Sumaira Ahmed, of Bangladeshi descent, was born and raised in New Jersey where she began her career in acting. She began training in Kathak, Indian classical dance, from the age of 3 and continued until 18. Indian In 2005, Sumaira studied film acting at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai, India. From 2005 to 2008, Sumaira traveled regularly between India and Bangladesh, working as an actress in projects ranging from music videos to short films. In 2012, she starred as the female lead in an English-language independent film titled Humble River.

 

Sumaira earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Boston University’s College of Communication in 2010. Since graduation, Sumaira has worked in healthcare as the Director of Network Development at Boston Laser – a premier laser vision correction center in New England. In 2010, Sumaira launched her person blog, “Flower: The Converted Bostonian” reviewing restaurants & lounges, offering tips on dating and relationships, and sharing insights on life in Boston. Her blog has gained a loyal following with over 120,000 views.

 

Towards the end of 2014, she founded a non-profit organization, “The Sumaira Foundation, Inc.,” which aims to generate awareness for Neuromyelitis Optica [NMO], a rare autoimmune disease, while offering patient support. Sumaira was diagnosed with NMO in August 2014. She has since teamed up with doctors and business professionals in the Boston area to advocate for the cause.