Last month, young Muslim women representing 18 different countries took part in the 4th annual World Muslimah contest and subsequent award ceremony in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Ultimately Fatma Ben Guefrache of Tunisia beat out other finalists to win the award -- a prize which includes all inclusive travel opportunities, cash, and the illustrious Miss Muslimah crown.
In what is being referred to as "Indonesia's Islamic answer to beauty pageants", interested female participants around the globe are invited to submit video, image, and verbal reasoning for why they should be considered for the Miss Muslimah title via internet. Once finalists are voted on and chosen, they are required to fly to Yogyakarta, where the pageant has been held for the past 3 years, and compete in a 12-day "quarantine period".
Virtues such as piety, a charitable track record, Quran recitation capability, and understanding of Islam are measured and tested before and throughout the competition.
As far as beauty pageants go, Miss Muslimah is uniquely modest, says 26-year-old Miss Singapore, Masturah Binte Jamil. While Miss Iran, otherwise known as Samaneh Zand, a 25-year-old industrial designer, confesses she is “not the pageant type” but decided to enter the Miss Muslimah competition because it is not about “showing off” or being the sexiest contestant.
The idea of the competition was developed by former TV presenter Eka Shanty, who lost her job because she refused to take off her hijab on Indonesian television.
World Muslimah is sponsored by the World Muslimah Foundation (WMF). For more information on the contest and sponsors, visit www.worldmuslimah.org
