Afghanistan has joined a beauty contest again after 30 years 

Vida Samadzai, 25, was born and raised in Kabul Afghanistan. She went to the United States in 1996 

She helped form the US-based Afghan Woman Organization, which aims to educate Afghan women on their rights and raise funds for 
educational facilities being put up in key areas in Afghanistan. She participated in the Miss Earth pageant in Manila on Nov. 9 2003 

"Preserving the environment is the major thrust of the Miss Earth pageant," said the Afghan beauty. "I want to be able to implement the things 
that I would learn from my visit here in my country which is heavily damaged by war." 

She and other Afghan Woman Organization delegates will fly to Afghanistan in November for a series of lectures sponsored by the new 
government. 

Ms Samadzai, or Miss Afghanistan as she was known in the competition, took part in all sections of the contest, including the swimsuit section. 

Ms Samadzai, who now studied at California State university Fullerton, A double major in Advertising and Speech Communication and speaks five languages fluently said "My country wants peace more than anything," Vida told Inquirer Entertainment. "We see this pageant as one way of implementing change in Afghanistan, which is now in the process of reconstruction." her participation in the contest sent out a powerful message to her fellow countrywomen. 

"I would like to make people aware that, as Afghan women, we are talented, intelligent and beautiful," she told Reuters news agency. 

"I'm happy and I feel great that the country is relieved from the Taleban's regime. 

"Now, women can go to school, go to work, they're free. They don't have to wear those long burqas anymore." 

Ms Samadzai is also not just a very beautiful face; she helped to found a US-based Afghan women's charity which raises awareness of 
women's rights and education in the troubled country. 

And she is only the second Miss Afghanistan to take part in a beauty contest. 

She was the third runner up in the 2002 Ms America International Pageant (formerly the Miss  America Inter-National Pageant) on Saturday - 
June 29, 2002 at the Multi-Cultural Festival 2002 - Westminster, California

Zohra Daoud was crowned Miss Afghanistan in 1974 and technically still retains that title

Afghanistans minister for women's affairs condemned Miss Afghanistan, as Vida Samadzai became the country's first woman to appear in a bikini during a beauty contest in Manila. 


"Appearing naked before a camera or television is not women's freedom but in my opinion is to entertain men," minister Habiba Surabi. 

"We condemn Vida Samadzai, she is not representing Afghanistan's women, and this is not women's freedom." 

Surabi said according to Afghan culture women should not demonstrate their worth using their "beauty or bodies" but by their skills and knowledge. 

"In the name of women's freedom, what this Afghan girl has done is not freedom but is lascivious," the minister said. Listen

At a meeting of The Afghan Supreme Court on state TV, judges condemned Samadzai's appearance. 

"Women who show their bodies without clothes in front of people are completely against Shariah (Islamic) law, against Islam and against the culture of the Afghan people," 

"I know that ... it caused a lot of controversy and I didn't feel comfortable wearing it ... because it's not just my culture, But wearing the two-piece bathing suit was necessary to qualify for the contest, said Samadzai

she was "appointed" as a contestant by people aware of her work as a volunteer fund-raiser for women's rights causes. She plans to finish a bachelor's and a master's degree in international business and speech at California State University, Fullerton. She then plans to help produce, direct and act in a movie about the life of an Afghan-American. 

"Whether I mention it or not, it's on my mind, it's in my blood. My whole goal is to just go back there and help them," 

Judges announced that, for the first time, they were handing out a "beauty for a cause" prize. They awarded it to Samadzai for "symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today's women" and "representing the victory of women's rights and various social, personal and religious struggles." 

The Miss Earth crown went to Miss Honduras Dania Prince. Brazil's Pricila Zandona was selected first runner-up, Costa Rica's Marianela Zeledon Bolanos was chosen second runner-up, and Miss Poland Marta Matyjasik was third runner-up. 

Miss Earth is a new international beauty pageant organized and produced by Carousel Productions, Inc. to search and develop true "beauties for a cause." The delegates and winners give meaning and relevance to this beauty competition by promoting worthwhile environmental causes and getting actively involved in caring for and preserving Mother Earth. In addition to its environmental objectives, MISS EARTH will also get involved in the ongoing campaign of the Department of Tourism ("DOT") to attract and bring more tourists to the country. In cooperation with the DOT, Carousel will bring the MISS EARTH delegates to selected tourism destinations in the Philippines to showcase and promote the same to the pageant's international viewers.

REQUIREMENTS: 

18 - 25 years of age.

Single, never given birth.

Minimum height of 5 feet 4inches (164.6 cms)

Possesses beauty of face and proportionate body structure

Outgoing and friendly

Excellent physical condition

Has knowledge of her country's culture and environment.