She's One In A Million ... Woahhhhh.

Could This Woman Be The Next Miss Universe?!

Photo c/o the BBC; 3/27/11

     Why not, you ask? ... Because she's Muslim, of course!!!! 

     Model Shanna Bukhari, who was lives in Manchester, England says she wants to go for the Crown in Sao Paulo, Brazil if she wins the Miss Universe Great Britain pageant next month. If she succeeds she will be the first British Muslim to represent the UK in the competition.

     She says she has the full support of her family both in England, and her relatives in Pakistan, however, not everyone is happy about her decision to compete. She has received death threats and notes from Islamic "fanatics" telling her to "rot in hell," according to one source.

     According to Bukhari, she believes that Muslim women should be allowed to live a Western lifestyle but other Muslim groups believes she is disrespecting Islam by competing in the pageant, especially because she needs to wear a swimsuit in one of the sections of the competition.

     Now I am not one of those women who have hardcore opinions one-way or another on beauty pageants ... I personally don't think they are degrading to women, nor do I think they are bringing women ahead in the world. I think they exist for the sake of existing. They make people lots of money. They make some girls feel really good about themselves, other girls feel really bad about themselves. They just are. That's my opinion on them, in general.

     Now when it comes to this story in particular, I think this girl has every right in the world to compete in this competition. I mean, do I think it's the smartest idea in the world, no. Do I think she's representing Islam in the best light, no. But do I think she's going out of her way to disrespect it? No. 

     I think in some ways she's actually a good role model for young Muslim girls out there. Bukhari has said that going for the Miss Universe crown has been her dream since she was a child and I think letting young girls know that going after your dreams is possible is an important message in today's world considering so many people are telling them that they shouldn't (or can't) achieve their goals.

     So, go for the crown Shanna. Just don't make Muslim women look like this ...