EMINA NAZARIAN
TRUSTEE
Emina Çunmulaj Nazarian, Foundation Board Trustee since 2015, has a lifelong commitment to service and philanthropy. Born in Farmington Hills, Michigan, to Albanian parents and raised in Montenegro, she witnessed her family's compassion firsthand as they sheltered, fed, and clothed refugees during the Balkan conflict of the 1990s. Her family's courage and selfless commitment to helping others profoundly shaped her character and inspired a lifelong dedication to service and philanthropy.
With over 25 years in the fashion industry as an international model, Emina has worked with leading fashion houses including Chanel, Hermès, and Dolce & Gabbana, and has been featured in premier publications such as Vogue and Marie Claire. In 2023, she served as a judge for the Miss USA pageant.
As a trustee of the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation, Emina works to advance humanitarian initiatives and support organizations driving positive change. She also serves on the board of the Baptist Health Foundation, the Florida International University Board of Directors, and the Coordinating Council for the Albanian Diaspora. She is the Honorary Consul of Albania to Florida, where she helps strengthen cultural, economic, and philanthropic ties between Albania and the state. Emina is also the founder of Emina's Hand Foundation, an international nonprofit dedicated to serving communities, supporting families, and empowering women.
Emina is married to Sam Nazarian, and together they are raising three children in Miami—a family life that reflects the same values of generosity and service instilled in her from childhood.