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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

You guys are OUTDATED: Beauty queen slams 'fatwa' barring her from pageant

You guys are OUTDATED: Beauty queen slams 'fatwa' barring her from pageant
A Miss Malaysia World 2013 participant has cried foul that she had been dropped because she is a Muslim, charging that the religious edict banning her from the contest was “outdated”.

In a Facebook post, Sara Amelia Bernard said that the Miss World pageant had amended its rules to allow participants to “dress modestly” to accommodate Muslim women.

In view of this, Sara Amelia argued that the religious edict, issued in 1996, should not be applicable now.

“I was told that as a Muslim participant, I would not wear a bikini in the swimsuit round and instead be required to wear something more modest - either a swimsuit with pants or sports attire.

“I was also informed that the international grand finals would be held in our Muslim neighbouring country, Indonesia,” she wrote.

The competition will take place in Bali and Jakarta in September, amidst protest threats by conservative religious groups.
Sarong in place of bikinis

Last month, Miss World Organisation chairperson Julia Morley had confirmed that the pageant was dropping its famed swimsuit portion of the competition.

It will be replaced by an event where participants will don a “beautiful one-piece beachwear” fashioned out of a sarong, which is a traditional garment in most parts of South-East Asia.

Sara Amelia pointed out that the Miss World pageant was not about “parading women to entice lust in men” but to show “elegance and inner beauty” and that the organisers aim to help others through charities.

“I’ve always wanted to join Miss Malaysia, and was so excited to receive news that Muslim girls would be able to participate in Miss Malaysia World this year.

“It was finally an opportunity to show the world what true Malaysian beauty is. A beauty queen is not merely a pretty face but is intelligent, cultured, well-spoken, kind hearted, warm and friendly.

“She uses her title to help others and participates in various charities worldwide,” she said, citing Miss World Malaysia 1990 Anna Lim, the Miss World Malaysia 2013 organiser, as her inspiration.

‘Discrimination’

Sara Amelia said that during her audition, she was given Lim’s autobiography which chronicled her work with orphaned children, cancer patients and how she later furthered her studies abroad and  became a stockbroker.

“In fact, she also started her own interior designing firm. A true example of beauty with brains! That night I dreamed of following in her footsteps,” said Sara Amelia, who is of Iban, Malay and German heritage and hails from Ipoh, like Lim.

She said that she was ecstatic when she found out that she made the top 20 finalist but was “saddened, disappointed and outraged” when she found out much later that Muslims were not able to participate.

“Competition rules allow Muslim girls to dress modestly. Even if not, shouldn’t religion be a personal choice? The first Muslim girl won Miss World USA in 2010, and in UK similarly many years ago.

“Why prevent us from making the country proud? If wearing tight attire is such a sin, why not ban swimming and gymnastics too?” she wrote.

In closing, Sara Amelia urged her supporters to help her and three other women who were barred from participating.

“Please help our fight for justice, Malaysia. We’re standing up against discrimination as this outdated ‘fatwa’ needs to be amended,” she said.

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