Nearly a month after Erica Robin was selected as Pakistan’s first-ever candidate for Miss Universe in the competition’s 72-year history, she continues to be at the center of politics in the country. Robin, a 24-year-old Christian from Karachi, has been selected to represent the country at the global Miss Universe pageant, to be held in El Salvador later this year.
What should have been a proud moment for the country has instead ignited a fierce debate, with strong opinions against her participation in the pageant. Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim country, and beauty pageants have traditionally been rare due to conservative Islamic norms. The first-ever Miss Universe Pakistan event was organised by Dubai-based company Yugen Group after it had acquired the rights to the competition. The company reportedly owns the franchise rights to Miss Universe Bahrain and Miss Universe Egypt.
Pakistani conservatives argue that Robin’s representation does not align with the country’s values Islamic values. They express concerns that such events, where swimsuits are a common part, clash with traditional norms. Last month, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami party went on to call it “shameful”. According to some reports, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar even ordered a probe into the matter.
“مس یونیورس” کے مقابلے کے لیے نوجوان خواتین کو “مس پاکستان” کے مقابلوں کے لیے تیار کرنا اور مقابلوں کا انعقاد کرنا شرمناک ہے۔ یہ پاکستان کی توہین ہے۔ پاکستان کی خواتین کی توہین اور استحصال ہے۔ پاکستان کے اندر اس مقابلہ حسن کے منتظمین کون ہیں؟ کون یہ شرمناک حرکت کررہاہے؟حکومت ان… https://t.co/ECYVZJUiNF— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) September 13, 2023
During the selection process, Robin expressed her aspiration to change the perception that Pakistan is a backward nation. “I would want to change this mindset that Pakistan is a backward country.” However, a month after she made the cut to become the country’s candidate for Miss Universe, Robin is dismayed over the continued backlash over her participation in the mega event.
“It feels great to represent Pakistan. But I don’t understand where the backlash is coming from. I think it is this idea that I would be parading in a swimsuit in a room full of men,” Robin told the BBC.
Karachi-based writer and commentator Rafay Mehmood told the British broadcaster that Pakistan is “a nation of many contradictions and women and the marginalised trigger us the most.” “Pakistan is at large an authoritarian state and that reflects in the harsh patriarchal values it enables both institutionally and socially. Erica Robin and the policing she has faced is an extension of that,” he added.