Miss Philippines Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel admitted last Tuesday that she pushed her boundaries when she wore a two-piece swimsuit at the press presentation of the Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 beauty pageant despite being a Muslim.
"Yes! I pushed my limits. But let's not focus on religion. I just want to be fair to the other candidates. I want to be competitive and be fair to them. I hope everyone can look beyond the swimsuit and realize that what I'm doing is more significant," says Sharifa when asked about her limits in wearing a swimsuit because of her religion during the pageant's press presentation held at a posh hotel in Pasay City.
Sharifa, 21, says that wearing a bikini has the approval of her parents and close friends. Muslims follow the Islamic dress code of wearing modestly in public places.
"I embrace the concept of my religion which is Islam but it's all about dreams. I'm already here and I think it's time for me to stick with my own decision. This is my own choice and have to bear with my dreams," she says.
Sharifa adds: "I believe in my dreams even if no else did. I want to show the people that despite my religion, who I am, I can make a difference. I am very excited to be with these girls from different countries. I am representing the Philippines and this simply means I can promote my own diversity despite our individual differences."
The teacher-turned-beauty queen from Sultan Kudarat is the country's representative to the 50th Miss Asia Pacific International beauty contest on-going in the Philippines. The finals will be held on October 4.
At the press presentation, Sharifa was named Darling of the Press. First-runner was Miss Germany while Miss Brazil Gabriela Palma was 2nd runner-up.
Sharifa graduated in elementary education from the Notre Dame of Salaman College. She reveals she has not taken the board exams for teachers. "I am not a professional one. I will take the exams soon. Maybe after the pageant next year." She is in a relationship these days.
Aside from Sharifa, who is Filipino-Qatari, two other candidates have Filipino blood. They are Miss Germany Madeline Andrea Ferrara and Miss Italy Kim Ashly Vito.
Miss Bangladesh
While Miss Philippines has a different view on swimsuits, Miss Bangladesh Marjana Chowdhury wore a kaftan instead of swimwear. A kaftan is a variant of the robe that has been worn by several cultures around the world for over thousands of years.
"I am actually a Muslim. My country is predominantly Muslim so that's respect for my religion. I am actually covered up," says Marjana during an interview.
She adds: "I think MAPI (Miss Asia Pacific International) is all about beauty in diversity. So I think I brought a different aspect in the competition and I brought more diversity to it. I don't necessarily think that it lessened my points (in the competition) but I think it did open people's minds."
This year's 50 official candidates: Armenia, Sona Danielyan; Australia, Sapir Turkenitz,Bangladesh, Marjana Chowdhury; Belgium, Danique van Holsten; Bolivia, Gianna Ruth Ardaya Ramirez; Brazil, Gabriela Palma; Cambodia, Annchhany Kha; Canada, Ariel Jingjing Cao; China, Liang Xiang Ying; Colombia, Melissa Lopez Rios; Cook Islands, Teuira Raechel Shanti Napa; Costa Rica, Jessica Melania Gonzalez Monge; Ecuador, Natalia Andrade; El Salvador, Olga Maria Flores Ortiz; France, Pauline Dubedat; Germany, Madeline Andrea Ferrara; Greece, Christina Alicia Lazaros; Guatemala, Alejandra Castro; Hongkong, Ching Yee Chong; India, Abhilasha Agrawal; Indonesia, Yohanna Gabriela; Italy, Kim Ashly Vito; Japan, Momoe Yada; Kazahkstan, Didar Atmaja; Korea, Songhwa Kang;
Macau, Yang Jing; Malaysia, Crystal Tung Lu Yie; Mauritius, Manjusha Faugoo; Mexico, Lisset Perez; Mongolia, Misheelt Narmandakh; Morocco, Chaimaa Hejam; Myanmar, Yee Yee San; Nepal, Aastha Saakha; Netherlands, Raquel Van Gool; New Zealand, Brooke Rachel Houia; Nigeria, Stephanie Nete Omogun; Panama, Kilmara Nayubel Carvajal Salcedo; Peru, Karen Isabel Rojas Chavez; Philippines, Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel; Portugal, Andreia Filipa Duarte Pereira; Puerto Rico, Kimberly Crespo Faria; Russia, Olga Pliusnina; Singapore, Nerrine Ng; South Africa, Monique Best; Suriname, Michantely Chanel Cornelly Lisse; Thailand, Sirakan Chaiprasit; USA, McKenzie Lawrence; Uruguay, Natalia Gurgel; Venezuela, Mariani Nataly Chacon Angarita and Vietnam, Huynh Thuy V.