10 Arab Beauty Queens Who Made It Big Internationally

posted on: Oct 30, 2017

SOURCE: STEP FEED

BY: MARIAM NABBOUT

Held in a few countries across the Arab world, including Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq, beauty pageants have become a path to stardom for many ambitious women.

While most of the beauty queens we hear of are crowned locally, a few Arab beauty contestants also made it big on the international front.

Seriously, there’s no shortage when it comes to Arab beauty all around the world.

Here are 10 beauty queens that prove just that:

1. Jessica Kahawaty – Lebanon/Australia

Lebanese-Australian Jessica Kahawaty was crowned Miss World Australia in 2012.

The beauty contest winner went on to represent Australia at the Miss World 2012 competition and came in third place.

She had previously participated in several pageants, including Miss Lebanon Emigrant 2008 and Miss Lebanon Australia 2007.

Today, Kahawaty is a successful Dubai based model, television presenter, and media personality.

2. Rima Fakih – Lebanon/U.S.

In 2010, Rima Fakih – who was born in Lebanon before leaving to the United States with her family – was crowned Miss USA.

She is considered the first-ever Arab-American and also the first Muslim woman to win the pageant.

She competed in the beauty contest after she was crowned Miss Michigan.

Today, Fakih continues to be in the public eye and is now a married mum of 1.

3. Baian Taleb – Syria/U.S.

The Florida Tech student is the second Syrian contestant to win the annual pageant, which sees thousands of Arab American women apply to it every year.

4. Iman Oubou – Morocco/U.S.

Oubou is a Moroccan-American who moved to the U.S. with her family when she was 15-years-old.

The scientist and entrepreneur went on to win the Miss New York pageant in 2015.

Before that, she also held the Miss Colorado title.

5. Fabioula Al Ibrahim – Syria/US

Al Ibrahim is the 2015 title winner of The Miss Arab USA Pageant which is held once a year to celebrate Arab cultural heritage in the U.S.

The 24-old-old pageant winner was born in Brooklyn, New York, but eventually moved back to Syria in 2003 and spent a few years living there.

In an interview she gave after her win, Al Ibrahim said:

“I believe Miss Arab USA creates a harmony between the Arab and American culture. Holding such a meaningful title allows me to utilize this opportunity to be impactful in raising awareness for certain situations that have been overlooked throughout the past few years.”

6. Sabrina Houssami – Lebanon/Australia

Houssami is an Australian Lebanese beauty queen who made headlines when she represented Australia at the Miss World pageant in 2006.

Born to a Lebanese Muslim father and a mother of Indian descent, the beauty queen was named first runner-up in Miss World Australia in 2005.

However, organizers were so impressed with Houssami’s fundraising work, they eventually asked her to be Australia’s representative at the 2006 Miss World Pageant.

7. Valerie Abou Chacra – Lebanon

Abou Chacra was crowned Miss Lebanon in 2015.

In that same year, the young beauty queen went on to represent the country at Miss World in China, and made it to the final 5.

Abou Chacra was joined by Miss Russia, Miss Indonesia, Miss Jamaica and the eventual winner Miss Spain.

At the time, Lebanese hailed Abou Chacra on social media and considered her success at the pageant historic.

8. Mariam Habach – Syria/Venezuela

Venezuelan Syrian Mariam Habach was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2015.

Habach originally hails from Syria’s port city of Tartous, and briefly lived there during her early childhood years.

A few months after her crowning, the beauty queen represented Venezuela at the 2016 Miss Universe pageant.

9. Antigone Costanda – Egypt/Greece

Greek-Egyptian Antigone Costanda was crowned Miss World in 1954.

Her win made history as it was the first time an Egyptian had won the pageant.

Aged 19 at the time of her crowning, the young beauty queen beat 15 other women who were also competing for the title.

10. Georgina Rizk – Lebanon

Rizk is the first and only Lebanese woman to win Miss Universe.

She was crowned in 1971 and continues to be one of the only Arab beauty queens to have won the much coveted title.