| Rima Fakih, Miss Michigan, was crowned Miss USA | | | | type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440" |
| 2010 on Sunday night, becoming the first | | | | height="385" src=" allowscriptaccess="always" |
| Arab-American to win the beauty pageant. | | | | allowfullscreen="true"></embed> < |
| LAS VEGAS - [removed]// <![CDATA[ | | | | object> |
| getCSS("3314183") // ]]>[removed] A 24-year-old | | | | Fakih nearly tripped on the train of her long, strapless |
| Arab American from Michigan beat out 50 other | | | | gown during the evening-wear portion of Sunday |
| women to take the 2010 Miss USA title Sunday night, | | | | night's the competition, broadcast live on NBC. |
| despite stumbling in her evening gown. | | | | In the interview segment of the event, she was |
| Rima Fakih of Dearborn, Mich., won the pageant at | | | | asked whether she thought birth control should be |
| the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the | | | | paid for by health insurance. She said yes. |
| Las Vegas Strip after strutting confidently in an | | | | "I believe that birth control is just like every other |
| orange and gold bikini, wearing a strapless white | | | | medication even though it's a controlled substance," |
| gown that resembled a wedding dress and saying | | | | said Fakih, who was raised in a household that |
| health insurance should cover birth control pills. | | | | celebrates both Christian and Muslim faiths. |
| Fakih, 24, a former New Yorker who was raised in | | | | She told reporters she sold her 1998 Ford Taurus to |
| Dearborn, Mich., beat out 50 other contestants, | | | | pay the $800 entry fee for the Miss Michigan |
| including runner-up Miss Oklahoma, for the grand prize. | | | | pageant. |
| When asked on stage how she felt about the big | | | | In addition to winning scholarships and a wardrobe fit |
| win, the petite brunette quipped, "Ask me after I've | | | | for a queen, Fakih will be given a luxury New York |
| had a pizza." | | | | City apartment to live in while she's Miss USA. |
| "I feel great. Thanks for hiring me, Donald Trump," | | | | Fakih, an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer |
| she said of the co-owner of the Miss USA pageant. | | | | awareness, will compete for the Miss Universe title |
| Fakih accepted her crown from Kristen Dalton, the | | | | later this year. |
| outgoing Miss USA, at the Planet Hollywood Resort | | | | She is already bracing for questions about her roots. |
| & Casino in Las Vegas. | | | | "I think it would prove that Arabs don't always try to |
| Born in Lebonon, she emigrated with her parents to | | | | separate themselves, but instead are integrated into |
| the United States as a baby and attended Catholic | | | | American culture," she recently told the Global Arab |
| school in New York City until her family moved to | | | | Network. |
| Michigan in 2003. | | | | "It would show the world that yes, there are Arabs |
| She is a graduate the University of Michigan-Dearborn | | | | that are beautiful not only in looks, but also on the |
| with degrees in economics and business management. | | | | inside," she said. "There are Arabs that are caring, |
| She plans to begin law school after her year-long | | | | that are good people, and who love the country |
| reign. | | | | they live in. I think it would make the Arab image a |
| <object width="440" height="385"> <embed | | | | more positive one. |