Newly crowned Miss Bahrain, Fawzia Abdulredha Nadhar, capped a weekend of celebrations by clinching the second runner-up place in the Miss Arab World competition. She told WTM about her journey.
The 23-year-old Bahraini national is currently pursuing a degree in business studies at the American College in Dubai and had previously done some modelling work before applying to the competition in which the country winner was chosen through an online process.
She travelled to Cairo, where the Miss Arab World final takes place, and was delighted to be officially designated Miss Bahrain on Thursday, December 14, just two days before the big final took place.
Speaking exclusively to Woman This Month, in her first interview, Fawzia explained what makes Miss Arab World different from other contests, since it looks at the whole person.
“The whole competition has taken more than 10 days. It is not only based upon the girls’ appearance and beauty,” she says. “There has been a cookery contest where we had to produce a national dish and a catwalk where we were judged on our ability to walk and comport ourselves on the runway. Furthermore, we have been interviewed by the Egyptian press to discuss various current issues. I also had an interview with a prominent Egyptian plastic surgeon and was asked my views on cosmetic surgery. I’m not sure that he expected my reply!”
A complete novice in the pageant world, Fawzia adds: “This [Miss Bahrain] is the first beauty contest I have ever entered, though I have done some modelling in the past. There were various reasons why I entered. Frankly I thought I stood a good chance of winning and hoped the title would be useful in helping to promote my perfume and personalised robe businesses that I am currently working on while I also complete my degree in business studies. Moreover, I wanted to represent my country and promote Bahrain.”
She was one of 18 entrants for the Miss Bahrain title and there were 16 country competitors, from across the region, in the Miss Arab World final. The jury included Hanane Nasr, the Egyptian founder of the pageant, Egyptian artist Mohammed Nour and Kuwaiti TV presenter Halimeh Boland among others.
Moroccan, Sherine Hossni took the crown while Rania bin Ashoush from Algeria was first runner-up.
The pageant world has been rocked in recent days with revelations that the Miss Iraq contestant in the Miss Universe competition has been forced to flee her home after posing for a selfie with Miss Israel. Contests have also come in for criticism with Miss Saudi Arabia, Malak Youssef, forced to pull out of Miss Arab World after being slated on moral grounds.
However, Fawzia says: “I am aware that beauty contests are frowned upon by some people. If the objection is on moral grounds it is unfounded. There is no swimsuit section, girls only appear in their national dress. Furthermore, we have to abide by very stringent rules and are accompanied by bodyguards everywhere. If the objection is based upon female exploitation, then I can honestly say that no-one is coerced into doing this and objectors don’t have to participate nor watch it. It is a question of personal choice.”
Speaking before the grand final she told WTM: “Whatever the outcome it has been a very interesting experience, all part of life’s rich tapestry.”
