Miss Michigan Rima Fakih was recently crowned Miss USA on this past Sunday night making her the first Arab-American to ever win the famed pageant.
Fakih, 24, a former New Yorker who was raised in Dearborn, MI, forged ahead in the competition to ultimately beat out 50 other beautiful contestants including runner-up Miss Oklahoma for the grand prize.
When asked on stage how she felt about the big win, the petite sharp-tongued brunette quipped, “Ask me after I’ve had a pizza.”
“I feel great. Thanks for hiring me, Donald Trump,” she said of the co-owner of the Miss USA pageant.
Fakih accepted her crown from the outgoing Miss USA winner Kristen Dalton live at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Born in Lebonon, Fakih emigrated with her parents to the United States as a baby and attended Catholic school in New York City until her family moved to Michigan in 2003.
Fakih is also a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with degrees in both economics and business management. She plans to begin law school after her year-long reign as Miss USA.
Of course, there were moments in the pageant that shook things up a bit. Fakih nearly tripped on the train of her long, strapless gown during the evening-wear portion of Sunday night’s the competition, broadcast live on NBC.
In the interview segment of the event, she was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance. Her answer: yes.
“I believe that birth control is just like every other medication even though it’s a controlled substance,” said Fakih, who was raised in a household that celebrates both Christian and Muslim faiths.
Fakih even shared her experiences in learning how to sacrifice for something you really want. She recently told reporters she sold her 1998 Ford Taurus to pay the $800 entry fee for the Miss Michigan pageant.
In addition to winning scholarships and a wardrobe fit for a queen, Fakih will be given a luxury New York City apartment to live in while she’s Miss USA.
Fakih, an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer awareness, plans to compete for the Miss Universe title later this year and she is already bracing for questions about her roots.
“I think it would prove that Arabs don’t always try to separate themselves, but instead are integrated into American culture,” she recently told the Global Arab Network.
“It would show the world that yes, there are Arabs that are beautiful not only in looks, but also on the inside,” she said. “There are Arabs that are caring, that are good people, and who also love the country they live in. I think it would make the Arab image a more positive one.”
What do you guys think of the benefits of this new beauty mark represented by multi-cultural winners of these kinds of pageants and competitions? What does this say about our yet evolving popular or standard definitions of beauty? Post your thoughts and responses in the comments section below.
