Watch Muslim Beauty Pageants and Me
- 2015
- 1 Season
Muslim Beauty Pageants and Me is a heartwarming six-part documentary that explores the world of Muslim beauty pageants and the women who compete in them. Produced by BBC Select, the show is hosted by 22-year-old British journalist and Muslim woman, Muna Jama. Muna is on a mission to explore the world of Muslim pageants, which are often misunderstood and stigmatized. She is an accomplished pageant queen herself, having won Miss Universe Great Britain in 2017. Muna feels that beauty pageants are a celebration of diversity and self-expression, and wants to show the world that Muslim women can be beautiful, confident, and independent.
Throughout the series, Muna travels the world to meet with other Muslim pageant queens and learn about their experiences. She also visits the communities where these pageants take place to understand how they fit into the cultural and religious traditions of Islam.
In the first episode, Muna travels to Indonesia to witness the world's biggest Muslim beauty pageant, the Puteri Indonesia. She meets with the contestants and learns about the challenges they face in the pageant industry, such as dealing with negative stereotypes and criticism from their own communities. Muna also speaks with Muslim leaders and scholars to understand their perspectives on beauty pageants and how they can fit into Islamic values.
In the second episode, Muna visits Malaysia to compete in the Miss World Muslimah pageant. She meets with the other contestants, who come from all over the world, and experiences firsthand the pressure and excitement of the competition. Muna also attends a panel discussion on Muslim beauty pageants, where she debates with other scholars and activists about the positive and negative aspects of the industry.
In the third episode, Muna travels to the United States to meet with Muslim pageant queens who are advocating for diversity and representation in the industry. She speaks with Miss Muslimah USA, Zaineb Abdulla, about the importance of having role models who challenge stereotypes and inspire young Muslim women to pursue their dreams.
In the fourth and fifth episodes, Muna visits her home country of Somalia to see how beauty pageants are being used to promote peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country. She attends the Miss International Somalia pageant, which is the first of its kind in the country, and sees how the contestants are promoting unity and equality in a society with deep divisions. Muna also visits a women's football league, where young girls are using sport as a way of challenging gender norms and promoting empowerment.
In the final episode, Muna reflects on her journey and the impact that Muslim beauty pageants can have on society. She speaks with other Muslim women who have been inspired by her story and who are using pageantry as a way of challenging stereotypes and promoting diversity. Muna also shares her hopes and dreams for the future, and how she plans to use her platform to make a difference.
Overall, Muslim Beauty Pageants and Me is a thought-provoking and inspiring documentary that challenges stereotypes and celebrates diversity. Muna Jama is a passionate and engaging host, who brings a fresh perspective to a topic that is often misunderstood. Whether you are a fan of beauty pageants or not, this show is a must-watch for anyone interested in learning more about the Muslim community and the women who are making a difference in it.