Latest news with #MissWayneCounty
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Miss Wayne County' Ameera Hashwi is first woman wearing hijab to win award; Laura Loomer calls it ‘gross'
Ameera Hashwi, from Michigan, made history by becoming the first woman in a hijab to be awarded the 'Miss Wayne County' beauty pageant title in Dearborn Heights. Ameera Hashwi (center), after her win, now has a spot on the Miss Michigan pageant, and will have a shot at Miss America.(X/@OliLondonTV) 'Hello, my name is Ameera. My service initiative is Step Up and Serve, and I am your new… Miss Wayne County,' Hashwi shared in an Instagram post. Step Up and Serve – Hashwi's chosen platform – focuses on encouraging physical fitness while empowering communities through service. Notably, Dearborn Heights is a Muslim-majority suburb in Detroit. Who is Ameera Hashwi? Hashwi works as an attorney at Seward Henderson PLLC from February 2025, as per her LinkedIn profile. Prior to this, she was a law clerk with NORMA Group, where she had two stints – a short one of three months in 2022, and another of 8 months in 2023. In between, she clerked for The Cochran Firm in Detroit. The 25-year-old has also been a data entry specialist for Zoom Ride and a law clerk at Fairmax Law. She began as a legislative intern for Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Hashwi studied at Wayne State University, where she pursued a degree in economics. Then, she studied law at the Wayne State University Law School. Her student profile from Wayne State University notes 'In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family.' Ameera Hashwi's win sparks backlash online Hashwi's win has sparked backlash online, with one X user commenting 'If all the places in the US that would be conquered by Islam, I NEVER thought it would be Michigan! Perhaps that was part of the plan?' Another remarked 'A hijab should be an automatic disqualification! There's no symbol that displays the mistreatment of women more than a hijab!' Laura Loomer, conservative political activist commented 'Gross.' However, not everyone was as unappreciative, with Lauren Mroczek, Miss Greater Kalamazoo 2025, praising Hashwi on Instagram, saying 'Ameera, you are a groundbreaker and change maker!! Even though I just met you this weekend, I know you have a heart full of love for Wayne County, and you will be such a bright light! Your smile and heart are contagious!'. With Hashwi's win, she now has a spot on the Miss Michigan pageant, and will have a shot at Miss America. While Hashwi is the first woman in a hijab to win a beauty pageant, she follows in the footsteps of Halima Aden, who, almost a decade back, became the first contestant to wear a hijab throughout, when she participated in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant.
International Business Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Law School Graduate Makes History; Ameera Hashwi Becomes First Woman to Win Beauty Pageant Wearing Hijab
A law school graduate from Michigan has made history by becoming the first woman to win a beauty pageant, wearing a hijab. Ameera Hashwi, 25, was crowned Miss Wayne County 2025 on Sunday (August 10). Her win marks a significant milestone in the inclusion and representation of one of the most diverse countries in the state. Hashwi is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. She lives in Dearborn Heights, a Muslim-majority suburb of Detroit. It is known for its large Middle Eastern and Arab population. During her on-stage talent show, she showcased her rich cultural heritage. The beauty pageant won the hearts of audience with her powerful performance of Koul Chi Aam Yekhlass by Majida El Roumi. The Arabic classic holds themes of dreams, love, and the passage of time. Its title translates to "Everything Is Ending," reflecting on the transient nature of life and life's inevitable endings. The competition aims at choosing contestants based on their social impact initiative or personal cause throughout the pageant journey. The crowned candidate must continue their reign as Miss America. Her goal is to Step Up & Serve, a passionate campaign that aims to empower communities through acts of service. This campaign is dedicated to inspiring physical fitness. Law School Graduate Makes History "Hello, my name is Ameera. My service initiative is Step Up and Serve, and I am your new... Miss Wayne County," Hashwi announced in an Instagram post. Lauren Mroczek, the 2025 Miss Greater Kalamazoo titleholder, celebrated Hashwi's historic win by sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram. She described Miss Wayne County as a changemaker and a groundbreaker. The title is part of the long-standing scholarship program that helps young women become advocates, leaders, and changemakers. "Ameera, you are a groundbreaker and change maker!! Even though I just met you this weekend, I know you have a heart full of love for Wayne County, and you will be such a bright light! Your smile and heart are contagious!" She wrote. Ameera Hashwi Wayne State University Who is Ameera Hashwi? Hashwi joined Wayne State University as an economics and history major in 2017. During her three years at the University, she served as Social Media Manager for the Lebanese Student Association, President of the History Club, and Director of Community Affairs for the Student Senate, according to the University Website. She began her studies at the law school in 2021 and was officially sworn in as a lawyer in May 2024. "I am honored to have been sworn in by the Honorable Judge David D. Turfe, with Dana E. Fraser serving as my sponsoring attorney. Passing the Uniform Bar Exam with a score high enough to qualify for practice in any UBE jurisdiction marks a truly rewarding milestone," she wrote on LinkedIn. Winning the Miss Wayne County title earned her a spot at the Miss Michigan pageant. She can also compete for Miss America, a national platform that aims to elevate important causes and launch careers.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Law school grad becomes first Hijab-wearing pageant queen crowned in Muslim-majority Detroit suburb
A Michigan law school graduate has made history by becoming the first woman wearing a hijab to be crowned the winner in a Muslim-majority suburb of Detroit. Ameera Hashwi, 25, of Dearborn Heights - a city known for its large Arab and Middle Eastern population - was crowned Miss Wayne County 2025 on Sunday, becoming the first woman to win the title while wearing a hijab. A key component of the competition involves selecting a personal cause or social impact initiative that each contestant will champion throughout the pageant journey - and, if crowned, throughout their reign as Miss America. For Hashwi, her mission is to Step Up & Serve - a passionate campaign dedicated to inspiring physical fitness while empowering communities through acts of service, according to the organization's website. 'Hello, my name is Ameera,' the newly crowned winner said in an Instagram post, beaming as she was draped with flowers and a badge. 'My service initiative is Step Up and Serve, and I am your new… Miss Wayne County,' she announced, her words met with an enthusiastic round of applause. A graduate of Wayne State University Law School, Hashwi's win marks a significant milestone for representation and inclusion, particularly in one of the most diverse counties in the state. Her rich cultural heritage stood out during her on-stage talent, where she captivated the audience with a powerful vocal performance of Koul Chi Aam Yekhlass by Majida El Roumi. The Arabic classic, whose title translates to 'Everything Is Ending,' holds themes of love, dreams and the passage of time, using its poignant title to reflect on life's inevitable endings and the transient nature of life. Lauren Mroczek, the 2025 Miss Greater Kalamazoo titleholder, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram celebrating Hashwi's historic win, calling her a 'groundbreaker and change-maker.' 'Even though I just met you this weekend, I know you have a heart full of love for Wayne County, and will be such a bright light!' Mroczek wrote. 'Your smile and heart are contagious!' Hashwi began her studies at Wayne State University in 2017 as an economics and history major, where she quickly took on a slew leadership roles. For the next three years, she served as President of the History Club, Social Media Manager for the Lebanese Student Association, and Director of Community Affairs for the Student Senate, according to the university's website. In September of 2021, Hashwi began her studies at the university's law school - completing the program in May 2024, when she was officially sworn in as an attorney. 'I am honored to have been sworn in by the Honorable Judge David D. Turfe, with Dana E. Fraser serving as my sponsoring attorney,' the pageant winner wrote to LinkedIn. 'Passing the Uniform Bar Exam with a score high enough to qualify for practice in any UBE jurisdiction marks a truly rewarding milestone,' she added. Now, Hashwi's competition win means more than just a crown - it's her ticket to the iconic Miss America stage. The Miss Wayne County title is part of a long-standing scholarship program that helps young women become leaders, advocates and changemakers. Winning it means earning a spot at the Miss Michigan pageant - and a shot at Miss America, a national platform that has launched careers and elevated important causes for over 100 years. While the Miss America Organization has historically reflected narrow beauty standards - with women of color, religious minorities, and diverse body types often underrepresented - recent years have seen a shift toward inclusion. Hashwi now embodies that change as she advances to Miss Michigan - and potentially the national stage - where she can help redefine what it means to wear the crown. Although she made history as the first woman to win the title wearing a hijab, a Minnesota woman also broke barriers in 2016 as the first Miss Minnesota USA contestant to compete in one. Nearly a decade ago, 19-year-old Halima Aden made history as the first contestant to compete in a hijab and burkini - a full-body swimsuit - throughout the entire pageant, according to CBC. Her groundbreaking decision came at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment was rising across the US, particularly in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. From 1996 to 2015, President Donald Trump himself owned the Miss America Organization, overseeing nearly 4,000 contestants during his tenure, according to Rolling Stone. The Somali-American teen quickly became a source of inspiration for women nationwide, fulfilling her goal of challenging and changing perceptions within the pageant world. 'It just makes me that more proud, because Donald Trump came to Minneapolis, and he talked about Somali-Americans, and how it was our fault that things weren't going right in the community,' Aden told People at the time. 'And how as president, he would make sure that our people weren't integrated into communities without other people's approval,' she added. 'That just made me really sad because America was founded on differences.' 'We need to remember where everyone came from. Unless you're Native American, your great-great-great grandparents came here for the same purpose as me, they came to seek greater life regardless of religion. So we should never forget that.'
