Rana Raslan (Arabic: رنا رسلان; Hebrew: רנא רסלאן; born 17 March 1977) is an Israeli former model who won Miss Israel in 1999.[2] With the cancellation of the pageant in 2022, she remains the only Arab and Muslim to have won the title.[3][4] Following her crowning as national beauty queen, Raslan represented Israel at Miss Universe that same year.[5]
Rana Raslan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Raslan after being crowned national beauty queen in Tel Aviv, 9 March 1999 | |
| Born | 17 March 1977 Wadi Nisnas, Haifa, Israel |
| Occupation | Model (formerly) |
| Spouse |
Unknown (m. 2003) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Miss Israel 1999 (Winner) Miss Universe 1999 (Unplaced) |
Concurrent Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Raslan's first-place nomination as a "clear manifestation of equality and cooperation between Jews and Arabs in Israel" and criticized the assertion that Arabs are treated as second-class citizens under Israeli law.[6][7][8]
Early and personal life
editRaslan was born on 17 March 1977 in Wadi Nisnas, a neighbourhood in the city of Haifa; her father is an Arab Muslim and her mother is an Arab Christian who converted to Islam.
She has described herself as a "secular Muslim" in response to accusations of immorality by Muslim fundamentalists—specifically in reference to the beauty pageants' usage of swimsuits.[9]
In 2003, Raslan relocated to Dubai after her marriage to an Emirati businessman.[10][1]
See also
edit
- Lucy Aharish, Arab-Israeli journalist and actress
- Huda Naccache, Arab-Israeli model
- Lucy Ayoub, Arab-Israeli journalist
- Mira Awad, Arab-Israeli musical artist
References
edit- ^ a b "Rana: No chance for Arab in Israeli world of modeling". Bladi.info (in French). Retrieved 23 February 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "FOR FIRST TIME, ARAB REIGNS AS MISS ISRAEL". Buffalo News. 10 March 1999. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Al-Masry, Mohamed (March 1999). "In the eye of the beholder". Al-Ahram. No. 421. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007.
- ^ "Arab crowned Miss Israel". BBC News. 10 March 1999. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Rana Raslan - Miss Universe competition". Flickr. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "In a first, Arab wins Miss Israel pageant". Tampa Bay Times. 11 March 1999. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Sharrock, David (11 March 1999). "Back-slapping all round as Arab is crowned Miss Israel". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel's beauty queen is Arab; Contest: The Jewish state's first Muslim Miss Israel carries a lot more than a crown on her head". Baltimore Sun. 11 March 1999. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Mercer, Jeannine (5 November 1999). "Arab beauty rides Miss Israel title through thorny issues". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012.
- ^ חיים אתגר על המפגש עם השייח' אליו נישאה רנא רסלאן | חשיפה. Mako (in Hebrew). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
External links
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