She's Not the First Arab-American Miss USA

Julie Hayek, of Lebanese descent, won in 1983
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted May 18, 2010 4:48 PM CDT
She's Not the First Arab-American Miss USA
Miss Michigan Rima Fakih competes in bathing suit portion of the Miss USA 2010 pageant, Sunday, May 16, 2010 in Las Vegas. Fakih was later crowned Miss USA 2010.   (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

When Rima Fakih became Miss USA on Sunday, she was widely reported to be the first Arab-American to do so. In fact, Julie Hayek, whose father is Lebanese, won in 1983, notes USA Today. It's not clear whether Hayek also is Muslim, so Fakih may yet claim that "first." For sure, she's still the first to also have won the "best stripper" contest thrown by the Detroit radio show Mojo in the Morning.
(More Miss USA stories.)

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