Iqra Shahzadi

My name is Cpl Iqra Shahzadi, and I serve as a military nurse in the British Army. For me, nursing in the Army is not simply a career but a purpose, one that allows me to care for patients in the most demanding environments while training and inspiring others to follow their calling with courage and compassion.

I grew up in a community where it was almost unthinkable for women to go to university, let alone join the military. I became the first female in my family to achieve a degree, the first to qualify as a nurse, and the first to wear the military uniform. These were not only personal milestones but also barrier-breaking moments for the Army itself, as I became the first Muslim hijab-wearing soldier. In doing so, I influenced changes in dress policy and helped to educate both wider society and the military about my faith and culture, areas where there were often deep misconceptions. These experiences taught me that being “the first” comes with challenges, but it also opens doors for those who come after you.

The Army has instilled in me resilience and discipline. I remember the early mornings, lacing my boots before sunrise, running through empty streets while the world still slept. Those quiet moments taught me that perseverance is not built in front of an audience but in the unseen efforts, day after day. That determination carried me through barriers, doubts, and the pressure of expectations, proving that just because something hasn’t been done before does not mean it cannot be achieved.

From being a girl, whose longest journey was from upstairs to downstairs into my father’s car, I am now a military nurse who travels across the world to treat patients and train colleagues. This transformation is one of the things I am most proud of. It represents not only how far I have come but also the message I carry for others: that your legs are meant to take you wherever you dream, not just where society tells you to go, and never limited by the question of “what will people say.”

Through my journey, I have worked not only on creating history, but Herstory, encouraging young women to write their own stories with pride, courage, and freedom. I want them to see that the barriers in front of them are not walls but challenges that can be overcome. Within the Army, I have contributed to projects that improve nursing practice in field hospitals, strengthened patient care in high-pressure environments, and mentored junior colleagues to embrace their differences. In my community, I have shown young women that they can dream boldly, without apology, and that their ambitions are not only valid but necessary.

The obstacles I faced (cultural expectations, misconceptions about my faith, and professional challenges) have all shaped me into the leader I am today. Each one became an opportunity to educate, to challenge stereotypes, and to prove that resilience and faith can overcome doubt and fear.

Being nominated for the ABC Award is humbling and deeply personal. It represents the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs that have brought me here, but more than that, it symbolises what is possible. To every young girl told “you can’t,” I stand as proof that you can.

I am proud not only to have created my own path but to have shown that Herstory belongs to all of us. This nomination is not just about what I have achieved, it is about every girl who chooses to step beyond expectation, every woman who dares to dream, and every voice that refuses to be silenced.