*MANCHESTER:* A British-Pakistani became the first hijab-wearing model toenter Miss England finals which were held on Tuesday.
Sara Ifthekar, currently a law student at Huddersfield, qualified for theMiss England competition after being named Miss Huddersfield 2018 and MissYorkshire Popularity 2018. She was among 50 competitors for the MissEngland crown and hoped to become the first Muslim winner.
While previous Muslim competitors have chosen to wear headscarves, Iftekharwill be the first finalist to do so.
“It just proves Miss England represents the way England is today,”competition spokeswoman Angie Beasley was quoted as saying.
Apart from being a law student and model, Iftekhar is also a make-up artistand often shares pictures of herself wearing traditional Pakistani dresseson social media. She also started a clothing business aged 16.
“I may be the first woman to wear a hijab. However, I am just a regulargirl and we all have a fair opportunity in this contest,” the *BBClink* quoted heras saying, adding that Iftekhar said she entered the contest for “a bit offun.”
“If I want to cover myself up and dress modestly why should that be anissue? I am just like the other contestants,” she said.
On a fundraising page she set up for children’s charity Beauty with aPurpose, Iftekhar wrote: “I participated in Miss 2018 in order to show thatbeauty doesn’t have a definition. Everyone is beautiful in their own ways,regardless of their weight, race, colour or shape.”
The first stage of the competition was held in July, including the sportsbeach beauty, top model, beautiful mind and publicity rounds.
“Here is a vibrant, confident young woman who is proving, on a hugeplatform, that beauty comes in many forms, that Muslim women in hijabs canbe beautiful, and that we can own our beauty,” a leading UK media outletsaid of her.
“The fact that she’s reached the Miss England finals is something thatshould be celebrated by the Muslim community, and by women at large.”