:Canadian people of Iranian descent
Category:Miss Tourism International delegates
Category:Actresses from Vancouver
Category:Canadian beauty pageant winners
Category:Iranian female models
Category:People from Bengaluru
Category:Actresses from Bengaluru
Category:Female models from Bengaluru
Category:Canadian actresses of Indian descent