Biography

Bismah Ahmed is the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA). With over a decade of experience in politics within the region, she has served as a registered lobbyist before the Virginia General Assembly, executive agencies, and local governments. Throughout her career, she has developed strategies to engage diverse communities in policy development.

Previously, Bismah worked at the Policy Office of former Virginia Governor Terence McAuliffe, where she researched Virginia policy and devised strategies for inclusive community engagement. She also served as a legislative aide to Virginia Delegate Richard L. Anderson during the 2014 legislative session and as a research assistant to Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring, contributing to campaign operations for his Political Action Committee, One Commonwealth.

Bismah earned her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Villanova University and graduated from the Class of 2020 Leadership Arlington program. She has been honored as a Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honoree and received the 2018 Arlington Chamber of Commerce's Chairman Award for her imperatively leadership.

In 2022, Bismah made history by becoming the first South Asian, Muslim, and Pakistani woman to win the title of Miss DC for America. Her platform led her to create The Color Collective, an initiative focused on community engagement and raising awareness about global issues, such as the refugee crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine. She has been featured on ABC7, WUSA9, NBC12, FOX5, FOX45, DCW50, and TV Asia.

Active in the Metropolitan Washington community, Bismah is involved with several organizations, including the Virginia Housing Commission Affordable Housing and Neighborhood Transitions Workgroup, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Arlington County Tenant-Landlord Commission, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce PAC Trustees, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee, Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee, Prince William Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee, and Northern Virginia Business Transportation Coalition.

Bismah has appeared in the films "The Novelist" (2023) and "Entitled" (2024) and has several other ventures in the works.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bismah Ahmed