World Muslimah Beauty Pageant Receives Backlash from Own Muslim Community
Organizers of the World Muslimah Beauty Pageant meant to create a venue where it can not only denounce the machinations of the British-run Miss World pageant, but also empower Muslim women all around the world. It would have been a great catalyst if the whole Muslim community supported it.
But not all Muslims were in praise of it.
"Who are the organizers of this? I'm sure they are not Muslims," Amusa Tawakalit wrote on the Facebook page of World Muslimah Beauty Pageant.
"...And do no display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance..." Rugayyah Deenlady Baderinwa wrote, citing the Koran verse Q33:33.
"May Allah continue to guide us unto the straight path!" Hamza Suleiman Sarkin Fcbk wrote.
"This isn't Islamic at all, we are far too precious than this... You people just belittle the honourable position of Muslim women. May Allah forgive you," Nanaaishat Mustapha said.
A true muslimah does not give her smile too easily to her strangers. Her beauty is for her husband to see, not the world.
— (@amiirxh) September 14, 2013
Established in 2011, World Muslimah Beauty Pageant was founded by Eka Shanti, a former TV news anchor who lost her job because she refused to remove her headscarf while seen on national television. She said the contest was "Islam's answer to Miss World.
Initially only open to Indonesians, Ms Shanti said the contest rebranded to become a Muslim alternative to the world-famous pageant.
"This year we deliberately held our event just before the Miss World final to show that there are alternative role models for Muslim women," she told AFP.
"But it's about more than Miss World. Muslim women are increasingly working in the entertainment industry in a sexually explicit way, and they become role models, which is a concern."
It was indeed a far cry to the British-run Miss World pageant. In the World Muslimah Beauty Pageant, the faces and hands of the 20 participants were the only physical parts of their body that were exposed. Nothing else.
All the Muslim women, aged between 18 and 27 years old and who comes from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Malaysia, Brunei and Iran, wore head scarves and elaborately embroidered dresses.
"Our women are sholeha [pious], smart, and stylish," Ms Shanti said. "They are an answer to those who only equate Islam with poverty and terrorism."
The women were judged based on piety and Islamic knowledge and skills, such as recitation of the Qur'an.
Nigeria's Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola was ultimately crowned the 2013 World Muslimah Beauty.
"We're just trying to show the world that Islam is beautiful," she told AFP before the start oof the finals.
"We are free and the hijab (Muslim headscarf) is our pride," she said, stressing the contest was "nothing like Miss World, where women expose their bodies."
While many congratulated her for her latest achievement, many were also not pleased.
"May you realise your mistake and repent so you wont have to be question for this, if you know how many people you have misled with this you will cry and wish you never did," Na'imah B. Yusuf wrote.
"Of course definitely she's the most beautiful in the sight of shaytan. Hope your parents won't curse the day you were born," Alabi AbdulBaasit Adenrele said.
Dear Muslimah, your beauty is for your husband to see, not the world.. Protect your modesty #JUMMATMUBARAK #Islamic Reminder
— زيد بن عمر (@Mr_Zaid01) September 13, 2013
