Pakistan is making its presence felt at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in 2026, and one of its brightest ambassadors is Miss Universe Pakistan 2025, Roma Riaz. Roma, a Lahore-based model, rose to prominence after being crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2025 and has been vocal about social issues such as colourism and representation, helping shape a more inclusive image of Pakistani beauty on international platforms.
Roma Riaz is a British-Pakistani beauty pageant titleholder born into a Punjabi Christian family in Lahore, Pakistan, who grew up in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. She is based in Manchester and has a degree in business and marketing from Manchester Metropolitan University.
She was the first Pakistani Christian to compete at the international Miss Universe pageant and used the contest to challenge conventional beauty standards, directly addressing online trolls who criticised her skin tone and body type, stating, “I will not apologise for looking like my people.”
At Cannes, Roma is going beyond just the red carpet. She confirmed she will walk the red carpet and is also expected to host an “Expedition Gala” during her visit. Every outfit she plans to wear has been designed locally, many by women-led fashion houses, as a deliberate way of highlighting Pakistani talent on a global stage.
She described fashion as an extension of identity and said her presence at Cannes aims to position Pakistan within global cultural conversations while promoting a message of confidence and individuality. Roma’s Cannes appearance follows Erica Robin’s debut in 2024, showing that Pakistan’s young women are increasingly claiming their space on the world’s most prestigious stages.
