Rima Fakih Slaiby (Arabic: ريما فقيه; born September 22, 1985) is an American former professional wrestler and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2010. Having previously been crowned Miss Michigan USA 2010, Fakih was the first Arab American woman and the third woman from Michigan to win the Miss USA title.[1]
Fakih was a contestant in season five of WWE Tough Enough, where she trained to become a professional wrestler. In 2018, she became the national director of the Miss Universe Lebanon Organization. As a philanthropist and advocate, she has worked with numerous organizations in the United States and in Lebanon devoted to providing assistance for women and children.[2]
Early life and education
Rima Fakih was born on September 22, 1985, in Srifa, Lebanon, to parents Hussein and Nadia Fakih. She is the fourth of five children. Fakih was raised in a Shia Muslim family.[3] She spent her early life in the village of Souk El Gharb, and attended Catholic school near Beirut.[3][4]
In 1993, Fakih and her family moved from Lebanon to New York City due to the effects of the Lebanese Civil War.[5] After arriving in the United States, the family settled in Jackson Heights, Queens. Fakih attended St. John's Preparatory School in Astoria, while her father ran a restaurant in Manhattan.[6][5] In New York, Fakih's family faced discrimination, and believed that this was due to events in the Middle East. Business at her father's restaurant began to rapidly decline following the September 11 attacks in 2001.[5]
In 2003, Fakih moved with her family to Dearborn, Michigan, home to one of the largest Arab American population in the country.[3][5][7][8][9] After moving to Michigan, Fakih attended Henry Ford Community College and later received degrees in economics and business management from the University of Michigan–Dearborn. Initially, Fakih had planned to attend law school after completing her reign as Miss USA.[8][10] Prior to becoming a pageant titleholder, Fakih worked at the Detroit Medical Center in development and recruiting the Arab American community.[11]
Fakih first began competing in pageantry at age 19, when she placed as the fourth runner-up at Miss Wayne County, a qualifying pageant for Miss Michigan within the Miss America system. She went on to compete in three minor international pageants.[12]
In 2008, Fakih was selected to represent Michigan in the Miss Lebanon Emigrant pageant.[5] The pageant was meant for women belonging to the international Lebanese diaspora, with the winner going on to compete in Miss Lebanon.[13] Fakih placed as the second runner-up in the competition, behind winner Carina El Kaddissi of Brazil and first runner-up Jessica Kahawaty of Australia.[14]
During and after the Miss USA competition, Fakih's background, religious beliefs, and Arab identity became the subject of media attention and discussion. Regarding her identity, Fakih stated "I'd like to say I'm American first, and I am an Arab-American, I am Lebanese-American, and I am Muslim-American."[16] While her victory was celebrated by some in the Arab American community, she was also criticized by some amidst allegations that she did not properly represent Muslims.[7] Iranian-Canadian Islamic scholar Ghazal Omid wrote "To say that she is a Muslim is inaccurate. No Muslim woman can call herself a Muslim and be on stage with her bikini."[17] In response to criticism from some within the Muslim community, Fakih stated that while she and her family identify as Muslims and respect the religion, they are not as strict as others and do not define themselves by their religion, adding that they view themselves as more "spiritual" than "religious."[18][19] Her religion and role in pageantry was further scrutinized after it emerged that Fakih had taken part in a "Stripper 101" competition hosted by Detroit morning show Mojo in the Morning, where she pole danced.[20][21][22]
As Miss USA, Fakih received the right to represent the United States at Miss Universe 2010. The Miss Universe competition was later held on August 23, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Fakih was not selected as one of the fifteen semifinalists, becoming the first American entrant to fail to place in the competition since Shauntay Hinton at Miss Universe 2002, and only the fourth ever.[23][24] Fakih later completed her reign as Miss USA on June 19, 2011, after crowning Alyssa Campanella of California as her successor at Miss USA 2011.[25]
As a part of Miss Universe, Fakih has worked with Best Buddies International to help create new opportunities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. She now serves as a board member for the organization.[30] She was named as an ambassador for The Children's Cancer Center in Lebanon (CCCL) in February 2020.[31] In March of the same year, she was appointed as an ambassador for School on Wheels, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free tutoring and mentoring for children who are experiencing homelessness.[32][33]
In response to the 2020 Beirut explosion, Fakih, alongside her husband Wassim Slaiby, created a campaign called #GlobalAidForLebanon, in collaboration with Global Citizen and the United Nations World Food Programme. The fundraiser has raised over 2 million dollars to provide assistance for those affected.[34] On April 15, 2021, Fakih was appointed to the World Food Program USA's Board of Directors, where she serves as the chairwoman of their communications committee.[35]
During her reign as Miss USA, Fakih was frequently involved in WWE events. She first appeared as a guest star on the November 29, 2010 episode of WWE Raw, where she crowned Sheamus as winner of the King of the Ring tournament. The following month, she appeared at the WWE Tribute to the Troops event in Fort Hood, Texas, where she served as the ring announcer. Fakih later appeared as a contestant on season five of WWE Tough Enough on the USA Network, competing for a contract with the WWE as a professional wrestler. She was eliminated from the competition in week four.[36] Due to scheduling conflicts with Miss USA 2011, Fakih was the only contestant from the season not to appear in the live finale episode. Following her appearance in the series, Fakih revealed that she was receiving training to become a professional wrestler.[37] In 2012, she made an appearance at WrestleMania Axxess.
Other media
Fakih was listed as number 86 on AskMen.com's top 99 women in 2011.[38] Also in 2011, The Roots performed a freestyle about Fakih during her appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Fakih also had a cameo in the film Real Steel (2011). In 2012, Fakih participated in the Fox dating game show The Choice as one of its four female celebrity bachelorettes in its June 28, 2012 episode.[39] In 2015, Fakih competed in the Thai reality design competition series The Apartment - Celebrity Edition, where she placed as the runner-up behind Chinese actress Xiao Wang.[40]
Awards and recognition
After her coronation as Miss USA in 2010, Fakih was among the guests at the American Chamber of Commerce conference in Cairo alongside former US President Bill Clinton.[41] In January 2010, Fakih received the key to Dearborn which was presented by Mayor John B. O'Reilly Jr.[42][43]
"Miss Lebanon Michigan - USA" (in Arabic). World Lebanese Cultural Union. July 17, 2008. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2010. Elected a Miss 'Rima Fakih' the amount of twenty-two-year-old Miss Lebanon Michigan in the United States. Ms. Rima will participate in the ceremony, the election of Miss Lebanon Emigrant in 2008, which will be next on August 13…
"Carina Kaddissi elected as the Miss Lebanon Emigrant for 2008" (in Arabic). World Lebanese Cultural Union. August 14, 2008. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2010. Been in the resort, "[Batroun] Village Club" in Al-elected Miss Lebanon Emigrant in 2008 under the auspices of Minister of Tourism, lawyer Eli Maroni, where she won the Miss Lebanon in Brazil Karina Saints won the Queen and received the crown of the Queen's former Grace Bejjani, dissolved Miss Lebanon Australia Jessica Khuati runner first, and Miss Lebanon in the state of Michigan in the United States Rima Fakih, the runner-seconds…(translation by Google Translate, "Batroun" by Bing Translator)
