Muslim Miss Universe contestant rocks caftan instead of bikini

[Tanuki]

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/muslim-miss-universe-muna-jama-kaftan-bikini?intcid=inline_amp


She said on Instagram:
"It takes bravery, emotional resilience and most importantly surrounding yourself with strong minded people who are prepared to make great sacrifices to welcome permanent and positive change. I may not be able to unwrite a moment in my life but I know a moment will never define me. I will always rise above your expectations and pushed past your limitations. You are what you say you are, and your imaginations can be your worst enemy unless you overcome your fears. Be careful of what you think of others because it's a reflection of what you are. Work at being a better person, and one day we can welcome a better World.
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This moment has proved that I am capable of almost anything I set my mind to and limitations is a status waiting to be changed. I thank everyone who stood beside me and believed in my vision. 🙏🙌❤😘😙😘😍🙆😊💓"

[3catwoman3]

1. Much more elegant and dignified...

...than strutting around in a bathing suit. She looks fabulous!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Good for her!

She looks fabulous and classy.

[procon]

3. I can't imagine anything more humiliating and dehumanizing for women than

getting tarted up, rouged and blinged to go parading around in 6 inch stilettos in nothing but her skimpy underwear in front of millions of slobbering voyeurs just to get a shot a better life. It serves no purpose to ogle women beyond titillating men who see us as a collection of juicy sex toys for their own personal use.

Good on this woman for taking a stand and being authentic and true to herself rather than submitting to the enormous pressure to conform to the stereotyped image of women as vapid, grinning eye candy.

[eggplant]

16. For a second there, I thought you were referring to the Victoria Secret Fashion Show.

[Drahthaardogs]

4. I find this stupid.

It's like going to Chop House and demanding tofu.

Beauty contests are dumb enough. This just jumped the shark on stupid.

[Tanuki]

6. You might want to rethink your concept of stupidity.

https://www.google.com/amp/metro.co.uk/2017/05/13/muslim-beauty-queen-from-london-has-won-the-right-to-take-part-in-miss-universe-gb-without-baring-all-in-a-bikini-6634622/amp/

...."Muna, who co-founded Cloudless Research, a start-up tackling illegal migration and child abuse in east Africa, hopes the high-profile platform will be a chance for her to raise awareness of causes close to her heart – in particular the suffering of children caught up in the migrant crisis.

Her volunteer work with children in the region last year pushed her to think once more about taking part in Miss Universe GB, which would allow her to share what she had learnt with a wider and more diverse audience.

She decided to ask the organisers to make a concession, excusing her from wearing swimwear.".....

[Drahthaardogs]

7. Nope. It's a beauty contest.

I don't care what the motivation. It's stupid.

[Tanuki]

8. From the official Miss Universe website:

https://www.missuniverse.com/about

Who We Are

The Miss Universe Organization empowers women to develop the confidence they need to achieve their personal best. A confident woman has the power to make real change, starting in her local community with the potential to reach a global audience. We encourage every woman to get out of her comfort zone, be herself, and continue to define what it means to be Confidently Beautiful.


The Miss Universe Organization is a company run by women for women, built on a foundation of inclusion and continues to be a celebration of diversity. Annually, nearly ten thousand young women participate in Miss Universe pageant events. The mission of the organization is to provide the tools which help women to be their personal best. Self-confidence is the key. Every woman should have the confidence to stand up in any situation and declare, "I am secure and that's what makes me beautiful!"

"I am secure and that's what makes me beautiful!"

OUR MISSION

Creating Opportunities

The contestants and titleholders that have gone through the Miss Universe system are able to cultivate their personal career goals, advocate for humanitarian issues and be a voice to affect positive change in the world. These women are forward thinking and motivated to not just talk about this change, but to initiate it. They have gone on to high-profile careers in government, business, finance, broadcasting, as well as film and television.

Breaking Stereotypes

Research has shown the #1 obstacle for women to overcome in reaching their potential in any endeavor is a lack of self-confidence. In doing so our contestants and titleholders have the opportunity to grow as women and be confident in any goal they choose to pursue. While we are a competition, the women who participate also learn to help one another and create a network of friends and colleagues on which to draw support.

Miss Universe Initiatives

The Miss Universe Organization places priority on the importance of getting involved and giving back by providing a dedicated international platform of charitable partnerships. As leaders and role models within their communities, our contestants and titleholders work to affect positive change through volunteering, fundraising and advocacy. During their reign, our winners are given the tools to personally and professionally enrich others by dedicating themselves to raising awareness and much needed funds for philanthropic endeavors.

[Drahthaardogs]

9. Donald Trump ran the thing for years and you are signing it's praises?

Nope. Stupid. Using it for a political platform nis also stupid.

[Tanuki]

10. I'm not "singing it's (or its) praises," ffs. I am defending Ms. Muna's

right to participate in any platform she chooses, particularly one that claims to promote confidence and achievement, without being forced to strip down in a manner she and many others would find demeaning. I am glad the pageant organization made that concession, in a move you characterized as jumping the shark in stupidity. I am no fan of these meat parades and am well aware of Trump's former ownership of this one. My guess is that he would not have made this concession.

[Drahthaardogs]

11. Nice Grammer catch, but I'm on a phone and autocorrect does what it wants

The whole thing is all about T & A. Pretending it's something else is stupidity

[Tanuki]

12. Muma is trying to make them live up to their claims

that it is about something else. She is also providing a role model of activism and assertiveness to young girls, and especially a source of validation to countless Muslim women who do not see themselves portrayed as beautiful in traditional media. She wanted the platform this contest afforded, but she refused to accept the T&A requirement. Please stop calling people who don't agree with you "stupid". It does nothing to advance any argument you may have. But perhaps you intended to use another word and were simply a victim of autocorrect.

[Drahthaardogs]

15. It is still stupid.

Snark appreciated.

[DefenseLawyer]

5. The whole idea of being in a "beauty contest" is pretty messed up

But whatever gets you through the night; if they don't mind, I don't care.

[Roy Rolling]

13. Nit-picking

Muslim is a religion (Islam). Is this a beauty contest only for women of the Muslim religious faith?

I think the organizers and whoever names this pageant "Muslim Miss Universe" is making a mistake, just as a "Jewish Miss Universe" or "Christian Miss Universe" pageant would by limiting entries to ONE religious faith.

[lostinhere]

20. Not a Muslim Miss Universe contest

It's about a Miss Universe contestant whom is a Muslim.

[mr_liberal]

18. Next they'll be wearing burqas in a beauty contest. lol. nm.

[gtar100]

19. Thank you for the quotes you included here.

Children should be taught those principles early on but it's never too late for any age. Powerful ideas worth our efforts to embody.