On September 19th, Lebanese American Rima Fakih made history when she became the newest titleholder of Miss Michigan USA. She is the first Arab American to hold such a title. Judges selected Fakih amongst a group of 40 competitors based on a series of three major categories: personal interview, swimsuit/fitness, and evening gown.As the winner, she will receive $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including the opportunity to complete a master's degree at some of America's finest universities. Rima Fakih, a Dearborn native, previously attained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2008, with a double major in Economics and Business Management.
No stranger to beauty pageants, Fakih most recently held the title of Miss Lebanon USA in which she made numerous appearances at Arabic community events. Now as Miss Michigan, Rima Fakih will embark on an even larger adventure. In addition to traveling around the state to show her support to various charity causes, she will act as a role model for young women, speaking about the importance of self confidence, health awareness, and education.
Rima Fakih will represent the state at the Miss USA pageant on April 18th, 2010 at the Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas. It has been 16 years since Michigan last saw their representative ascend to the highly coveted Miss USA title. To say the least, the state is thirsty for a win. And what more, the Arab American community is proud to see one of their own catapult to success.
