Pakistan’s first Miss Bikini 2006

LAHORE: For the first time, a Pakistani girl has participated in an international beauty pageant, reports website DesPardes.com.

Houston-based Pakistani-American Mariyah Moten, 22, represented Pakistan at the “Miss Bikini of the Universe” pageant held in Beihai, a summer resort city in south China, on August 28.

Moten won the “Best in Media” title (trophy plus sash), as being the most photographed and interviewed girl in the entire pageant. Since the pageant, she has been on Zee News, Khaleej Times, China Daily, Hangzhou Newspaper and various other newspapers in China and elsewhere.

She was born and brought up in Karachi, Pakistan, and moved to the United States with her family eight years ago. She is currently studying hotel management at the University of Houston in Texas, where she did her high schooling.

“It’s the first time that Pakistan is participating in the bikini pageant, as we’re an Islamic country,” Moten was quoted as saying by China Daily. “Now there’s less reproach in Pakistan on women’s participation in such beauty contests. All my family support me and I’m excited to have the chance to participate in the event.”

Competing with 44 delegates, Moten was given the award on the final night. This is the second award she has received in her pageant career. She won “Miss Charity” at the Miss Tourism Queen International pageant in July 2006.

The winner was crowned “Queen Pearl” and received $5,000 in prize money; second and third place earned the title “Miss Pearl,” and received $3,000 and $2,000 respectively, according to the pageant’s organising committee. Moten is presently in Mumbai on a “special interview” assignment with the Times of India, her manager told DesPardes.com over the phone. Daily Times Monitor

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