The First Muslim to Win the Title of 'Miss USA' Converts to Christianity

Six years after her name shone as the first Muslim girl to achieve the title of 'Miss USA', recent news has emerged that Rima Fakih, a Lebanese-American, has converted to Christianity and is set to marry her fiancé on May 15, 2023, officiated by Maronite priests from Lebanon. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Rima Fakih stated that this decision came after her engagement to Waseem Salibi, a Lebanese-American producer. Waseem Salibi is one of the prominent producers in the U.S. arts scene, having collaborated with many global stars and currently managing the career of Canadian musician Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd. Salibi mentioned that he and his fiancée aim to showcase a 'civilized image of Lebanon' that 'is not hindered by religious boundaries'. Rima Fakih hails from the village of Sarifa in the Nabatieh province of southern Lebanon. Her family is Muslim and Shia, with her father named Hassan and her mother Nadia. The Fakih family emigrated from Sarifa to Jamaica and then to New York in the United States in 1993 due to the insecurities in Lebanon resulting from the country's civil wars. Initially, her father established a Lebanese restaurant, but ten years later, following the events of September 11, he sold the restaurant and moved to Dearborn, Michigan. Rima Fakih's family has stated that they were not surprised by their daughter's decision, as her sister is married to a Christian and has two baptized children, and her uncle, 'Khouri Alan', converted to Christianity and is now a Christian cleric. After winning the title of 'Miss USA', Rima Fakih had previously stated in response to a question about her religion that she comes from a liberal family that respects all religions. She added, 'My family is Muslim, but we do not view religion as something that defines us. We respect religions because they teach us the values of life.' She also mentioned, 'We celebrate Easter, put up a Christmas tree at home, and also celebrate Islamic holidays.' On the other hand, Mohammad Nizar, the mayor of Sarifa (a Shia town in southern Lebanon where Rima Fakih is from), stated, 'Rima Fakih's decision to convert to Christianity is a personal freedom, and no one in the town interferes in this matter.' Rima Fakih's conversion has garnered significant media attention in the Arab world. In response to some critics on her Twitter account, she quoted a verse from the Bible, stating, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' Now, Miss USA is preparing for a 'royal' wedding celebration in Lebanon, with her wedding dress designed by global designer Elie Saab. Many Lebanese artistic and media figures have been invited to the ceremony.