First Muslim Crowned Miss USA

M.today

USA, May 17: A new Miss USA was crowned on Sunday night, the first American Muslim woman believed to have held the title in a pageant of beauty that has caused some divided loyalties in the Islamic community.

 

 

Rima Fakih (24) took the prize ahead of 50 other finalists at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. She moved to the US as an infant, first to New York and then in 2003 to Dearborn, Michigan, where she now lives.

The nature of the competition, with its swimsuit, evening gown and interview segments, has caused some controversy among Muslims in the US and the Arab world.

There have been incidents of Islamic scholars issuing fatwas instructing women not to participate.

But in Dearborn, Fakih received considerable support. The town is regarded as the capital of Muslim America because of its large Islamic population.

In an interview before the competition, Fakih said she was aware that some locals might not approve. "I think the community in Dearborn might be a little on the strict side, but my family in general are not," she said.

Both Muslim and Christian faiths are followed by different strands of Fakih’s family, which has roots in the southern Lebanese village of Srifa. She was sent to a Catholic school in New York, and in her Dearborn home they celebrate Christmas and have a painting of Jesus on the wall.

It has been reported that several Arab-American groups backed Fakih financially in earlier stages of her pageant career, including the Michigan branch of the America-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Its director, Imad Hamad, said that he had experienced opposition from some local Muslims who thought beauty contestants were "not something they wish to see". But he added, "It took a great deal of passion, guts, courage and self-confidence to compete for a title like this."

As her prize Fakih will be given a one-year lease on a New York apartment, living expenses, an undisclosed salary and other perks.