Muslim beauty queen from London has won the right to take part in Miss Universe GB without baring all in a bikini
Entering a beauty pageant is not for the faint of heart.
Never mind the hours of make-up and years of practice it takes to become a beauty queen. Baring all in the swimsuit category is enough to make anyone shudder with fear.
But one woman has become a trailblazer after she won the right to cover up for the swimsuit round rather than just wear a bikini for this year’s Miss Universe GB.
Muna Jama, 27, from Forest Gate, will wear a kaftan instead of a bikini at this year’s Miss Universe competition after pushing international pageant organisers to allow her to cover up.
The Muslim campaigner was inspired to apply for Miss Universe GB, the UK qualifier for the world famous Miss Universe pageant, two years ago.
But after receiving a letter inviting her to take part she got cold feet.
Miss Universe, which was once owned and run by none other than Donald Trump, includes challenges from the national dress round to the swimsuit round, where contestants parade up and down in bikinis and bathing suits while a panel of judges decide which one looks the best.
Imagining standing in front of an audience in a bikini, which she knew was an essential part of the pageant, Muna didn’t feel comfortable.
Wearing the revealing swimwear went against her religion, and rather than challenging the organisers or compromising her beliefs, she withdrew from the contest.
But after beating off tough competition in the UK finals, Muna eventually decided to re-apply, and started campaigning for the right to wear a kaftan.
Muna said: ‘I wouldn’t wear a bikini to a beach, so I’m not going to wear one in a competition to score points.’
Muna, who co-founded Cloudless Research, a start-up tackling illegal migration and child abuse in east Africa, hopes the high-profile platform will be a chance for her to raise awareness of causes close to her heart – in particular the suffering of children caught up in the migrant crisis.
Her volunteer work with children in the region last year pushed her to think once more about taking part in Miss Universe GB, which would allow her to share what she had learnt with a wider and more diverse audience.
She decided to ask the organisers to make a concession, excusing her from wearing swimwear.
She decided the worst thing they could say is no, but after some negotiating, she was told she could wear a cover-up if she chose.
The final will be a three-day event, with contestants strutting down the catwalk in front of an audience of hundreds of beauty and fashion insiders.
Muna said: ‘These pageants are associated with beauty and modelling but over the years there has been a platform for other females using their platform differently.’
‘It wasn’t easy but I think it was the first time they have heard someone asking for it.’
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/13/muslim-beauty-queen-from-london-has-won-the-right-to-take-part-in-miss-universe-gb-without-baring-all-in-a-bikini-6634622/#ixzz4hBIHPaFf
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