This Miss Universe Contestant Refused to Wear a Bikini and Slayed in This Instead
The Miss USA pageant has seen its fair share of history-making contestants (from Somali-born Halima Aden, who wore a burkini in 2016, to Miss USA 2017, Italian-born Kára McCullough, who unapologetically wore her hair naturally), and now it seems other Miss Universe pageants are finally starting to catch up!
Meet Great Britain’s Muna Jama. The 27-year-old Muslim contestant chose to reclaim the bathing-suit portion of the competition, which has always been a topic of great debate, and trade in the standard bikini for a completely different beach-ready look: a kaftan.
After convincing judges of the Great Britain leg of the competition to allow her to stay true to herself and her religion, Jama slayed in a colorful dress, white choker, and oversized hoop earrings. Yas, queen.
Taking to Instagram to share the iconic moment, Jama wrote that “it takes bravery, emotional resilience, and most importantly surrounding yourself with strong-minded people who are prepared to make great sacrifices to welcome permanent and positive change.”
She went on to encourage her fans to “work at being a better person, and one day we can welcome a better World” before concluding that the pageant served as a truly life-changing experience for her. “This moment has proved that I am capable of almost anything I set my mind to and limitations is a status waiting to be changed,” she revealed. “I thank everyone who stood beside me and believed in my vision.”
And we thank you, Muna Jama, for being so brave and standing up for what you believe in.
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(h/t Refinery29; photos via Muna Jama/Instagram)