Sahar Biniaz | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sahar Biniaz at the Times Of India Film Awards 2013 | |
| Born | Sahar Biniaz (1986-11-17)November 17, 1986 (age 39) |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Universe Canada 2012 Miss Universe Persia 2025 |
| 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 wonMiss Universe Canada 2012 and Miss Universe Persia 2025. She had a recurring role on the hit TV showSanctuary as the Hindu goddess of powerKali. She was set to represent Iran atMiss Universe 2025 pageant held inThailand 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]
Biniaz was born inBengaluru,Karnataka, India to anIranian family.[2] She grew up inIran, and a few years later, her family moved toVancouver, Canada, where she became a naturalized Canadian.[2] She graduated with honors from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting School inLos Angeles.[2]
Biniaz competed in the Miss Universe Canada 2003 pageant where she did not place. She went on to compete in beauty pageants representingCanada, 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 atMiss Universe 2012 in the United States but was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury and was subsequently replaced by 1st Runner-UpAdwoa Yamoah. Thirteen years later, On May 31, 2025, she was crowned Miss Universe Persia 2025 in Oberhausen, Germany and was set to represent Iran atMiss Universe 2025 in Thailand but withdrew.
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][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] |
| 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, aka the DC Comics superheroHawkgirl | 4 episodes[9] |
| 2010 | Sanctuary | Kali | 4 episodes |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ava Vahneshan | Miss Universe Persia 2025 | Incumbent |
| Preceded by Chelsae Durocher | Miss Universe Canada 2012 | Succeeded by |