Absolutely – we could always do with a few more of those! I think the main problem is not that there aren?t enough inspiring Middle Eastern people out there, but that the Western media is loath to give us any air-time. It seems that the prerogative of Western media outlets is to demonise and antagonise the Middle East, not promote its highachievers. And that is something that I, as a newcomer to Australian journalism, would like to change.
wanted her to push her intelligence yet also remember to be natural and funny, which is a very Australian way of communicating.
In 2012 your good friend Jessica Kahawaty also won Miss Australia, and like you, went on to achieve 3rd place at the Miss World finals. How did you feel watching your friend Jessica compete at the finals? I experienced such déjà vu – I couldn?t believe it when she, too, placed third! I felt the bittersweetness of that moment… Jessica has competed in several international pageants and has always come so close to winning! But I knew that if anyone would do Australia proud as a third placegetter, Jessica would. She is a phenomenal woman. Recently you were a guest Editor-in-Chief at Anoujoum magazine. You attracted a lot of Did you give Jessica any advice as she prepared for the Miss World finals? I did! Jessica actually approached me with the question, “Should I even enter Miss World Australia?” and I backed her heavily in response. Then, whilst at Miss World, she rang me to ask my advice before she went into her interview with the judges – I did my best to inform her on the interview structure and the points that were important for her to communicate! I remember saying, “Jessica, eloquence! Eloquence is key!” I attention from the fashion world when you featured the first model in hijab on the cover of the magazine. Can you tell us what you wished to achieve by doing this, and why it was so important? I wanted to take a look at how fashion is evolving and being revisited. I recognised that there is a growing market for conservative fashion in Australia – especially because the mainstream fashion houses repeatedly conform to the mantra "shorter, tighter, sexier". My decision to feature a