This year's Miss Universe competition sees many candidates breaking out of traditional norms of pageantry. During the preliminary swimsuit round, Miss Pakistan Erica Robin made history when she stepped out in a burkini.
A burkini is a style of swimsuit that covers the entire body, except for the wearer's face, hands, and feet. The term originates from the burka, which is a traditional outer garment worn by Muslim women who observe hijab through this practice. Erica modeled a pastel pink piece that flowed elegantly as she sashayed to the audience's applause.
Notably, Miss Universe-Bahrain 2022 Manar Nadeem Deyani also sparked interest when she walked her swimsuit round in a fully-clothed activewear look.
Prior to the pageant, Erica was very vocal about wearing a burkini during the swimsuit rounds. A 24-year-old model from the city of Karachi, she is her country's first-ever representative in the beauty contest's 72-year history. She emphasizes that wearing a burkini is a personal choice, as it's her way of exhibiting "immense respect for her country."
In previous interviews, Erica has spoken up about how she aims to "spread the message of positivity and highlight the goodness" of her home country. "I want to show the beautiful side of Pakistan, away from all the negativity and hate that we see on some media outlets," she was quoted saying.
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