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Arab American Rima Fakih is Not Miss Universe, But is Standing Tall as Miss USA
Miss USA Rima Fakih was eliminated on Monday evening in the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete, a 22-year-old from Guadalajara won the Miss Universe title.
Fakih competed against 88 other women from around the world at the pageant which was broadcast from the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas on the NBC Television Network.
As Miss USA, she made history and became the first Arab American to win that title.
When asked about her title and how it would affect the current image of Arab Americans, she once told Arab Detroit, “Arabs don’t always try to separate themselves, but instead are integrated into American culture. It would show the world that yes, there are Arabs that are beautiful not only in looks, but also on the inside. There are Arabs that are caring, that are good people, and who love the country they live in. I think it would make the Arab image a more positive one.”
Her win as the first Arab American Miss USA was a victory for diversity and inclusion.
Fakih was born in Lebanon and raised in New York to Lebanese American parents, and raised in Dearborn. A graduate of St. John’s Preparatory Catholic High School, she attended the University of Michigan-Dearborn where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. Active in the campus community, she served her fellow students as class senator, in addition to acting as the president of the students in the school’s Free Enterprise Group. Always reserving time for community service, Fakih spent much of her college years volunteering as a social worker through various community organizations.
Fakih will continue to represent the U.S. as Miss USA until May of 2011. She has said in the past that she will pursue her desire to attend law school.
Arab Detroit