Tell us a little bit about your background.
Professional introduction: Assalam-o-Alaikum, I am Dr. Rabail Aslam. I was born and brought up in Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan. My dad served in the Pakistan military; hence, naturally, I acquired my primary and secondary education in the well-disciplined environment of army garrison schools and colleges. As a child, I struggled with mild dyslexia, but I worked very hard during college to overcome my weakness. Special thanks to my parents and teachers’ efforts and encouragement, I was able to secure a spot in one of the most prestigious medical schools in Pakistan, Allama Iqbal Medical College, and graduated with a bachelor’s in medicine and surgery. Right after graduation, I moved to the United States to start my career in laboratory medicine. I began my postdoctoral fellowship training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. My team and I successfully built a novel imaging technique that has the potential to revolutionize the field of microscopic tissue imaging. To further my career in diagnostics and to take an active part in patient care, I embarked upon my training in clinical and anatomical pathology. I shall be finishing my training very soon. The subspecialties that I really enjoy and would like to excel in are hematopathology and dermatopathology. The first is the study of blood disorders/cancers, and the second is the study of skin malignancies. I would like to apply myself to these two fields with the final goal of combining their expertise and knowledge in order to become an exceptional dermatohematopathologist.
Personal introduction/background: Being the youngest child in my family, I was brought up with a lot of love and care. I was extremely close to my maternal grandparents, especially my grandfather. We would spend most of our summer breaks at my grandparents’, and they would spoil us with a lot of food and love. My grandfather was a great leader, extremely smart, and very hard-working. He led his entire life by example. He instilled a strong sense of confidence, mental, and emotional maturity among all of us. He was a strong supporter of women’s independence and a huge advocate of female education. My parents and grandparents strongly believed in providing their daughters similar professional and educational opportunities as their sons. In addition to all this freedom, the one value my dad deeply imprinted on our brains was “independence with responsibility.” Leaving my house at a very early age, I have always made every genuine effort to further my professional career and focus on personal self-development. Being part of this pageant, I bring my background experience and future aspirations, showcasing what Pakistani women are capable of achieving with our family and nation’s support.
You are the next doctor in the Miss Pakistan World group! What is your specialization?
First of all, I am super excited to be here as this has given me an opportunity to meet all the beautiful and amazing women in my group. As for my career background, I always wanted to become a doctor and then a model. I am currently finishing my training in clinical and anatomical pathology. The subspecialties of pathology that I really enjoy and would like to excel in are hematopathology and dermatopathology. The first is the study of blood disorders/cancers, and the second is the study of skin malignancies. I would like to apply myself to these two fields with the final goal of combining their expertise and knowledge to evolve into an exceptional dermatohematopathologist. In addition to this career, I am super excited to live that small young girl’s dream of being a part of this amazing Miss Pakistan World group, and I look forward to learning from my other ladies in our group.
How does it feel to be the next Ms. Pakistan World?
To be honest, it feels surreal. It is exciting to win this pageant as my parents are so proud of me, especially my mama; she has been my biggest supporter during preparation for this competition. She instilled a strong sense of independence and confidence to follow my dreams. My parents and grandparents provided me with a strong base to fly from. It is an amazing feeling to be able to represent my country at the national and international level. Although, I would not lie, at the same time, it is a little intimidating dealing with the great responsibility being a delegate of my country brings. I enthusiastically look forward to representing my country across the globe. I would like to be a role model of what Pakistani women are capable of doing professionally and how much they can accomplish in the world with true support from our nation.
What made you want to be part of pageantry?
I am very lucky to have extremely supportive parents; they have always been a great source of moral and emotional support throughout my professional journey and life in general. My mom is the one who encouraged me to become part of this competition as she is very proud of what I have achieved in my life. My parents supported my dreams no matter how difficult the path seemed at any time. She encouraged me to utilize this pageant as an opportunity to represent my family, my country, and most importantly, the amazing women of Pakistan. Showing the world what we are capable of and breaking the international stereotype regarding Pakistani women.
How are you preparing for the pageant?
Health and fitness have always been my priority. This pageant has been a huge incentive to continue staying on track, maintaining my health routine, and taking pride in achieving my fitness goals. I have also used this pageant as an opportunity to reconnect with my heritage. I love my country, Pakistan; I have spent my entire childhood and early adulthood in Lahore, but since moving to the fast-paced professional environment in the USA, there has been a little disconnect. But this competition has really facilitated me to reignite the connection with my country and people. I have been able to compose myself, readjust my priorities, and move forward with the true values I was brought up with. Now I am confident that I am in the right mindset to represent my country, family, and essentially everyone who has helped me on this beautiful journey.
What are your plans after your ceremony?
I will continue working on my fitness and health goals; soon, I will be representing my country at the international level. I have a social media account that I use as a channel to promote lifestyle, fitness, and inspirational quotes. I have always received very good feedback from my followers; hence, I will continue doing that as I will be reaching out to more people now and inspiring even more every day. Also, I have always been a nice, genuine person, but now I will be even more mindful of my actions and words as now I am a delegate of my country at an international level as a woman of science, knowledge, and logic who was born and brought up in Pakistan.
As Miss Pakistan, what charities will you be supporting? What is your advocacy?
Having a medical and laboratory medicine background, I support the Edhi Foundation, an NGO that has not only provided medical facilities within Pakistan but has successfully extended its missions beyond, including but not limited to Middle Eastern and African countries.
Secondly, having a professional hematopathology background, I am a huge supporter of Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, which provides free-of-cost cancer treatment to the poor and destitute. Also, I am eagerly looking forward to finishing my training and gaining expertise as a laboratory medicine professional. I plan to utilize this background to open a cutting-edge laboratory and provide international standard expertise/care at an affordable cost to the people of my country.
Lastly, from my personal experience growing up struggling with dyslexia, I would eventually start an NGO that can begin an awareness campaign regarding the spectrum of childhood learning disabilities disorders. The goal of the NGO would be to provide appropriate counseling to parents and teachers. Additionally, provide resources to children to help improve their learning. We will have a final goal to have a well-disciplined and extremely educated nation.
What advice do you have for other contestants?
Follow your dreams; you have already made it so far, and the sky is the limit. Once you are on this stage, always remember: you are very strong, have an amazing background, and are very lucky to have people in your life who love you and support you no matter what. Also, do not forget we are a team, Pakistan, and what we are is because of our country. We should be very mindful and put in extra effort to represent our country the best way possible. Pakistan Zindabad!
If chosen Miss Pakistan, what change will you bring? Why do you want to be Miss Pakistan?
I was born and brought up in Pakistan. My country has a huge contribution to my professional and personal success. I am in debt to my teachers, parents, and everyone who contributed to my success by providing me with a strong foundation to build this life upon. Hence, I am very eager to take any opportunity to represent my country at the national and international level.
I will come forth to the world as a live example of one of the many highly intellectual and well-educated Pakistani women who are bringing a change in this world by contributing to international medicine with their diagnostic skills and scientific instinct. I want to break the stereotypical beliefs regarding the paucity of women’s rights and freedom in my country. I find this opportunity as a means to represent my parents who have lived their entire lives in Pakistan yet were open-minded enough to trust me, thus allowing me to follow my dreams. I shall bring my cross-cultural experiences and encourage young Pakistani girls to believe in following their true passions. Also, I would be sending a message to our parents on the significance of educating their daughters and believing in their potential, as who else will if they do not.
Lastly, I would love to use this platform to bring awareness regarding highly dedicated medical-affiliated charities in Pakistan that help the needy to raise funds at an international level.
