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{{short description|Canadian actress}} | {{short description|Persian-Canadian actress}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} | |||
{{Infobox pageant titleholder | {{Infobox pageant titleholder | ||
| name = Sahar Biniaz | | name = Sahar Biniaz | ||
| image = Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 (TOIFA).jpg | | image = Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 (TOIFA).jpg | ||
| caption = Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 | | caption = Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 | ||
| birth_name = Sahar Biniaz | | birth_name = Sahar Biniaz | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|11|17|mf=yes}} | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|11|17|mf=yes}} | ||
| birth_place = [[ | | birth_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India | ||
| height = 1.72 m | | height = 1.72 m | ||
| hair_color = Brown | | hair_color = Brown | ||
| eye_color = Brown | | eye_color = Brown | ||
| title = [[Miss Universe Canada 2012]]<br>Miss Universe Persia 2025 | |||
| competitions = [[Miss Universe Canada 2003]]<br>(Unplaced)<br>[[Miss Universe Canada 2008]]<br>(1st Runner-Up)<br>[[Miss Universe Canada 2012]]<br>(Winner)<br>Miss Universe Persia 2025<br>(Winner)<br> | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Sahar Biniaz''' (born November 17, 1986) is | '''Sahar Biniaz''' (born November 17, 1986) is a Persian-Canadian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won [[Miss Universe Canada 2012]] and Miss Universe Persia 2025. She had a recurring role on the hit TV show ''[[Sanctuary (Canadian TV series)|Sanctuary]]'' as the Hindu goddess of power [[Kali]]. She was set to represent Iran at [[Miss Universe 2025]] pageant held in [[Thailand]] but later withdrew in solidarity with and out of respect for her national director, Golshan Barazesh — whose unexplained detention in Iran is a serious human rights concern <ref>{{Cite web |last=McKnight |first=Jenni |date= November 11, 2025 |title=Miss Universe 2025 shock exits: the contestants who won't be competing and why |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/866987/miss-universe-2025-shock-exits-contestants-not-competing/ |url-status=live |access-date= November 19, 2025 |website=[[Hello! Magazine]]}}</ref> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Biniaz was born in [[ | Biniaz was born in [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India to an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] family.<ref name="auto"/> She grew up in [[Iran]], and a few years later, her family moved to [[Vancouver]], Canada, where she became a naturalized Canadian.<ref name="auto">{{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 }}</ref> She graduated with honors from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting School in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="auto"/> | ||
==Pageant history== | ==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 | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Biniaz was initially set to represent Canada at [[Miss Universe 2012]] in the United States but was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury and was subsequently replaced by 1st Runner-Up [[Adwoa Yamoah]]. Thirteen years later, On May 31, 2025, she was crowned Miss Universe Persia 2025 in Oberhausen, Germany and was set to represent Iran at [[Miss Universe 2025]] in Thailand but withdrew. | ||
==Personal causes== | ==Personal causes== | ||
| Line 39: | Line 42: | ||
| 2003 | | 2003 | ||
| Miss Global Beauty Queen | | Miss Global Beauty Queen | ||
| 1st Runner-up<ref>[http://www.missglobalbeauty.org/keepersofthecrown.htm Miss Global Beauty – Keepers of the Crown<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135916/http://www.missglobalbeauty.org/keepersofthecrown.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref> | | 1st Runner-up<ref>[http://www.missglobalbeauty.org/keepersofthecrown.htm Miss Global Beauty – Keepers of the Crown<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135916/http://www.missglobalbeauty.org/keepersofthecrown.htm |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref>{{non-primary source needed|date=January 2023}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2008 | | 2008 | ||
| Miss Tourism Queen International | | Miss Tourism Queen International | ||
| 2nd runner-up | | 2nd runner-up{{cn|date=January 2023}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Miss Universe Canada 2008|2008]] | | [[Miss Universe Canada 2008|2008]] | ||
| [[Miss Universe Canada]] | | [[Miss Universe Canada]] | ||
| 1st runner-up | | 1st runner-up{{cn|date=January 2023}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Miss Universe Canada 2012|2012]] | | [[Miss Universe Canada 2012|2012]] | ||
| [[Miss Universe Canada]] | | [[Miss Universe Canada]] | ||
| Winner | | Winner{{cn|date=January 2023}} | ||
|- | |||
| [[Miss Universe Persia 2025|2025]] | |||
| [[Miss Universe Persia]] | |||
| Winner{{cn|date=May 2025}} | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 68: | Line 75: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2009 | | 2009 | ||
| ''[[Watchmen (film)|Watchmen]]'' | | ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Watchmen]]'' | ||
| Foreign Newscaster (as Sahar) | | Foreign Newscaster (as Sahar) | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 90: | Line 97: | ||
| ''Tom Dick & Harriet'' | | ''Tom Dick & Harriet'' | ||
| Car Model | | Car Model | ||
| TV | | TV movie | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 118: | Line 125: | ||
| ''[[Blue Mountain State]]'' | | ''[[Blue Mountain State]]'' | ||
| Natrina | | Natrina | ||
| 1 episode<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triskotalent.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169:sahar-biniaz&catid=35:women&Itemid=58 |title=Welcome to Trisko Talent|publisher=Triskotalent.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-18}}</ref> | | 1 episode<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.triskotalent.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169:sahar-biniaz&catid=35:women&Itemid=58 |title=Welcome to Trisko Talent |publisher=Triskotalent.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-18 |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302193518/http://www.triskotalent.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169:sahar-biniaz&catid=35:women&Itemid=58 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2007–2010 | | 2007–2010 | ||
| ''[[Smallville]]'' | | ''[[Smallville]]'' | ||
| | | [[Hawkgirl|Shayera Hall]], background roles | ||
| 4 | | 4 episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/04/smallville-casts-hawkgirl-and-deadshot|title=Smallville Casts Hawkgirl and Deadshot|website=IGN|date=2010-08-03 |accessdate=2020-06-07}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2010 | | 2010 | ||
| ''[[Sanctuary (TV series)|Sanctuary]]'' | | ''[[Sanctuary (Canadian TV series)|Sanctuary]]'' | ||
| [[Kali]] | | [[Kali]] | ||
| 4 episode | | 4 episodes | ||
|- | |||
| 2012 | |||
| ''[[True Justice]]'' | |||
| Madame | |||
| 1 episode | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 141: | Line 153: | ||
{{S-start}} | {{S-start}} | ||
{{S-ach}} | {{S-ach}} | ||
{{S-bef|before=Ava Vahneshan}} | |||
{{s-ttl|title=Miss Universe Persia | |||
|years=2025}} | |||
{{S-inc}} | |||
{{S-bef|before=Chelsae Durocher}} | {{S-bef|before=Chelsae Durocher}} | ||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Miss Universe Canada]] | {{s-ttl|title=[[Miss Universe Canada]] | ||
| Line 148: | Line 164: | ||
{{authority control}} | {{authority control}} | ||
{{Miss Universe 2025 delegates}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biniaz, Sahar}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Biniaz, Sahar}} | ||
[[Category:1986 births]] | [[Category:1986 births]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category:Miss Tourism International delegates]] | [[Category:Miss Tourism International delegates]] | ||
[[Category:Actresses from Vancouver]] | [[Category:Actresses from Vancouver]] | ||
[[Category:Canadian beauty pageant winners]] | [[Category:Canadian beauty pageant winners]] | ||
[[Category:Iranian people of Indian descent]] | |||
[[Category:Canadian people of Indian descent]] | |||
[[Category:Canadian people of Iranian descent]] | |||
[[Category:Indian people of Iranian descent]] | |||
[[Category:Iranian female models]] | [[Category:Iranian female models]] | ||
[[Category:People from | [[Category:People from Bengaluru]] | ||
[[Category:Actresses from Bengaluru]] | |||
[[Category:Female models from Bengaluru]] | |||
[[Category:Canadian actresses of Indian descent]] | |||
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Canada]] | |||
[[Category:Indian expatriates in Iran]] | |||
[[Category:Miss Universe 2025 contestants]] | |||
Latest revision as of 06:51, 2 March 2026
Sahar Biniaz | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 | |
| Born | Sahar Biniaz November 17, 1986 |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Title | Miss Universe Canada 2012 Miss Universe Persia 2025 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Miss Universe Canada 2003 (Unplaced) Miss Universe Canada 2008 (1st Runner-Up) Miss Universe Canada 2012 (Winner) Miss Universe Persia 2025 (Winner) |
Sahar Biniaz (born November 17, 1986) is a Persian-Canadian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Canada 2012 and Miss Universe Persia 2025. She had a recurring role on the hit TV show Sanctuary as the Hindu goddess of power Kali. She was set to represent Iran at Miss Universe 2025 pageant held in Thailand but later withdrew in solidarity with and out of respect for her national director, Golshan Barazesh — whose unexplained detention in Iran is a serious human rights concern [1]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Biniaz was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India to an Iranian family.[2] She grew up in Iran, and a few years later, her family moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she became a naturalized Canadian.[2] She graduated with honors from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting School in Los Angeles.[2]
Pageant history[edit | edit source]
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.[3] Biniaz was initially set to represent Canada at Miss Universe 2012 in the United States but was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury and was subsequently replaced by 1st Runner-Up Adwoa Yamoah. Thirteen years later, On May 31, 2025, she was crowned Miss Universe Persia 2025 in Oberhausen, Germany and was set to represent Iran at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand but withdrew.
Personal causes[edit | edit source]
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."[4]
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."[4]
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.[5] Some pit bull advocates accused her of not really being Canadian and not representing Canadian values.[6]
| Year | Pageant | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Miss Universe Canada | Unplaced |
| 2003 | Miss Global Beauty Queen | 1st Runner-up[7]Template:Non-primary source needed |
| 2008 | Miss Tourism Queen International | 2nd runner-up[citation needed] |
| 2008 | Miss Universe Canada | 1st runner-up[citation needed] |
| 2012 | Miss Universe Canada | Winner[citation needed] |
| 2025 | Miss Universe Persia | Winner[citation needed] |
Filmography[edit | edit source]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Neal 'n' Nikki | 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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Blade: The Series | Sabine | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Painkiller Jane | Hottie | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Under One Roof | Sylvia | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Blue Mountain State | Natrina | 1 episode[8] |
| 2007–2010 | Smallville | Shayera Hall, background roles | 4 episodes[9] |
| 2010 | Sanctuary | Kali | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | True Justice | Madame | 1 episode |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ McKnight, Jenni (November 11, 2025). "Miss Universe 2025 shock exits: the contestants who won't be competing and why". Hello! Magazine. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Sahar Biniaz Crowned Miss Universe Canada 2012 [photos]". International Business Times. May 20, 2012.
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Miss Universe Canada 2012 Results!". BeautyMania.Biz. May 19, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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.
- ↑ 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/
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Miss Global Beauty – Keepers of the Crown Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Welcome to Trisko Talent". Triskotalent.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Smallville Casts Hawkgirl and Deadshot". IGN. August 3, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Miss Universe Canada
- Sahar Biniaz Official Site – The Official Sahar Biniaz Website
- Sahar Biniaz on IMDb
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ava Vahneshan |
Miss Universe Persia 2025 |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Chelsae Durocher |
Miss Universe Canada 2012 |
Succeeded by Adwoa Yamoah |