Erica Robin, the chosen representative of Pakistan in the upcoming Miss Universe beauty pageant, is encountering a wave of criticism in the lead-up to the historic event. This marks a pivotal moment for Pakistan, as it is the first time in the 72-year history of the Miss Universe pageant that the nation has selected a contestant.
Erica Robin, a Karachi native, earned her title as Miss Universe Pakistan after a competitive inaugural competition held in the Maldives. The Miss Universe finals, scheduled for November in El Salvador, are set to be a groundbreaking event.
When asked about her aspirations for her country, Erica responded, “I would want to change this mindset that Pakistan is a backward country.”
While numerous models, writers, and journalists, including Mariana Babar, praised Erica for her combination of beauty and intelligence on Twitter, not all reactions have been positive. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami party deemed it “shameful,” and caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar ordered an investigation into the organizers of the Miss Universe Pakistan pageant. The investigation seeks to determine how the competition was conducted seemingly in the country’s name without official government approval.
Critics have argued that Erica is representing a country that does not want to be represented, with Kakar deeming the Maldives pageant an “insult and exploitation of women of Pakistan.”
Taqi Usmani, an Islamic scholar from Pakistan, expressed concern on Twitter about the participation of five young women in the international beauty pageant, suggesting that this move could tarnish Pakistan’s image. Ansar Abbasi, a Pakistani right-wing commentator and columnist, questioned whether the government had authorized these contestants, while Murtaza Solangi, former journalist and current Federal Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, clarified that government institutions are the official representatives of the state.
Notably, beauty pageants are relatively uncommon in Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim nation. In response to the backlash, Erica shared in an interview with BBC that she felt honored to represent Pakistan but believed that the criticism stemmed from misconceptions. She expressed, “I think it is this idea that I would be parading in a swimsuit in a room full of men.”
Erica, a graduate of St Patrick’s High School and Government College of Commerce and Economics, embarked on her professional modeling career in January 2020, with her work featuring in several magazines, including Diva Magazine Pakistan.
She maintains that she is not breaking any laws by representing Pakistan on a global platform and is committed to dispelling stereotypes about her country. Erica emphasized, “I won’t do anything that would harm the reputation of the country” during an interview with Voice of America.
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