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.
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