Shaniera Akram facts for kids

Shaniera Akram (born March 20, 1982) is an Australian social worker who lives in Pakistan. She is married to the famous former cricketer Wasim Akram.

About Shaniera Akram

Early Life and Background

Shaniera Akram was born on March 20, 1982, in Melbourne, Australia. She grew up in a suburb called Brighton. Shaniera has described herself as a "typical Australian girl." Before moving to Pakistan, she worked as a public relations consultant. She went to a private school for girls and grew up with three sisters. Her family was well-connected, and they knew famous people like Sam Newman and Shane Warne.

Meeting Wasim Akram

Shaniera met Wasim Akram in 2011 at a dinner in Melbourne. Wasim was there for cricket commentating. Shaniera didn't know who he was at first and wasn't very interested in cricket. Wasim joked that he told her he was "a big deal back home," but he had to charm her. They exchanged numbers and kept in touch.

Even though they were from different countries and generations, they enjoyed spending time together. Shaniera showed Wasim around Melbourne and introduced him to Australian culture. Wasim found Australian culture to be very family-focused and sporty, much like life in Pakistan. Wasim later proposed to Shaniera at her home.

Family Life in Pakistan

Shaniera married Wasim in a simple ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan, on August 12, 2013. They then moved to Karachi, where they live near the beach in Clifton.

On December 27, 2014, Shaniera and Wasim had their daughter, Aiyla. Shaniera is also a step-mother to Wasim's two sons, Tahmoor (born 1996) and Akbar (born 2001), from his first marriage. She sees them as an important part of her life and offers them support and advice.

Shaniera shared that it was a bit challenging to get used to her new life and the culture in Pakistan at first. However, she found the local people to be very welcoming. She learned about Pakistani customs and traditions and also improved her Urdu language skills.

She has appeared in online videos with British-Pakistani TV personality George Fulton. In these videos, they humorously explore Pakistani culture as Westerners living in Karachi. When asked about her loyalty during cricket matches between Australia and Pakistan, Shaniera said that while she loves Australia, Pakistan is a big part of who she is now. She stated that she is "with Pakistan all the way."

Shaniera's Work

Early Career

Shaniera started her career in fashion when she was 21 years old. She even owned her own clothing shop. Later, she moved into public relations (PR) and event planning. She worked on big fashion festivals, international events, and helped open new stores and restaurants in Australia.

Acting Debut

In 2023, Shaniera Akram made her first appearance in a movie. She acted alongside her husband in a Pakistani crime comedy film called Money Back Guarantee. The movie was released during Eid-ul Fitr.

Helping Others: Social Work

Shaniera is very active in The Akram Foundation. This foundation works on many social projects, community service, and charity causes. She is well-known in Pakistan and often appears on TV and in newspapers. People sometimes call her the "national Bhabhi" (which means sister-in-law) and "Aussie Princess" of Pakistan. She has many followers on social media.

..... She also collects money for hospitals, promotes healthy living, and raises awareness about protecting the environment. She speaks up about important issues like road safety, recycling, and making sure everyone has access to clean drinking water. Shaniera is also an ambassador for The Fred Hollows Foundation in Pakistan. This foundation provides free eye treatment for people who cannot see well.

In 2019, Shaniera posted pictures on social media showing how dirty Clifton Beach was. The water was full of trash, and the beach had plastic bags, blood vials, and syringes. After she brought attention to the problem, the photos became very popular online. Because of her efforts, the beach was cleaned up quickly within one month.

More to Explore

• List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Wasim Akram
• Jemima Khan, a British-Pakistani journalist