First Muslim Woman to Win ‘Miss USA’ Title Converts to Christianity
Six years after she became the first Muslim woman to win the title of “Miss USA,” news has recently emerged that Rima Fakih, a Lebanese-American woman, has converted to Christianity and is set to marry her fiancé on May 16th of the current year by Maronite priests in Lebanon.
Rima Fakih stated in an interview with the Huffington Post that she made this decision after becoming engaged to Wassim Slaiby, a Lebanese-American music producer.
Wassim Slaiby is one of the prominent producers of artistic works in America. He has collaborated with many international stars and is currently the manager of Canadian musician Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd.
Slaiby said that he and his fiancée perhaps present “a civilized face of Lebanon” that “is not hindered by religious boundaries in its path.”
Rima Fakih is from the village of Srifa in Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon. Her family is Muslim and Shia. Her father’s name is Hassan and her mother’s name is Nadia.
The Fakih family emigrated from Srifa to Jamaica and then to New York in the United States in 1993 due to insecurity in Lebanon as a result of the country’s civil wars.
Her father initially established a Lebanese restaurant. However, ten years later and following the events of September 11th, he sold the restaurant and moved to Dearborn, Michigan.
Rima Fakih’s family told the media that they were not surprised by their daughter’s decision because her sister is married to a Christian man and has two baptized children, and also her uncle “Father Alan” converted to Christianity and is now a Christian clergyman.
After winning the title of “Miss USA,” Rima Fakih, in response to a question about her religion, said that she has a liberal family that respects all religions. She added: “My family is Muslim, but we do not view religion as something that defines us. We respect religions because they teach us life values.”
She had said: “We celebrate Easter, we put up a Christmas tree in our home, and we also celebrate Islamic holidays.”
Meanwhile, Muhammad Nizar, the mayor of Srifa (a Shia-populated town in southern Lebanon from which Rima Fakih originates), says: “Rima Fakih’s decision to convert to Christianity is a personal freedom, and no one in the town interferes in this matter.”
Rima Fakih’s change of religion has received significant coverage in Arab media. In response to some critics, she posted a verse from the Bible on her Twitter account and wrote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Now Miss USA herself is preparing for the wedding celebration that is to be held in a “royal” manner in Lebanon. The wedding dress will be by Elie Saab, the world-renowned fashion designer. Many Lebanese artistic and media figures have been invited to the ceremony.
Source: Radio Farda
