Rima Fakih

Rima Fakih Slaiby (ريما فقيه; born September 22, 1985) is an American former professional wrestler and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2010.

Rima Fakih was born on September 22, 1985, in Srifa, Lebanon, to parents Hussein and Nadia Fakih.

She is the fourth of five children.

Fakih was raised in a Shia Muslim family.

She spent her early life in the village of Souk El Gharb, and attended Catholic school near Beirut.

Following her win, Fakih became the third woman representing Michigan to win the Miss USA title following Carole Gist at Miss USA 1990 and Kenya Moore at Miss USA 1993, the first winner from the Midwest since Shandi Finnessey at Miss USA 2004 who won representing Missouri.

During and after the Miss USA competition, Fakih's background, religious beliefs, and Arab identity became the subject of media attention and discussion.

Regarding her identity, Fakih stated "I'd like to say I'm American first, and I am an Arab-American, I am Lebanese-American, and I am Muslim-American."

While her victory was celebrated by some in the Arab American community, she was also criticized by some amidst allegations that she did not properly represent Muslims.

Iranian-Canadian Islamic scholar Ghazal Omid wrote "To say that she is a Muslim is inaccurate. No Muslim woman can call herself a Muslim and be on stage with her bikini."

In response to criticism from some within the Muslim community, Fakih stated that while she and her family identify as Muslims and respect the religion, they are not as strict as others and do not define themselves by their religion, adding that they view themselves as more "spiritual" than "religious."

Her religion and role in pageantry was further scrutinized after it emerged that Fakih had taken part in a "Stripper 101" competition hosted by Detroit morning show Mojo in the Morning, where she pole danced.

In 1993, Fakih and her family moved from Lebanon to New York City due to the effects of the Lebanese Civil War.

After arriving in the United States, the family settled in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Fakih attended St. John's Preparatory School in Astoria, while her father ran a restaurant in Manhattan.

In New York, Fakih's family faced discrimination, and believed that this was due to events in the Middle East.

Business at her father's restaurant began to rapidly decline following the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Fakih was not selected as one of the fifteen semifinalists, becoming the first American entrant to fail to place in the competition since Shauntay Hinton at Miss Universe 2002, and only the fourth ever.

In 2003, Fakih moved with her family to Dearborn, Michigan, home to one of the largest Arab American population in the country.

After moving to Michigan, Fakih attended Henry Ford Community College and later received degrees in economics and business management from the University of Michigan–Dearborn.

Initially, Fakih had planned to attend law school after completing her reign as Miss USA.

Prior to becoming a pageant titleholder, Fakih worked at the Detroit Medical Center in development and recruiting the Arab American community.

Fakih first began competing in pageantry at age 19, when she placed as the fourth runner-up at Miss Wayne County, a qualifying pageant for Miss Michigan within the Miss America system.

She went on to compete in three minor international pageants.

In 2008, Fakih was selected to represent Michigan in the Miss Lebanon Emigrant pageant.

The pageant was meant for women belonging to the international Lebanese diaspora, with the winner going on to compete in Miss Lebanon.

Fakih placed as the second runner-up in the competition, behind winner Carina El Kaddissi of Brazil and first runner-up Jessica Kahawaty of Australia.

In 2009, Fakih won Miss Michigan USA 2010.

Having previously been crowned Miss Michigan USA 2010, Fakih was the first Arab American woman and the third woman from Michigan to win the Miss USA title.

Fakih was a contestant in season five of WWE Tough Enough, where she trained to become a professional wrestler.

As Miss Michigan USA, she received the right to represent Michigan at Miss USA 2010.

Miss USA was held at the Zappos Theater within Planet Hollywood Las Vegas on May 16, 2010.

After competing in the preliminary competition, Fakih was crowned the winner, her win ended a five-year streak of southern states winning the title.

As Miss USA, Fakih received the right to represent the United States at Miss Universe 2010.

The Miss Universe competition was later held on August 23, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Fakih later completed her reign as Miss USA on June 19, 2011, after crowning Alyssa Campanella of California as her successor at Miss USA 2011.

In 2018, she became the national director of the Miss Universe Lebanon Organization.

As a philanthropist and advocate, she has worked with numerous organizations in the United States and in Lebanon devoted to providing assistance for women and children.

In 2018, Fakih received the license for the Miss Universe Lebanon competition, becoming the organization's national director.

She organized the Miss Universe Lebanon 2018 competition, which crowned Maya Reaidy as its winner, who went on to represent Lebanon at Miss Universe 2018.