The controversial decision to send Erica Robin, a 24-year-old Christian resident of Karachi, to represent Pakistan at the prestigious Miss Universe beauty competition has incensed conservatives in the country.
Beauty pageants are a rarity in Pakistan, and this choice has sparked debates about whether Robin truly represents the nation’s ideals. In defense of her participation, Robin has expressed her desire to challenge the perception that Pakistan is a backward country. This wave of criticism has prompted an official investigation.
Erica Robin was selected as Miss Universe Pakistan during a pageant held in the Maldives, where she stood out among five finalists. The rights to the Miss Universe franchises in Bahrain and Egypt are also owned by the Dubai-based Yugen Group, which organized the competition. They reported an “overwhelming” number of applicants for the Miss Universe Pakistan pageant. The finals of the Miss Universe competition are scheduled to be hosted by El Salvador in November.
Robin’s selection as the representative of Pakistan has ignited both criticism and support. In an interview with the BBC, she shared her excitement about representing Pakistan but expressed her bewilderment at the backlash she has faced. She believes that some of the opposition stems from the misconception that she would be parading in a swimsuit before a room full of men. Given the infrequency of beauty pageants in Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim nation, the criticism intensifies.
One of the more recognizable beauty pageants with Pakistani ties is Miss Pakistan World, a competition that welcomes participants with Pakistani ancestry from around the world. Originally held in Toronto in 2002, it relocated to Lahore in 2020. The pageant has spawned several offshoots, including Miss Pakistan Universal, Mrs. Pakistan Universal, and even Miss Trans Pakistan.
Surprisingly, in the 72-year history of the Miss Universe competition, Pakistan has never fielded a candidate. During the pageant’s selection process, conducted over Zoom, Robin was asked what she hoped to achieve for her country. She responded by expressing her aspiration to change the prevailing notion that Pakistan is a backward nation. Given the backlash she has received, this is likely to be a challenging mission.
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Nonetheless, Erica Robin has garnered congratulations from various quarters, including models, authors, and journalists. Journalist Mariana Babar lauded her “beauty and brains” on the platform formerly known as Twitter (X). Despite the controversy, some have questioned why there is such resistance to a woman’s achievement, especially when there are international competitions for men called “Mister Pakistan.” Prominent Pakistani model Vaneeza Ahmed, who inspired Robin to pursue modeling, raised this important question on Voice of America Urdu.