Miss World has attracted opposition by hardline Islamic groups in Indonesia. But the world renowned beauty pageant now faces another challenge – a rival pageant exclusively for Muslim women.
The Muslimah World contest – slated to be held on Wednesday in the Jakarta, is said to be “Islam’s answer to Miss World”.
Eka Shanti, the pageant’s founder said:
“Muslimah World is a beauty pageant, but the requirements are very different from Miss World — you have to be pious, be a positive role model and show how you balance a life of spirituality in today’s modernised world,”
The 20 Muslimah World finalists were chosen from more than 500, who took part in online rounds, reciting Koran verses and telling stories of how they came to wear the headscarf, which is a requirement for the pageant.
“We don’t just want to shout ‘no’ to Miss World. We’d rather show our children they have choices. Do you want to be like the women in Miss World? Or like those in Muslimah World?” said Shanti.
What do you think about the Muslimah World Contest?
[Source]
