The 2014 competition was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Contestants are visiting Borobudur, an old Buddhist temple. Source: Monique Jaques
Before you ask if there’s a swimsuit competition, you should know that the Miss World Muslimah pageant is about much more than superficial definitions of beauty.
As Islam tends to place a high value on modesty, this contest focuses less on beauty’s physical aspects and more on its ideational ones: in this pageant, strength of character, intelligence, and piety matter most.
Unlike American beauty pageants, orphans–not celebrities or beauty experts–help choose the winners of Miss Muslimah. Like American beauty pageants, travel and minimal sleep largely define the contestants’ days in the pageant. As with their Western counterparts, the young participants in the Miss Muslimah competition hail from a variety of backgrounds and ages. In the past, winners have received prizes such as a pilgrimage to the Hajj, educational trips around the world, and scholarships.
World Muslimah Foundation organizes the competition, which was first held in 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. At that point in time, it was only open to Indonesians, but the pageant has since internationalized. Before entering the World Muslim competition, the 20 finalists must take part in a workshop in Jakarta, which includes Quran memorization, and classes on public speaking, humanitarianism, and women’s development.
As with any platform which places competitive value on women’s beauty, there is some debate on just what kind of Muslim woman this pageant is promoting–and if that woman is “empowered” at all. On the one hand, the headscarf–which isn’t abandoned by pageant participants–is seen by some as an object which diminishes the woman’s autonomy; on the other, that World Muslimah Foundation would host a competition in the first place is seen by some as antagonistic to the virtues of Muslim faith.
Learn more about the competition and participants below and make up your mind for yourself:
Participants form friendships that will likely last a lifetime. Source: Monique Jaques The last Quran reading class before the pageant. Source: Monique Jaques Dina Torkia from the United Kingdom makes her way off the bus. Source: Monique Jaques Elderly home visits play a large part in the sense of community and compassion that Miss Muslimah should represent. Source: Monique Jaques Nur Khairunnisa of Malaysia catches her breath on an elevator ride to the ball. Source: Monique Jaques The lack of sleep catches up with Miss Malaysia. Source: Monique Jaques Miss Nigeria, Bilqis Adebayo, has advanced to the second round. She hydrates while getting re-styled. Source: Monique Jaques Bilqis Adebayo takes her turn in the makeup chair. Source: Monique Jaques Becoming acquainted with the stage during rehearsals. Source: Monique Jaques Each contestant has a designated “Logistics Officer”. These LOs sneak in a nap between engagements. Source: Monique Jaques Meet Miss Muslimah 2014, Fatma Ben Guefrache of Tunisia. Source: Monique Jaques Miss Tunisia packs up the morning after her big win. Source: Monique Jaques Some pageant challenges include financing and investing. Source: Monique Jaques Just one of the spoils of victory. Other prizes include trips and scholarship. Source: Monique Jaques At a mosque before prayer time, which occurs several times per day. Source: Monique Jaques
Behind The Scenes At The World Muslim Beauty Pageant View GalleryncG1vNJzZmiZnKHBqa3TrKCnrJWnsrTAyKeeZ5ufonyutdKsZKato6G2rq3H