A Muslim is crowned as Miss USA 2010

Is it a political interference, a public acceptance or a dishonor for Muslim?

Rima Fakih is the new Miss USA 2010, she is an Arab-American of the Muslim faith. Rumor said that Rima Fakih and her family practice both the Christian and Muslim faiths. Born in 1986 in New York to Lebanese American immigrant parents, Rima Fakih graduated of the University of Michigan where she majored in Economics with a minor in Business. With the title of Miss USA, Rima Fakih has made headlines news, not just because of her winning as Miss USA, but also the controversy surrounding her winning; being a Moslem with its moral values and the surface of her pole dancing pictures scandal.
The beauty pageant contests such as Miss USA or Miss Universe have been an issue of controversy for Moslem countries especially Moslem women to enter the competition, whereas in one part of the contest, the contestants are obligated to pose with a swimsuit. In most devoted Muslim countries whereas women cover themselves from head to foot in a hijab or nikab (a covering worn in the presence of men), Rima Fakih’s swimsuit could hardly be considered as a Muslim women’s clothing characteristic. In that sense, probably many people are questioning how a Muslim woman such as Rima Fakih could participate in the swimsuit category for the Miss USA pageant, but still regard as a muslim. For some Muslim people, her action can be assumed that she is not a devout Muslem.
The general/ western representation of Muslim women is to wear hijabs as part of their Moslem identity. However, there are several Moslem countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, who some of the women are not covered by hijabs, they are still in their regular piece of clothing. As a country where most of the populations are Moslem, Indonesia also participates each year in the beauty pageant such as Miss World and Miss Universe. Maybe because in Indonesia, the controversy surrounding the participation in the swimsuit category does not become a constant problem, since the government and the Ministry of Culture approves the participation. But, me myself as a Muslim woman, feel that wearing hijab does not the only way to show us as Muslim, but it is also seen through our obligation to do our “Muslim duties” such as in praying 5 times a day, caring for others and creating peacefulness even though surrounded by other religions.
Fakih’s victory as Miss USA 2010, for some Muslim community could be seen as a public acceptance for Muslim in the eyes of fellow Americans or for some devoted Muslim could be seen as a disgrace. Since the terrorist attack in 9/11, the representation of Muslim in the public knowledge was destructive. During the period of horror, American had a difficult time in accepting Islam as a religion of peace. Therefore, for a Muslim woman to win an American beauty pageant is a sign that America’s perspective of Islam has made a public acceptance that Islam is not a threat. On the other hand, her showing skins in public eyes, can be seen by devoted Muslim as a disgrace for Muslim women, because she does not reflect a Muslim women’s clothing characteristic. Additionally, there were also a few pictures surface after Fakih’s winning, that she was once participated in a pole dancing contest. Another issue also emerged that it is one of the way to embarrassed the Muslim community, because what the public knowledge know about being Muslim women is how they cover themselves with hijab, but Fakih’s action may shifted the public perception for Muslim women, that showing skin is okay. The ridiculous issue afterwards, is that rumored Fakih's Lebanese background or some of her family members are linked to terrorism. How ridiculous is that!
I, myself think a beauty pageant should be seen as just a “beauty contest” and not a place to judge them by their political, religion, or races, especially a conspiracy theory. Please, it’s a beauty pageant, with 3 B as their motto, “beauty, brain, behavior”..we can just stick to that without adding more assumptions for Rima Fakih’s winning. It is her responsibility as a Muslim to do her own “private” life, it is not our place to judge if she is a devoted Muslim or not.