New Miss USA Winner Already Embroiled in Controversy
Over the weekend Miss Michigan Rima Fakih was crowned the 2010 Miss USA in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old is the second Arab-American and first Muslim to take home the crown. But barely 24 hours after clinching the crown, Fakih has been embroiled in controversy after her pole dancing past came to light.
Originally from Lebanon, Fakih took home the crown “after strutting confidently in an orange and gold bikini, wearing a strapless white gown that resembled a wedding dress and saying health insurance should cover birth control pills.” At one point Fakih nearly lost it, suffering a slight stumble during the evening gown segment. She was able to keep her composure, stay on her feet, and eventually take home the crown.
Unlike last year, the pageant itself was controversy-free. There were no homophobic or politically incorrect answers to any of the questions. No one fell. And Carrie Prejean was nowhere in sight. It wasn’t until sometime after the pageant that Fakih's pole dancing past came back to haunt the pageant. Fakih reportedly took part and won a Michigan radio pole dancing competition in 2007.
Photo: Mojo in the Morning
That’s right. Your current Miss USA won a stripper contest on the Detroit radio show Mojo in the Morning. Photos of Fakih show her bumping, grinding, and getting down and dirty. For winning the stripper contest Fakih took home "jewelry, gift cards, adult toys, and a stripper pole for home use.” She also made a tidy amount of cash as attendees slipped dollar bills in her bra during the competition. Classy! This is hardly the image or role model that the Miss USA pageant tries to promote.
Pageant official have apparently contacted the Mojo in the Morning team and requested copies of the photos in question. There is some chance that Miss Fakih may lose her crown because of the controversy. Neither pageant officials nor Fakih have yet to publicly comment about the saucy, raunchy photos.
Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage/Getty Images
