Miss Michigan from Dearborn named Miss USA

**Meddle** · May-16-10, 10:46 PM

Posted: 5:21 p.m. May 16, 2010 | Updated: 8 p.m. today
Dearborn's Miss Michigan wins Miss USA pageant

By Niraj Warikoo
Free Press Staff Writer

Arab Americans across metro Detroit cheered as Rima Fakih of Dearborn was crowned Miss USA tonight in Las Vegas.

“This is unbelievable,” said Rami Haddad, 26 of Livonia, one of Fakih’s biggest supporters. “It’s a dream come true. I can’t express my feelings.”

Fakih, of Lebanese descent, is believed to be the first Arab American and Muslim to become Miss USA.

• Miss Michigan shows Arabs' diversity

She is also the first Michigander to be Miss USA since 1993.

“This is great news for Michigan,” said Haddad. “We have beauty here. We have talent.”

Haddad said Fakih’s win can help motivate Michiganders to dream big.

“This will motivate us,” Haddad said. “She was so determined.”

“This is historic,” Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said. “This shows the greatness of America, how everyone can have a chance to make it.”

Supporters are gathering at La Pita in Dearborn for a party to celebrate Fakih’s win.

The contestants took the stage tonight at Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino to compete for the crown and the opportunity for a place in the Miss Universe pageant.

The 24-year-old brunette from Michigan beat out four blondes and 46 other women for the 2010 Miss USA title after nearly stumbling in her evening gown.

Fakih won the pageant Sunday night after swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions.

During the competition, Fakih nearly fell while finishing her walk in a long, strapless gown because of the length of its train, but she recovered without a spill and went on to win.

In the interview, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, and she said she believed it should.

Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard was first runner-up after handling a question about Arizona's new immigration law. She said she supports it.

This year, the pageant was aired live on NBC. The television network owns the pageant in a joint venture with Donald Trump.

The competition, which is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant, was hosted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone and NBC correspondent Natalie Morales, with commentary by comedian Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa.

The show also featured musical performances from country star Trace Adkins and Boys Like Girls.

The pageant began as a local bathing beauty competition sponsored by a swimwear company in Long Beach, California, in 1952. Its first winner was Jackie Loughery. The Associated Press contributed. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or 313-223-4792.

http://www.freep.com/article/2010051...ss-USA-pageant

**kraig** · May-16-10, 11:22 PM

All right. Good for her.

**Gannon** · May-17-10, 12:23 AM

Craig Fahle had her on his show a few weeks back, and she was clearly in her element...she only stumbled on a few answers, but mostly was so aware of her place in history already that I actually never doubted that she'd win.

She was reminded that the previous winner from Michigan was the first black woman to win, and she humbly said she was ready and willing to fulfill that roll for Muslim and Arabic women this year.

All I can say is wow. I'm not into pageants, beauty or otherwise, but if this serves to spark hope in a generation of women to follow their dreams...and emboldens them to know they can even do things well beyond what others can fathom...then there is inherent value to them, Donald Trump's involvement or not!

Cheers

**sumas** · May-17-10, 05:06 AM

Seriously nice news, I watch little TV and did not watch this contest. Michigan has a large Arab population and seeing a woman of Arabic descent win is encouraging.

**maxx** · May-17-10, 06:21 AM

Congrats to her! Somehow I doubt that she is muslim. OOps! Looks like she is. I wonder if anything that Debbie Schlussel said about her is true. They can't be very devout if they allowed her to show all that skin.
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/21757...llows-bikinis/

**Jman** · May-17-10, 06:37 AM

Reported by Oskar Garcia of the AP. She was raised as a Catholic in a Christian/Muslim family.

**jcole** · May-17-10, 08:15 AM

She went to a Catholic Prep School in New York before she moved to Dearborn in 2003.

**Wintersmommy** · May-17-10, 09:06 AM

Funny how no one has yet mentioned how gorgeous she is..I mean the woman is stunning. I also had little doubt she would win, it must be the way she carries herself

**jcole** · May-17-10, 09:16 AM

Oh, undoubtedly she is gorgeous. And having her up against three 'All American Girl' blonds really set of her dark beauty. She looked positively exotic compared to the Barbie's around her.

**Meddle** · May-17-10, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Wintersmommy

Funny how no one has yet mentioned how gorgeous she is..I mean the woman is stunning. I also had little doubt she would win, it must be the way she carries herself

I think that's a given considering the pageant. Sure, some are better than others and this one stood out for sure, but I was looking past the obvious.

**Johnlodge** · May-17-10, 09:30 AM

I bet those earrings are worth more than my car.

**jcole** · May-17-10, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

I bet those earrings are worth more than my car.

Trump can afford them

**Wintersmommy** · May-17-10, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

I think that's a given considering the pageant. Sure, some are better than others and this one stood out for sure, but I was looking past the obvious.

well they all look way better than me but for the most part I think they all look kinda the same and a little plain...Miss Michigan stood out as being way better looking to me...but I am a woman and I have been told that clouds my judgement on such matters

**Meddle** · May-17-10, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

I bet those earrings are worth more than my car.

Probably rhinestones or crystals. $100 or so.

They might be real, but I doubt it.

**bailey** · May-17-10, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by maxx

Congrats to her! Somehow I doubt that she is muslim. OOps! Looks like she is. I wonder if anything that Debbie Schlussel said about her is true. They can't be very devout if they allowed her to show all that skin.
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/21757...llows-bikinis/

Well, from the OBL/9-11 playbook --

Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution [[prevention), that ye may Guard yourselves from them [[prevent them from harming you.) But Allah cautions you [[To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah." Surah 3: 28

According to this verse a Muslim can pretend to befriend infidels [[in violation of the teachings of Islam) and even display false adherence with their unbelief . Under this concept of Taqiyya, it is legitimate for Muslims to act contrary to their faith. The theological principle of Taqiyya means hiding one's true beliefs and intentions to confuse ones adversaries and enable mujahedeen to operate freely amongst enemies. The word comes from a root meaning "to guard against, to keep [[oneself)". From the verb Ittaqu, it means linguistically to 'dodge the threat'. In this vein, a Muslim, if necessary, may eat pork, drink alcohol, and even verbally deny the Islamic faith, as long as it is with the tongue only, and he does not "mean it in his heart".

Or she could just be a pretty chic with an immigrant's lineage that won a beauty contest. Either way, probably should get her to Gitmo for a few years of enhanced interrogation ....just to be sure.

**Gannon** · May-17-10, 10:14 AM

Only time I 'encountered' this lady was through the radio, so aurally I was unaware of her beauty...save perhaps Craig's tender vocalization of his questions.

Saw the one picture posted, but if I made any comments, the peanut gallery would undoubtedly pursue it with their twisted sense of humor.

So, she's NOT Muslim? If she was raised Catholic...this could cause a stir in the Islamic community. Referring to my comments above, her winning could make a few young Muslim women try some bold changes. There might be ramifications in the future...unintended results. Usually, Muslim men don't take kindly to bold women.

Cheers

**Gistok** · May-17-10, 11:01 AM

Fully 1/3 of the population of Lebanon is Christian [[mainly Maronite Christian, with some Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic). This figure was more like 1/2 in the mid 20th century before the out migration of many Lebanese Christians, and in migration [[and higher birth rates) of Muslims.

So it wouldn't be all that unusual for one of her parents to be Christian, and the other Muslim. It would explain some of the confusion some of you might have about her faith.

**English** · May-17-10, 11:56 AM

^ Yes, but I don't get why any metro Detroiters would be confused. We have had a relatively large Christian and Muslim population from the Middle East here in SE Michigan for more than 50 years. Her background sounds typical of some of my friends, and I'm sure many of you could say the same.

She reminds me a little of Kim Kardashian or Vanessa Hudgens from High School Musical. That look is definitely in right now.

**Mikeg** · May-17-10, 12:39 PM

Funny how no one has yet mentioned how gorgeous she is..I mean the woman is stunning. I also had little doubt she would win, it must be the way she carries herself

Probably because many have seen the "stunning" way "she carries herself" while pole dancing - see images 1, 2 and 3 here.

**jcole** · May-17-10, 12:49 PM

Oh, so what? Did you see the 'glamour' shots on the Miss USA site? Of all the girls?
http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/members/contestants

**Supersport** · May-17-10, 03:07 PM

While I'll agree that she is beautiful, she undoubtedly has talent. She was 2007 Stripper 101 pole champion after all, courtesy of Mojo in the Morning.

http://www.tmz.com/2010/05/17/miss-u...ing-stripping/

**R8RBOB** · May-17-10, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

Well, from the OBL/9-11 playbook --
According to this verse a Muslim can pretend to befriend infidels [[in violation of the teachings of Islam) and even display false adherence with their unbelief . Under this concept of Taqiyya, it is legitimate for Muslims to act contrary to their faith. The theological principle of Taqiyya means hiding one's true beliefs and intentions to confuse ones adversaries and enable mujahedeen to operate freely amongst enemies. The word comes from a root meaning "to guard against, to keep [[oneself)". From the verb Ittaqu, it means linguistically to 'dodge the threat'. In this vein, a Muslim, if necessary, may eat pork, drink alcohol, and even verbally deny the Islamic faith, as long as it is with the tongue only, and he does not "mean it in his heart".

Or she could just be a pretty chic with an immigrant's lineage that won a beauty contest. Either way, probably should get her to Gitmo for a few years of enhanced interrogation ....just to be sure.

To Debbie, everyone that's a Muslim is a jihadist.

**Lombaowski** · May-17-10, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Supersport

While I'll agree that she is beautiful, she undoubtedly has talent. She was 2007 Stripper 101 pole champion after all, courtesy of Mojo in the Morning.

http://www.tmz.com/2010/05/17/miss-u...ing-stripping/

She's Hots0r

**Patrick** · May-17-10, 05:57 PM

Our favorite non-shellfish eater Debbie Schlussel is going batshit crazy over this girl's win over at her site. It's hilarious, yet kinda scary at the same time. She has posted 5 screaming entries about this in about 2 days. Someone is filled with envy eh?

**R8RBOB** · May-17-10, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick

Our favorite non-shellfish eater Debbie Schlussel is going batshit crazy over this girl's win over at her site. It's hilarious, yet kinda scary at the same time. She has posted 5 screaming entries about this in about 2 days. Someone is filled with envy eh?

I checked out her site. She was ranting up a storm about this girl. She is a bit bizarre.