Yemeni competes in Miss Universe Canada

A Yemeni-Canadian female is going to compete with about 50 Canadians women for Miss Universe Canada in June.
 
The Yemeni contestant, Maria al-Masani, is the first Yemeni representing Ottawa at Miss Universe Canada.
 
Al-Masani is going to wear a sari (a long piece of cloth wrapped around ones body like a dress) over her body for cultural sensitivity, rather than wearing a bikini for the pageant’s swimsuit segment.
 
“There’s no way, as a Yemeni that I would ever, ever walk in front of cameras in a bikini,” said Ms. al-Masani, 25. “I’d rather be caught dead.”
 
"Yemen is a conservative Islamic country better known for the underwear bomber," a press release issued by al-Masani's company said, quoting Ms. Al-Masani as saying, "I grew up wearing a niqab, watching Miss Universe on TV, I love breaking stereotypes!”

 
Ms. al-Masani runs her own public relations company in Ottawa.

 
As word of Ms. Al-Masani's participation in Miss Universe Canada reached Yemenis in Canada yesterday, it shocked people in both good and bad ways, said Ahmed al-Awah, head of the Yemeni-Canadian Relations Council. For traditional Yemenis, the pageant "doesn't represent ... the tradition of Yemeni society," Mr. al-Awah said from Calgary.
 
“Personally, I enjoy that we have Yemeni representation," he said. "The Yemeni-Canadian population hasn't been as active as it can be in Canadian society -- especially recently, after the Nigerian bomber Christmas Day attacks.”
 
Events like this will help engage the Yemeni-Canadian community with the public sphere, Mr. Al-Awah explained.
 
“It's her choice. Why not?" said Alia Hogben, executive director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. "She's making a choice, and it's a brave one, in many ways.”
 
Born in Russia, Ms. al-Masani's family moved to Yemen when she was four years old. She left when she was 16; she stopped wearing a niqab then, saying the facial covering is "un-Islamic." Her studies eventually brought her to Ottawa and Carleton University, where she fell in love with Canada, reported National Post.

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