biography
Somy Ali was born in Karachi, Pakistan. Her mother is originally from Iraq, and her father is Pakistani. After studying at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi, at age 12, she, her mother and her younger brother moved to the U.S. to seek a better future.
In 1991, inspired by a teenage crush on Bollywood actor, Salman Khan, Somy convinced her mother to allow her to move to Mumbai, India at 16. In Mumbai, Somy appeared in 10 Hindi films between 1991 and 1997 as a leading lady with top Bollywood actors.
She was in a relationship with Bollywood's leading actor, Salman Khan, for eight years. In December 1999, she broke up the relationship and returned to Florida to focus on her education. In 2002, Somy graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL.
While at the University of Miami working on her graduate degree, Somy developed an interest in documentary films. Subsequently, in February 2003, she dropped out of grad school to attend the New York Film Academy. She graduated with a degree in film making, direction, screenwriting and editing. Her early projects included short films on abortion, domestic violence, and teenage suicide. Following that, Somy attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Florida and in 2004 obtained a degree in broadcast journalism. Somy’s first film, “I Can Survive”, covered the plight of Pakistani rape victim, Mukhtaran Mai. In 2005, the film aired at then Senator Hillary Clinton's benefit honoring Ms. Mukhtaran Mai.
In 2007, Somy initiated her nonprofit organization, No More Tears, with a mission to assist and empower victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence.
In 2011, Somy was honored with the American Heritage Award from the American Immigration Council for her work with No More Tears, The Daily Point of Light Award by President George H. W. Bush in 2015, and The National Domestic Violence Month "A Proclamation" by President Barack Obama.