Many of my readers asked me to write my reaction or enthusiastic response to the crowning of the new Miss USA, who happens to be Arab. At first, I thought that oh, an Arab won, so what? Even ladies at work were like wow, she is Arab and so pretty. Wow! 
I saw interviews of her after she was crowned (I didn’t watch the live show), and I was not really impressed. Yes, she is pretty, but the way she talked and her perception of life really did not interest me at all.
Yes, she is pretty. Case closed. I honestly didn’t care and I think many people did not care either. However, what surprised me the most is some people’s reactions and the articles that were instantaneously written about her online. The first thing that struck my attention was articles stating that there wasn’t a good enough historical record to know who was in Miss America’s pageants that was Arab and almost or ever won before. The pageant started in the early 1950s, and they are trying to convince little old me that there is no good historical record of the contestants?
Am I missing something here? Hello? If scientists can predict an almost accurate age of a million year old rock in the ground using superior technology, and if historians keep records of secret plots that the greatest civilizations of the world had to destroy their enemies, then why the hell is it a mystery to know the record of Miss America’s contestants?
I smell rat, and a bit of sugar coated prejudice.
Oh, and she was not born in USA. That kind of blew people’s minds away.
Anyways, I honestly did not care that an Arab girl won Miss USA 2010. I don’t find it that important in history. It is not something to really boast about, but you know Arabs. The moment one of them is known beyond the circle of their little village or town, then they have to make the biggest deal on earth. I wonder why they don’t discuss important Arabs that are trying to make a positive change in their community and world. Oh wait, it ain’t cool!
You can tell that I am always rolling my eyes with disbelief with such nonsense way of thinking.
P.S. Miss USA 2010 is pretty, but I have seen better. Way better looking Arab girls than her. I think most of you will agree with me there eh?
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I agree with you, no one really cares only the fact that she is on tv. Actually i was surprised her family wasn’t ashamed of the way she was dressed in some of those pictures since she does come from a religious part of south Lebanon, but hey it’s good to be recongnized for miss USA rather than a bombing
@Ousama
She said she was proud to have lived through two cultures of Muslim and Christian faiths and she went to Catholic school in New York. As for her family, well, I think the extended family might be a bit shocked of some of those pics for sure.
I think beauty pageants are overrated. Arabs will come and brag about it, if shes their homette, but at the same there will be those Arabs who criticize and say it 3aar, 3eeb (shameful). But at the end of the day pride for Arabs lies in the education level of their kids, because beauty is only skin deep and it will vanish with time, due to aging. By the way, nice of you to mention it on your blog, I guess its sort of controversial for Arabs.
I forgot to mention, the night after she was crowned Miss USA, there were many biased articles published online linking her to Hezbollah which is really messed up, because religious people condemn they beauty pageants and don’t support them at all.
well shes very beautiful 4 sure but she dont hold a candel 2 the woman i love ,but shes arab 2 hehe ….anyways contrats 2 her n yeah …n i agree with ousama about the bombing thing ….p.s i always knew the most beautiful womam in the world r arab hehe :up:
[...] What they boast about Posted by admin on May 24, 2010 random Many of my readers asked me to write my reaction or enthusiastic response to the crowning of the new Miss USA, who happens to be Arab. At first, I thought that oh, an Arab won, so what? Even ladies… [...]
Arabs should NOT be proud of this at all! At the end of the day, beauty pageants are extremely shallow and looks-based (I don’t care how much they say it’s not only based on looks). Why are we so proud of a girl who got up on stage and walked around in a bikini for millions of viewers? How does that go with what my Arab parents, grandparents, etc teach us?
Yet, most Arabs are proud? But then again, I’ve never failed to notice how shallow, materialistic, and hypocritical Arabs are.
This incident and the Arab pride that comes along with it is just another anecdote of proof of Arab hypocrisy. Not too surprising to me at all.
[...] post: What they boast about | Rebellious Arab Girl Share and [...]
[...] I read a response on Mona’s blog about the crowning of Miss USA, Rima Fakih been Arab. This one comment I read http://www.rebelliousarabgirl.net/2010/05/23/what-they-boast-about/#comment-52570 [...]
Congrats to her for winning, if she plays her cards right she can use this opportunity to get herself a decent career and help some people out. Some pictures of her at a strip club were published in a UK newspaper, not the classiest thing to do. I saw an interview with her and she seems like a nice girl to me. I dont think Arabs are obsessed with beauty more than any other race. That makes me feel better, nothings changed in the world, people are still easy to predict =D
Mona, Have you heard that a smile is million times more effective than tones of speeches? Well, let us objectively define what we Arabs want!!! do we want to break the ice with the unforgiving racist Zionist west? Not sure if you saw the Israeli recognition of a spy who worked as prostitute in Lebanon in the 60′s. She used to get information that kills hundreds of Arabs every time she sleeps with a filthy Arab leader. Well, the Israelis did not call her prostitute, they call her hero… Now tell me, which is better a suicide jihadi blowing himself up in a crowded shopping in Iraq or a beauty queen in Bikkini? I think the Arabs need to wake up and think how to break the ice with the west because the west does not consider them humans.
One question: Did I or you contribute to improving the Arab image more than this girl did? With your success and mine, we could not move an inch against the current.
Let us see this an opportunity that people in the west see that Arabs excel in every human area.
Yes, I am proud of her as much as I am proud of any freedom fighter defended Arab cause.
Another question, why not celebrate both faiths? don’t Muslems recognize Jesus as a profit? it is not a crime to celebrate Christian faith, the crime is to kill in the name of religion fellow Muslems or rape the wealth all the countries from Morroco to Afganistan. That is the shame.
The shame is to see a filthy Arab checking the shares price when Gazans are bruned alive, or to divorce his wife when he found a younger fifth one.
All civilizations are advancing except the Arabs.. Why? because they are locked in Bedouin culture.
Let us all look at the full half of the cup and support this girl in her challenge ahead. The Zionists are not going to leave her or any Arab succeed.
Congratulations Rima.
………………………..*clapping*
I just wonder if those who criticised her have reached their goal in life?
Well, this girl had aimed high and reached her goal. Isn’t that where the “honour” is in excelling regardless of what you are wearing?
How can you be sure that a girl with Burqa is more honorable than Rima?
Look beyond your nose guys especially Ibrahim.
She’s Miss USA 2010, so what! and FYI, she is 5/10 in beauty. I live in the middle east and I see a lot of beautiful arab girls with NO makeup on! Pageants are publicity stunts, that’s all!
@Sarah
And Arabs will have a different view on the subject for sure. Some will be with it and some against it.
@mais
I am not sure if she will get a decent career, but maybe if she is smart, she can do “something” positive with all this popularity.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mona, Mona. Mona said: RT @rebelliousgirl What they boast about http://retwt.me/1Nfuo [...]
@Bellochap
I think breaking the ice should not be in that matter. There has to be a medium that is respectful, ethical, and intelligent to overcome the obstacles that Arabs are still suffering from. If the Zionists used the most unethical maneuvers to conduct their plots against the Arab world, then we as a respectful group of people with a rich culture should not take that route. I think there is a better way to communicate our frustrations instead of going to either extreme. That’s what is lacking in our societies, cultural power without opening it to both extremes without thinking.
By the way, I cannot stand extremist Arabs who cannot interpret their religion and think that Jihad by killing innocent people is permissible. Now you know why I am a bit liberated and think that Arabs are far from intelligent when they cannot distinguish what is right and wrong when it comes to killing without reason.
@Bellochap
If my goal in life is to be a cover model in a magazine just to show off my body, then is it really something to be proud of? It is all based on interpretations of what you think is right, but everyone is different and thinks life differently. However, not everyone’s goals are right or seem right, but they do anything to achieve them. And believe me, some women out there do “anything” to get what they want.
Thanks Mona, my message meant to show the goal not the means.
I am not really fond of our culture, from politics to way of living needless to mention the unplanned growth. Sorry guys, I wish I could find better words but having lived in Saudi Arabia, you tend to hate everything called Arabic.
The point I am trying to make is that we live without a goal, we marry for the sake of getting married. We go for education for the sake of getting a job. We raise many children because we should follow rules in the “culture”.
Worst part is we need someone at the top to follow because we do not know how to make a system but follow someone only. The whole world is moving, we see it going and believe we are the right people.
Religion is simple, Bedoiun culture is our problem. The whole focus of our societies is the virginity of a woman THAT IS ALL.
Very interesting points youve made mona. Two wrongs never make a right.
I must agree– she is pretty. But she’s not beautiful. Beauty to me is internal and not external. My wife and I watched the pageant and every time I watch one of those I am amazed at the “scripted” answers that are given to the questions. These people don’t have any real depth. Makes you wonder if you asked these questions to someone like yourself who has a very intelligent view of the world if they would even get the answers presented to them.
Ok, I’m probably going to get some backlash for this, but while everybody here is saying she is just pretty not beautiful, I have to disagree, I thought she looked beautiful. I have seen more beautiful Arab women around, but she still looked beautiful to me. There, I said it, say what you will but everybody has their own opinion on beauty and that was mine.
That being said, there is something I have to say. Ok, this isn’t the most important moment in arab-american history, it was just a beauty pageant after all. Its not like this is the first time an arab woman won a beauty contest in north america, it was just the first in this one pageant, but still all pageants are pretty much the same. Its not going to go down in history as a big win for us. But in a way I can see why some Arabs need to brag about this. Most of the world still sees us as being one way, and there are certain Arab groups and governments out there whose stupid actions keep people thinking we are like that. Its no wonder whenever an arab person does something different, even if it is just beauty pageant, we have to brag about it. Right now we don’t have that many Arab role models out there to represent us in a positive light, so we take what we can get.
she’s not even pretty she’s just cute. I’d like to see what she looks like minus the makeup. Your right i’ve seen BEAUTIFUL arab girls she’d be barely just touching the minor leauges compared to them
As Mona & Bellochap have concluded, this pageant needs to bring about a change in the Arab world. Making her more than just another Queen Rania who supports underprivileged African children and forgets about her own people or the children of Gaza.. which is more or less very plastic or fake. She did indicate the motive behind entering the pageant is been able to finance her Master’s degree education, and she sold her car to enter the competition which leads me to believe her goal was only financial means, fame and glory. If I am wrong, then OK, but I put forward this question, How many people (Arabs & Muslims) whom have been placed in high positions (whether its royal or academic titles, perhaps high positions of politics) have never failed to serve or bring about change or assist people from their roots (in this case I am referring to the Palestinians or any other Arabs suffering in the Middle East conflict or the Muslim world)? Have we put too much faith or kept too much hope in these people? Maybe we need to begin by lowering our expectations of these people and maybe just ‘hoping’ some change might just happen. Race, religion, or ethnicity on its own is not enough for us to have faith in these people, their ideologies, mentality and actions ready to influence or bring about change maybe the only elements of glimmer we can hope for… otherwise its just another beauty pageant with shallow exterior beauty which will only be remembered as the ‘First Arab-American…’.
Thanks to Mona & Bellochap for bringing up this food for thought
She’s not beautiful. Look at Haifa Wehbe– there are Arab women who are waaay more beautiful. Thing is, why does showing off that beauty make you great? A woman who has a sharp mind and a good heart is a million times more interesting. A woman who respects herself enough to keep that beauty just for her and her husband is way more empowered. I’ll say it: Miss America is a glorified you-know-what. I’m so proud I wear hijab, and you don’t have to wear hijab to be modest– just don’t take slutty pictures in lingerie for the world to watch. Arabs once were mathematicians, scientists, poets. And now we’re proud of sluttiness? We’ve reached a low.
You are one particular babe! Yes, I am a carnival meat eating man’s man. Keep up the good fight, I love ya’ babe…
That is great she won! Even if its not a ‘great’ contribution to the world, it is still the first.
Any ‘firsts’ that a non-White person does in the USA is a big deal. Whether it is presidency or the US pageant.
Saffron,
Well, the 24 years old girl has done her bit in improving our image regardless of whether we agree or not with her way.
Your point about wearing hijab is fine and fully respected, but we have hundreds millions of women wearing hijab who have not contributed a bit toward improving our image.
You have mentioned the answer at the end that \Arabs WERE mathematicians, scientists, poets\ and I add leaders, philosophers, programmers, writers, manufacturers, inventors, etc.
How are we contributing to that now? The whole Arab countries read less than Athenians, Spain productivity equals to all Arabic countries including the oil.
Let us start measuring our contribution. All Arab states are failure states with wars and someone filthy sitting at the top with the rest slaves to him.
My whole point is that each of us need to excel in what he/she is doing to raise our heads up. Are you on the right track to get there?
Everyone who criticized her looks is either blind of biased. Just saying! :p
I think it’s just whacked and what is the really big deal? I heard her speak of her being Arab and Muslim, to me she seems like a very beautiful person. There are beautiful women all over the world, in America where I live, the stereotype is blond and blue eyes, and I am so sick of that. me being a man she is a beautiful woman and hail to the Gods (God, divine creator or whatever)who created this marvelous being. This is a great moment in her life and we should be glad for her and her great fortune.
Nuff said.
What knowledge we gained out of this post and debate?.
BIG zero?
I wasted my time reading these.
@Bellochap
Why do you consider Miss USA a “contribution”? That’s what I don’t get about your posts. You’re arguing essentially “at least she achieved something.” Please explain how taking pics in a lingerie and walking around on stage in a gown is an achievement. Seriously, she did zero for Arabs; in fact, she’s bringing our image DOWN. The millions of women who wear hijab are indeed contributing to our image; if female empowerment by rejecting objectification of bodies isn’t great to you, then I don’t know what is.
@Saffron
Seriously, she did zero for Arabs; in fact, she’s bringing our image DOWN.
Bringing your image down? Amongst Americans? Really? And what do you think your image amongst Americans is, I wonder?
The millions of women who wear hijab are indeed contributing to our image;
Yeah, playing into the stereotype of Arab Americans being religious extremists and rejectionists of Western culture is really great for Arab Americans. I can totally see that!
if female empowerment by rejecting objectification of bodies isn’t great to you, then I don’t know what is.
Excuse me, but to me as a non-Muslim when women allow men to dictate what it is they can wear and be considered “proper” as women that is the very definition of objectification.
I leave for a day, and I return to chaos. Everyone thinks differently here.
Did she bring shame to us Arabs?
No. Because in the Arab world there is more shame from the crap they put on their TV. I seen it, and believe me, women are very exposed there.
Did she make a questionable difference cause she won?
No, but who cares. She won.. so what?
well the title do say …what they boost about lol
@Mona
@Mona
I’ve see the satellite stations also, you’re right what she did is not as bad as what they are showing over there. Middle-eastern television and movies have become a lot more risque over the years, her being in a swimsuit on TV is nothing.
You might not want to leave us alone here again, even for a day, clearly we can’t be trusted
Craig, define how one would be ”rejectionists of Western culture”
On another note, Id like to point out that what you wear, is not and should not be any indicator of youre intellectual level.
PS Im glad that someone mentioned those horrid Musalsalat.
This post brings up a good point, which is that, you cannot position an Arab in any leadership position without getting support from the public. The person has to reflects the publics interests. Therefore, Craig, it doesnt matter if you see her as assimilating, progressive, etc, if Saffron, sees her are a ”glorified you-know-what”.
Saffron, is there any Arab girl/woman in the media you like and can identify with?
Hello friends,
@Craig and Seffron. I will not add more, but I tend to agree with Craig. Yes I am Muslem and yes I am wise enough to see the filthy world we live.
Well, The Saudi Islam we are painted with is what is making us live on the margin of civilisation.
@Mais, you said “you cannot position an Arab in any leadership position without getting support from the public”. Am I hearing right? which public voted for a president? Didn’t our leaders come on a tank? of course USA took advantage and used them. Why not? if Arabs are weak, even Jamaica will step in to fill the gap.
Hey Bellochap. Im not talking about free and open elections that democratic countries have(Obviously, because Arab states by and large are not democratic). What I am saying is that mine, yours, or the US’s approval of an Arab does not represent/is not representative of the opinion of the public in the ‘Arab world’. Men and/or women.
@mais
Craig, define how one would be â€rejectionists of Western cultureâ€
That would be somebody who lives in the west but hates western culture, Mais
I’m not saying every Muslim woman who wears a hijab (and etc) or every Muslim man who sports a long beard (and etc) is in that category, or even that most of them are, but I think a lot of Americans make that assumption.
On another note, Id like to point out that what you wear, is not and should not be any indicator of youre intellectual level.
That’s true, but it can be a pretty good indicator of attitude.
Therefore, Craig, it doesnt matter if you see her as assimilating, progressive, etc, if Saffron, sees her are a â€glorified you-know-whatâ€.
That’s true, but I thought we were discussing how she is perceived by the American public, not by the public in the Arab world?
And as somebody whose mother was wearing bikinis to the beach and to the public pools when I was a little kid I highly object to the “glorified you-know-what” thing. I think most Americans are like me in that regard. We all have or had moms, and virtually all of them wore bikinis when they were young. So if the argument is this girl is considered a “slut” by Americans because she wore a bikini or even if it’s because she participated in a pole-dancing contest, that’s just not gonna work
hello
i think that this girl wanted to achieve her goal without regarding to the way . i think that problem is not why she did so , but the problem whether this is consistent with what was raised or not .
Mona said that she didn’t care , but i think the fact is not so, why?
because she wrote about her and this means that care,and this is not a shame .
I think that this act is no different from any act that is forbidden in Islam such as alcohol or pork and therefore a question of commitment to religion or drop it .
thanks to all of you
@Craig
Hey Craig, most Muslim women wear hijab BY CHOICE. I am insulted that you think we do it b/c men want us to. Truth is, women wear mini skirts b/c men want them to. Honestly, you’re a misogynist who follows stereotypes. Ask a Muslim women why she covers instead of assuming.
@Saffron
Hi Saffron,
Hey Craig, most Muslim women wear hijab BY CHOICE. I am insulted that you think we do it b/c men want us to.
I’m not a Muslim, and I’ve never lived in a country that has a sizable Muslim population so I can’t really comment on that. But I can say that there are many ways to make one choice preferable to another
Truth is, women wear mini skirts b/c men want them to.
That’s not the truth. When the feminist movement started in the west during the 1960s women started “bra burning” (not wearing bras) and started wearing miniskirts and halter tops as a deliberate protest against the conservative attire (long dresses or long skirts, pants forbidden, etc) women had previously been expected to wear if they wanted to be considered “ladies”. Not coincidentally, that’s the same time women started wearing bikinis rather than the previously popular huge one-piece swimsuits.
Honestly, you’re a misogynist who follows stereotypes.
Thanks for the input. I’m sure my feminist mom will be shocked to know she raised a misogynists son in the middle of the sexual revolution and the western feminist movement. Quite an accomplishment :p
Ask a Muslim women why she covers instead of assuming.
I would, except I don’t know any Muslim women who cover. I know many who don’t, though. Should I ask them why they choose not to?
@Craig
I respect that you grew up in a culture where your mom wore a bikini and so find it acceptable. But, I wish you (and anyone else who thinks like you) wouldn’t just accept that kind of lifestyle and try to impose it on other countries, claiming it to be somehow “liberating” or “American,” “democratic” or inherently good. It’s not, I feel, productive to perpetuate a society where childhood memories are associated with mom in a bikini. Marie Curie was a woman who won two Nobel Prizes, in chemistry and physics. Her daughter went on to also become a Nobel Prize winning scientist. Her biographies detail how devoted to science Marie was, that she was never into fashion and even by the social standards of the day, she wasn’t someone who was defined by showing her skin. I wish people would question society instead of feeling like following the current norm is an improvement of image. Maybe if people thought more in depth why women cover or not, we wouldn’t have negative stereotypes about Arab women.
@Saffron
…and try to impose it on other countries…
Me? No, you misunderstand me. I’m a nationalist and an isolationist. I think it’s none of my business what people do in other countries, and even if I did concern myself with the norms in other countries being a libertarian I wouldn’t believe I had the right to try to interfere
It’s not, I feel, productive to perpetuate a society where childhood memories are associated with mom in a bikini.
Here again we seem to be having a cultural misunderstanding. From your comment it seems you think there is something traumatic about such memories. Whereas to me my mother being in a bikini was perfectly normal. If my mother had been wearing a niqab every time she left the house, now THAT would have been traumatic since it would have set her apart from all the other moms where I grew up.
Maybe if people thought more in depth why women cover or not, we wouldn’t have negative stereotypes about Arab women.
I don’t believe most Americans have negative stereotypes about Arab women. I think that’s much more of a problem for Arab men.
First congratulations to the winner,although I have to agree that she is pretty but not that beautiful. Still congratulations. My only opinion on this trending topic is at the end of the day she is an individual who probably achieved her childhood dream (of becoming a beauty queen). So I guess, I think it’ll be best if we can just hope that this event can open opportunities for her to grow and be able to help more people in the future.
@Saffron :
I’m a Muslim girl and I can tell you that alot of girls are forced to wear Hijab (or even niqab), not just by law in countries like Saudi Arabia but also by keeping them ignorant enough to believe that Hijab and Niqab are mandatory. They are not. Modesty is.
Also, this holier-than-thou attitude of Hijabi muslim females is SO annoying. Who give you the right to say that a hijabi girl is better than Rima ?? Isn’t that up to Allah not to us humans? It’s so superficial to imply that Islam is all about appearance. This kind of thinking is the reason why Mulsims are in such a sorry condition all over the world.