Lebanese-American Miss USA embroiled in scandal
Photos reveal Rima Fakih, the first Arab-American Miss USA won a strip club pole dancing competition.
May 18, 2010 4:10 by Rasha Reslan
Probably the first Arab-American to win the Miss USA title, 24-year-old Rima Fakih is embroiled in controversy as her participation in a strip club pole dancing competition in 2007 became public, the Telegraph reported Tuesday.
Pictures from a 2007 ‘Stripper 101’ contest emerged just one day after Fakih won the Miss USA crown at the pageant held at Planet Hollywood hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
Miss Fakih made headlines with her victory, as probably the first Arab-American and first Muslim to win the pageant. Born in Lebanon, her family moved to the US when Fakih was a baby. Pageant officials have declined to confirm the historic “firsts,” saying that pageant records are not detailed enough.
During the competition, Fakih fielded controversial questions from panel judges, saying she was a supporter of states’ rights, an opponent of illegal immigration, and opposed to racial profiling. She also said that she believes health insurance should cover birth control pills.
Fakih told reporters that she sold her car after graduating from college in order to help finance the cost of entry to the Miss Michigan pageant.
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9 Comments
While I think that beauty contests are generally demeaning of women, why can’t people simply accept the results as declared, instead of seeking to be spoilers.
It appears to me that this young lady has had a pretty tough time, but has the moxie to advance herself. Good for her!
Beauty contest itself is disgrace to the women, and we Muslims are not proud of her nor her achievements. In India even Hindus are against the beauty contest.
If she is a stripper she wont even get a chance to be a Muslim!
My call here – ignore the issue! I am sure there will be a lot of like minded out there.
Rima’s private life belongs to her and what she does in her free time is her own business…She won a beauty title not a presidency!!! She was nominated for her looks and intellect, not her personal faith or religion! I salute her for the achievement!
For those who are apposing her, I suggest you look at your own selves cause no one is perfect. We all have sins and I dare you to state otherwise…Well Done Rima and personally (as an Emarati) I am proud of her!
not like minded. Simply proud of her beauty personality and character . Pole dance is becoming a main stream sport … Go rima go
She’s giving a good image for Islam, much better than the Bin Laden one. but at the end of the day she’s Lebanese, modern by birth. As an Arab I am very proud of her
i just want to say that Yousef and all of u guys ur comments are absolutly right , and not coz i am lebanese and coz i am an arab , i hope that all arabs do somthing great , coz all of us has have a gifted talent from God , and may God all bless u and Rima i wish u luck in your life …….
I say good luck to her. She is representing the state of Michigan and America, not Islam. Indeed, she even told the media her family observes Christian and Islamic holidays. Nice to see someone other than the usual plastic blonde win Miss America too!
I want to see her pole dance in Dubai night clubs
and bars,if it will be allowed as dubai is a islamic state
Rich, you need to get out more…