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Royalty For A Year: Iraq Elects A Beauty Queen (Discreetly)

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  • Royalty For A Year: Iraq Elects A Beauty Queen (Discreetly)

    ROYALTY FOR A YEAR: IRAQ ELECTS A BEAUTY QUEEN (DISCREETLY)
    By HAIDER HAMZA

    ABC News
    April 5 2006

    Under Tight Security and Limited Audience, the Beauty Pageant Show
    Went On

    Photo: Tamar Goregian, 23, the first Armenian Iraqi to win this year's
    pageant, is officially the "Iraqi Queen of Beauty." (ABC News)

    BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 5, 2006 - While Iraqi politicians compete
    ferociously over who will be the next prime minister, nearly a dozen
    young Iraqi women with different backgrounds and creeds managed to
    compete peacefully for a beauty title.

    The 60th annual Miss Iraq Pageant was held in Baghdad today, an event
    that was much shunned during the last decades.

    After a two-hour ceremony under tight security, Tamar Goregian, 23,
    the first Armenian Iraqi to win the pageant, officially became the
    "Iraqi Queen of Beauty."

    Under the Radar

    The pageant, held at a heavily guarded Baghdad social club away from
    the media, wasn't accessible to the public.

    The audience contained mostly friends and family members of the
    contestants. Days before the event, nine contestants, including five
    Muslim girls, withdrew, fearing repercussions for participating in a
    "taboo" competition. Eleven contestants remained.

    In the years that followed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the pageant took
    place in an exotic hotel in Africa among the exiled Iraqi community.

    This year's one-day, underground event - with a limited stage, no
    designers and no choreographers - contrasted sharply with the usual
    weeklong celebration and rehearsals.

    The Show Must Go On

    Despite the curtailed program, the 11 women gave it their best. The
    contestants paraded, then split into two groups and strutted their
    stuff in casual wear as a Baghdad guitarist played rock music.

    After the musical recess, the contestants donned one-piece bathing
    suits, sarongs, hats or silk robes. After the evening gown competition,
    six girls were nominated as finalists.

    Audience members jotted down the name of their favorite contestant and
    then the panel of four judges weighed in. Goregian received the most
    votes from the audience and from the judges, earning her the title.

    Aside from queen of beauty, the audience also elected a teen queen
    and a queen of grace.

    Pageant organizers hope to send the winner to the New York-based Miss
    Universe Pageant, in an effort to present a positive image of Iraqi
    women. The last time Iraq sent a delegate to a beauty pageant was at
    the Miss Universe contest in 1972, when Wijdan Sulyman represented
    the country in Puerto Rico.

    Organizers and local club owners banned photos and media coverage to
    protect the girls from hard-line Islamists who call such contests a
    "Zionist creation."

    Pageant organizers, who asked not to be identified for security
    reasons, hope that the new Miss Iraq can get a sponsor to pay the
    Miss Universe entry fee and help her prepare for the event.

    "Pageants give women an edge to represent Iraqi costumes and culture,
    and show that Iraqi women are beautiful and intelligent," a pageant
    official said.

    A U.S. organizer believes this year's winner will be given more
    opportunities than previous titleholders. The new queen will probably
    travel the world to create awareness about Iraqi women's issues
    and rights.

    "We will train the new winner and get her prepared for the Miss
    Universe Pageant, with etiquette lessons, media communication skills,
    and PR skills," the U.S. organizer said.

    Goregian can't wait for the challenge.

    "Miss Universe would be a great experience for me. It would broaden
    my horizon and if I get a chance to compete, I may encourage girls
    to share this experience and encourage them to enter the [next]
    beauty pageant."

    She also hoped that events like these would help put an end to the
    violence Iraq has been witnessing in the last three years.

    "Maybe beauty is the final step to end violence and preach world
    peace after all," she said. "The power of beauty surpasses the ugly
    face of politics and greed."

    The young woman added that one day she wanted to own her own business
    and maybe even become a politician.

    photo: http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=18081 82&page=1
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