Born on February 22, 1978 in an ethnic Pasthun family Vida Samadzai is the international voice of Afghan women. She experienced trauma of conservative Islamic Taliban’s regime and extreme social control. In 1996, she moved to US. There she studied at California State University, Fullerton and achieved degree in Advertising & Speech Communications. Samadzai knows five languages. She is the second Miss Afghanistan to participate in international beauty pageant after Zohra Daoud in 1974. She came in news for her bikini appearances in Miss Earth Beauty pageant in 2003 which was condemned by Afghan Supreme Court controlled by orthodox Taliban groups. There she won a special “Beauty for a Cause” award. Afterwards she returned to Philippines as juror in Miss Earth 2004 beauty pageant.

Currently Vida is working as an international model, social activities and is involving in social charity work for Afghan woman in Pakistan. Her ambition is to be a United Nation’s Ambassador to raise awareness about women’s right in Afghanistan.