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Lebanese-American Rima Fakih Wins Miss USA Pageant

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Fakih is the first Muslim and second Arab American to win the contest

The newest face of American beauty is that of a young Muslim woman born in Lebanon.

Rima Fakih won the Miss USA Pageant on May 16 in Las Vegas, defeating 50 other contestants. The 24-year-old Miss Michigan’s pageant triumph sparked an outpouring of pride from America’s Arab-American and Muslim community.

Imad Hamad, Michigan regional director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said Fakih is an American success story.

“For Arab Americans, it [her victory] carries a special meaning because for the past several years we have faced many challenges,” Hamad told America.gov. “But this just shows how an immigrant, who came from Lebanon, can be an ambassador from America to the world at just 24 years old.”

Hamad said his organization once financially supported Fakih’s pageant aspirations.

“I always felt she has something to offer and was sure she would follow her passion and her dreams,” Hamad said. “I was right.”

Michigan-based radio talk show host Laila Alhussini shared Hamad’s joy. Alhussini’s morning show received congratulatory phone calls from listeners for the new Miss USA from Muslim and non-Muslim Americans alike — many of whom said they hope to see her win the Miss Universe title, the next step in her pageant journey.

Alhussini said Fakih’s victory challenges the stereotypes held by many Americans of Arab and Muslim women.

“We need to show Americans what we as Muslim women can achieve not only in America, but around the world,” Alhussini said, adding that most Americans assume Muslim and Arab women are conservative.

Alhussini also said Fakih’s triumph is a signal to Muslim-American and Arab-American women to become more involved in everyday life.

“We don’t really appreciate and open up enough to American society,” Alhussini said. “Her entering the Miss USA pageant and winning means we are changing and opening up.”

Fakih told pageant officials that her family celebrates both Muslim and Christian faiths at home. Raised in Queens, New York, Fakih attended Catholic school and moved to Michigan with her family in 2003.

The University of Michigan graduate volunteered for the Dearborn, Michigan-based Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) according to an Arab American National Museum press release. While at ACCESS, she worked for the Arab American Resource Corps program. Fakih guided clients in negotiating government assistance programs.

“Rima was so very helpful. Clients simply loved her,” said Brigitte Fawaz-Anouti, director of the ACCESS Social Services Department — Main Office & Special Projects. “She was so sympathetic, especially with older clients, and exhibited such kindness, compassion and patience in delivering services. Rima was one of my best.”

Fakih is the second Arab American to win the Miss USA contest; Julie Hayek won in 1983. The pageant started in California in 1952 as a swimsuit contest. As the winner of this year’s competition, Fakih will represent the United States at this summer’s Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas.