Shaniera Akram facts for kids

Shaniera Akram (born 20 March 1982), whose maiden name was Thompson, is an Australian social worker. She lives in Pakistan and is well-known for her social work. Shaniera is married to Wasim Akram, a famous former cricketer.

Early Life and Family

Shaniera Akram was born on March 20, 1982. She grew up in Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Shaniera describes herself as a "typical Australian girl." She had a normal life and worked in public relations. She went to a private school for girls. Shaniera grew up with three sisters. Her family was well-connected, even knowing famous people like Sam Newman and Shane Warne.

Meeting Wasim Akram

Shaniera met Wasim Akram in 2011. They met at a dinner with friends in Melbourne. Wasim was in Australia to commentate on cricket. Shaniera did not know who he was at the time. She also wasn't very interested in cricket. Wasim joked that he told her he was "a big deal back home," but it didn't work. He had to charm her! They exchanged numbers and kept in touch.

Even though they were from different countries, they became good friends. They also had a big age difference. But they enjoyed spending time together. Wasim said Shaniera showed him around Melbourne. She taught him about Australian culture. He found it very family-oriented and loved sports and outdoor life. This was similar to his own life in Pakistan. Wasim later proposed to Shaniera at her home.

Family Life in Pakistan

Shaniera married Wasim in a simple ceremony in 2013. The wedding took place in Lahore, Pakistan, on August 12. After their wedding, they moved to Karachi. They live near the beach in an area called Clifton.

Shaniera and Wasim had their first daughter, Aiyla, on December 27, 2014. Shaniera is a busy mom. She takes her daughter to school, dance, and judo classes. She is also a step-mother to Wasim's two sons. Their names are Tahmoor (born 1996) and Akbar (born 2001). They are from Wasim's first marriage. Shaniera sees them as a very important part of her life. She supports them and gives them advice.

Adapting to a New Culture

Moving to Pakistan and getting used to the new culture was a bit hard at first. But Shaniera found the local people to be very kind. She had already adopted Islam before her marriage. She learned about Pakistani customs and traditions. She also improved her Urdu language skills.

Shaniera has appeared in fun YouTube videos with George Fulton. He is a British-Pakistani TV personality. In these videos, they explore Pakistani culture as Westerners living in Karachi.

When Australia plays Pakistan in cricket, people often ask Shaniera who she supports. She says she was born and raised Australian and loves her home country. But she also says Pakistan is a big part of who she is now. She supports Pakistan "all the way" for the long run!

Career and Social Work

Shaniera started her career in fashion when she was 21. She even owned her own clothing store. Later, she moved into public relations (PR) and event planning. She worked as a consultant. She helped with big Australian fashion festivals and international events. She also worked on opening new stores, restaurants, and launching products.

In 2023, Shaniera tried acting! She appeared in a Pakistani crime comedy film called Money Back Guarantee. Her husband, Wasim Akram, was also in the movie. It was released during Eid-ul Fitr.

Making a Difference: Social Work

Shaniera is very active in The Akram Foundation. This organization does a lot of social work. They help communities, support charities, and work on many good causes. Shaniera is very popular with the public. She often appears on TV and in newspapers. People sometimes call her the "national Bhabhi" (which means sister-in-law) and the "Aussie Princess" of Pakistan. She has many followers on social media.

In 2019, Shaniera posted pictures on Twitter showing Clifton Beach in Karachi. The beach was very dirty with trash. The water was full of litter, plastic bags, and even medical waste like blood vials and syringes. Her posts went viral, meaning many people saw them. Because she brought attention to the problem, the beach was cleaned up very quickly, within just one month!

See also

• List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Wasim Akram
• Jemima Khan, British-Pakistani journalist and former wife of Imran Khan