Oh, I love her! Rima Fakih is Muslim; she is an Arab born in Lebanon and raised in New York and she is the new Miss USA. Take your assumptions about Muslims and get out! Rima wore the traditional gown and the classic bikini for the pageant competition. Her mother encouraged her to enter the beauty pageants. Her relatives in Lebanon are proud of her. Her aunt in Lebanon, a woman who wears a hijab, says Rima brings honor to southern Lebanon.
Here in America, she is enlightening the Christians about Muslims. They are not a people who all interpret Islam in the same way. They are as diverse in their interpretations of Islam as Christians are of Christianity.
Mona Eltahawy delivers a terrific commentary with great photos of Rima (yes, in the bikini. It's the Miss USA pageant, after all): http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,87977530001_1991831,00.html
Incidentally, Wikipedia quotes her, "I'd like to say I'm American first, and I am an Arab-American, I am Lebanese-American, and I am Muslim-American." She also says she and her family are Muslims and respect the religion, but view themselves as more "spiritual" than "religious" and appreciate all religions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rima_Fakih I know a lot of Christians who echo that identity.
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