In recent times, more and more Arab beauties have been competing for a place in US beauty pageants and international talent shows.
From Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih to former Miss Arab USA 2014 Guinwa Zeineddine, stunner Sofia Hanan, 23, has just joined the list of Arab women chasing after the title of Miss USA.
Born and raised in northern California to an American mother and an Egyptian-born Palestinian father, Hanan says that she may be the first contestant of Palestinian decent to participate in the competition.
Competing in Miss California 2016, Hanan told Al Arabiya News that she enjoys the support she is getting for being of Arab origin, stressing that if she were to be crowned Miss Cali, she would "invest a lot of time in representing the state of California."
Hopes & Dreams
Enjoying the best of both worlds - East and West - has made Hanan more determined not to be stifled by stereotypes.
“I was at first nervous of what might come from competing as an Arab-American in a beauty pageant, as it’s something almost taboo in the Arab world,” she told Al Arabiya News.
“But I’ve always wanted to compete in a pageant, and I’m not willing to live with the regret of not attempting something that I’ve always wanted to.
“I want to show the world that being Arab-American doesn’t constrain you to living a certain way.”
While Hanan wanted to keep her involvement in the competition on the down low, the worldwide support she received when it was out in the open has been "overwhelming."
“Originally, I did not want to tell anyone outside of my immediate family and closest friends. But as I continued on the path and gradually began sharing my experience with my friends, family, and social media, I received an overwhelming amount of support from all corners of the globe.”
Inner beauty
Although Hanan is blessed with good looks and a terrific physique, she believes that it's one's "essence" that makes them beautiful, more so than their outer appearance.
“It is one's heart, compassion and their ability to project that into the world and onto other people. For me a truly beautiful person has the best intentions and strives to accomplish goals through positivity and outright goodness.”
Brains & Beauty
With a degree in broadcast journalism from Suffolk University in Boston, Hanan is also blessed with a creative and intellectual mind.
Whether this ambitious young lady claims the Miss California or not, she's aiming for a career in culinary broadcasting, as she has a passion for cooking Arabic cuisine taught to her by her Palestinian grandma.
The pageant will take place on Dec. 4-6, 2015 at the Long Beach Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California.
