This 20-Year-Old Is A Hijab-Wearing Beauty Pageant Contestant

Think beauty pageants, and you think of women sashaying down the ramp flaunting bikinis and washboard abs. Both of which make you want to hit the gym almost immediately. More importantly, practically no one associates modesty of any sort with the ramp. But perhaps we spoke too soon.

Maria Mahmood is changing all this. Maria is all set to become the first hijab-wearing Muslim to compete for the title of Miss England.

Well, that’s different. This 20-year-old has already made it to the semi-finals and is hoping to make it to the finals. Winning this pageant would mean that she would be Miss England, and will go on to compete in the Miss World pageant. No contestant has ever worn a hijab in this pageant. In case you were wondering, she strutted down the ramp in the swimwear round wearing a burkini!

About this, Maria said, “Muslims are associated with negative things like terrorism. I’m determined to do my bit to challenge those views. It is pretty rare for a Muslim woman to be in a beauty pageant but there’s nothing to stop us entering. I entered Miss Birmingham and the organisers were delighted to have a hijab-wearing Muslim in the competition.”

We wish Maria Mahmood all the best! Kudos to her for breaking beauty stereotypes!