Sabrina Houssami made history as the
first Lebanese and Muslim person to win the Miss World Australia title in 2006. She is also a charity ambassador, a media commentator, and member of Mensa.
Could you tell us about your Lebanese heritage, and what it means to you? Much of my father?s family – the Lebanese side – lives in Australia, so from a young age I have been entrenched in Lebanese-Australian culture, which has moulded me into the woman I am today: resilient, intelligent, a food-lover, and possessing a strong moral compass and deep respect for education and family values. My Lebanese heritage is a huge part of me – I wouldn?t be Sabrina Houssami without it. felt as though I was standing up for all Australians of ethnic background, saying, “We, too, are representative of Australia. We may look different, but in our hearts, we are Australian.”
You won the Miss Australia title in 2006, and were awarded 2nd runner up at the Miss World finals. Did you feel that you were representing not only Australia, but all people of Lebanese heritage around the world? In truth, I felt as though I was representing all three nationalities that constitute my background – Lebanese, Australian and Indian. But above that, I
What were the most challenging, and most rewarding, aspects of taking part in the Miss World pageant? The most challenging aspect was the structure of the pageant itself – you?re thrown into a group of strangers you?ve just met, you?re sleeping four