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, a Lebanese American, is believed to be the first Arab American and Muslim to become Miss USA.
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.
By Niraj Warikoo, Freep
though a congratulations is in order and hopefully you benefit very well off this title ya Rima, i ponder the timing of your win my dear and believe me, i’m very happy for you cos when 911 happened, i actually got more work in my career cos of it.
lebanon is sitting on the UN council right now and the US needs something from lebanon. hmmmmm what kind of trade can we do for each other.
i will wait to see what lebanon does during its tenure. if nothing, then, my theory’s wrong and i stand corrected.
but the time when italy won best picture was when some US airplane accidentally crashed in italy and killed some italians.
so, rima again my dear congratualtions and i’m very happy for you my dear and take very good advantage of the title and milk the US market for all they got and live comfortably.
congratualtions. alf mabrook
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She not only represented Dearborn,Michigan but also Libnan! Rima you deserve this! Marbook
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This is wonderful news. Mabrouk Rima / USA and Lebanon.
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This is not a surprise to me! Lebenese are well qualified and deserving of this award!!! Congrats!!
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As Lebanese American I am very proud, this show that we live in a free amd great country – U.S.A
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this shows how naiive we are to believe in something like that america is a free country this is merely a political message from US to lebanon in general and to shia in particular
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oh quiet. This is something to be happy for not against. Your mad cause you probably have no chance in something like this.
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CONGRATULATIONS RIMA, MABROUK, BRAVO!!
Before you make the USA proud, you make LEBANON proud!!
You’re beauty & intelligence represents the beauty and intelligence of your people (the Lebanese) & their love of live.
I hope you’re life is successful & you achieve every ambition you aim to achieve.
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Yippie, the americans have finally allowed a beautiful, intelligent Lebanese woman to become miss usa. Now we just need them to allow the Lebanese people a fair chance at peace and a dignified life.
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