Saudi U-turn on the headscarf

Whilst the beauty pageant is considered naff and sexist even in the West today, the Saudi authorities have - significantly - at least recognised in this unique action, that it is NOT obligatory for a Muslim woman to cover her hair. Read story below.

MODEL RUMY ALQAHTANI WILL REPRESENT SAUDI ARABIA IN THIS YEAR’S PAGEANT | AHMED MOHAMED / ES COMPOSITE

Saudi Arabia to participate in Miss Universe pageant for first time with contestant Rumy Alqahtani

Rumy Alqahtani, 27, said she is ‘honoured’ to represent her Kingdom at the competition

Saudi Arabia is to take part in the Miss Universe pageant for the first time.

Model Rumy Alqahtani will be the Kingdom’s first-ever entrant in the global competition’s 73-year history, which this year’s contest to take place in Mexico in late September.

Announcing her entrance in a post on Instagram, 27-year-old Alqahtani wrote: “I am honored to participate in the Miss Universe International 2024 competition “This is the first participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition”.

She posted photos of herself wearing a glittering tiara and long sequinned gown, draped in a sash and holding the Saudi flag aloft.

Alqahtani, from Saudi capital Riyadh, is already widely decorated and well-known in the pageantry world, with more than one million followers on Instagram.

She has already been named Miss Arab Peace and Miss Woman SA, according to Grazia.

Miss Universe is a major international beauty pageant, run by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), headquartered in the US, Mexico and Thailand.

The MUO describes itself on its website as “a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions” and which provides a “safe space for women to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically”.

“The women who participate in this international platform serve as inspirational leaders and role models to their communities and fans around the world,” it adds.

www.standard.co.uk
Original article HERE