New Delhi: 20-year-old Shaymaa Abdelrahman from the northern city of Kərkuk has been crowned 'Miss Iraq' in a competition that the country held after a gap of 33 years. The last time that the completion was held was in 1972, when the oil-rich country was on an upward track.
The significance of the competition lies in the fact that it made a successful comeback despite its ongoing war against ISIS, and the opposition of the terror organisation against holding any such competitions.
According to the reports, Shaymaa was crowned at a gala event on Saturday evening. Importantly, the 20-year-old girl dared to enter the Baghdad competition even as two other competitors pulled out upon receiving death threats earlier this year.
"Some people out there think we don't love life," said Humam al-Obeidi, one of the organisers, as the crowd spilled out of the Baghdad hotel ballroom where the pageant was held.
Although the contestants were not allowed to walk in swimsuits and even the evening dresses worn by the contestants all ended 'below the knee'. The girls were also prohibited to wear headscarves in the contest.
"I'm very happy to see Iraq going forward," the new beauty queen said. She also promised to use her fame for the educational initiatives for the huge number of people who have been displaced during war and conflicts in Iraq.
"We are hoping to make Iraq's voice heard, show that it still exists and its heart is still beating," says the pageant's artist director Senan Kamel.
