Miss USA Rima Fakih: My victory means anyone can make it in America

Praising America as a land of opportunity, the new Miss USA, Rima Fakih of Dearborn, told the Free Press today her victory shows that anyone can make it in the U.S. — regardless of background. And she hopes it will inspire Michiganders to rebuild the struggling state.
Touching upon the fact that she is the first open Arab American to win Miss USA, Fakih said she hopes her win will dispel anxieties.
“The fear that people had implanted since 9/11, maybe what I did can show people that, you know what, who cares what ethnicity you are,” Fakih said from an SUV driving her through Manhattan. “This is America. Everyone has been through hardships. Everyone has been through something. And that does not mean you should be afraid or should be shy to say who you really are, what your ethnicity is, and what your background is. Because America is the land of opportunity and the land of the free.”
Fakih said she broke down in tears when she heard that Arab Americans in Dearborn were cheering at parties and on the streets after her victory Sunday in Las Vegas.
“That right there made me cry when I heard such great news, that they were all so proud of me,” Fakih said. “Everyone should be proud of who they are and where they come from because America is a big melting pot of diverse ethnicities. It’s great to be part of this wonderful country.”
Born in Lebanon, Fakih grew up in New York City and moved to Dearborn, which has the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the U.S.
Since her victory, some have complained about the fact she is Arab-American and from Dearborn.
But Fakih said, “Dearborn and my community is part of me.”
Fakih also hoped her triumph can help “give Michigan hope that it is on the way up.”
“When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up,” she said. “And I want Michigan to know that my title should be a significant symbol that Michigan is going to go right back to where it was.”
Fakih said she was inspired by her parents and older brother to go for her dreams.
“There is nothing … worse than saying, I never tried,” Fakih said. “When you want something done, you got to do it yourself. … Nothing is impossible.”
Fakih said she is now on a media tour and will have an upcoming photo shoot. She also has plans to travel across the U.S., and to Africa and China. The president of Lebanon said this week he wanted to meet with her, which she hopes to do.
Fakih said she also would like to meet President Barack Obama. Since her victory, some have compared Fakih with Obama in that they are seen as historic firsts.