Iraqi beauty pageants
 Miss Iraq Logo | |
| Formation | 1947 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Baghdad |
| Location | |
| Members | |
Official language | |
| Website | missuniverseiraq.com |
There are a number of Iraqi beauty pageants. Miss Iraq is one of the national beauty pageants in Iraq. Others include Miss World Iraq and Miss Earth Iraq.
History
In 2015 the first season after 43 years absence, the official national beauty contest of Iraq recognized by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities has been held in Baghdad.[1] The Miss Iraq titles set to be three categories which are Miss Iraq, Iraq's Maiden of Beauty and Mesopotamian Princess.
The pageant is organized by a group of civil activists, leaders from the beauty and fashion community and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of Iraq.[2]
In 2016, Miss Iraq Organization sent Miss Mesopotamia 2015 winner Susan Amer Sulaimani (Noori), a Kurdish student in Baghdad to participate in the Miss Earth 2016 pageant as Iraq's first representative since 1972 in the Big Four beauty pageants.[3][4] She wore a dress instead of a bikini during the pageant's press conference.[3]
National franchise holders
In the late 2010's, Miss Iraq returned and debuted to the several international beauty pageant, such as Miss Earth in 2016, Miss Universe in 2017 and the Miss World in 2022.[5][6]
Titleholders
| Year | Miss Iraq | Governorate |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Renée Dangoor | Baghdad |
| 1962 | Kholoud Saleh | |
| 1963 | Sameera Zeidan | |
| 1971 | Nasik Shali | Sulaymaniyah |
| 1972 | Wijdan Burhan El-Deen Sulyman | Baghdad |
| 2014 | Melinda Toma | Babylon |
| 2015 | Shimaa Qasim[7] | Kirkuk |
| 2017 | Sarah Idan | Babylon |
| 2021 | Maria Farhad[8] | Nineveh Plains |
| 2022 | Balsam Hussein[9] | Baghdad |
International pageants
The following women have represented Iraq in the international beauty pageant which included Big Four beauty pageants;[10][11] Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Earth,[12][13][14] as well as other international pageants.
Miss Universe Iraq
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
| Year | Governorate | Miss Universe Iraq | Placement | Special Award | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Baghdad | Hanin Al Qoreishy | Unplaced | ||
| Did not compete between 2023—2024 | |||||
| 2022 | Baghdad | Balsam Hussein[15] | Did not compete | Due to franchise matter, she decided to withdraw. | |
| Did not compete between 2018—2021 | |||||
| 2017 | Baghdad | Sarah Idan | Unplaced |
|
|
| 2016 | Kirkuk | Shimaa Qasim | Did not compete | Due to personal reasons, Qasim withdrew at Miss Universe 2016. | |
| Did not compete between 1973—2015 | |||||
| 1972 | Baghdad | Wijdan Burhan El-Deen Sulyman | Unplaced | ||
Miss World Iraq
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
| Year | Governorate | Miss World Iraq | Placement | Special Award | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Did not compete since 2025–present | |||||
| No pageant held in 2024 | |||||
| 2023 | Baghdad | Balsam Hussein[16] | Unplaced | ||
| No pageant held in 2022 | |||||
| 2021 | Nineveh | Maria Farhad[17] | Unplaced |
|
|
| Did not compete between 2018—2020 | |||||
| 2017 | Halabja | Masty Hama | Did not compete | ||
| Did not compete between 1999—2016 | |||||
| 1998 | Baghdad | Ban Kadret | Did not compete | Kadret withdrew due to a disagreement between Eric Morley and the Miss Iraq organizers. | |
Miss Earth Iraq
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
| Year | Governorate | Miss Earth Iraq | Placement | Special Award | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Did not compete since 2023—present | |||||
| 2022 | Wasit | Jihan Majid[18] | Unplaced | ||
| 2021 | Diyala | Sima Mohamed[19] | Did not compete | ||
| Did not compete between 2017—2020 | |||||
| 2016 | Baghdad | Susan Amer[20] | Unplaced | ||
| Did not compete between 2010—2015 | |||||
| 2009 | Baghdad | Aure Arnulf | Did not compete | ||
Miss Grand International
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
| Year | Governorate | Miss Grand Iraq | Placement | Special Award | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Did not compete since 2017—present | |||||
| 2016 | Baghdad | Klaodia Khalaf[21] | Unplaced | ||
References
- ↑ "Miss Iraq is back after 43 years". CNN. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ↑ "Miss Iraq begins her year of activities". Kalimba Radio. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- 1 2 "Iraqi Kurdish beauty, not wear a bikini at Miss Earth press conference". Ekurd Daily. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ↑ "Kurdish student in Baghdad selected for 2016 Miss Earth Pageant". Rudaw News. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ↑ Editorial Staff (2016-10-12). "Iraqi Kurdish beauty, not wear a bikini at Miss Earth press conference". Kurd Net - Ekurd.net Daily News. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ Yasmin Khorram (17 December 2017). "Death threats haunt Miss Iraq in wake of selfie controversy". CNN. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ↑ "Student Shakes Off Threats to Win Miss Iraq in Name of Women's Rights". NBC News. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ↑ "Maria Farhad wins Miss Iraq 2021". SyriacPress. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
- ↑ الرشيد, قناة. "شاهد بالفيديو.. لحظة تتويج ملكة جمال العراق لعام 2022 "بلسم حسين" من بغداد الكرخ". اخبار العراق الآن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ↑ Jun, Kwanwoo (2003-12-03). "Lost in Storm's Debris: A Beauty Pageant". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ↑ "Beauty with scandals". Standard Digital News. 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ↑ "Những scandal của Miss World". Vietnam Express. 2008-10-08. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ↑ Ibrahim, Lynda (2013-09-13). "The misses and missuses of the world". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ↑ Lowe, Aya (2016-01-25). "Philippines' Miss Universe returns home, ignites dreams". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
- ↑ الرشيد, قناة. "شاهد بالفيديو.. لحظة تتويج ملكة جمال العراق لعام 2022 "بلسم حسين" من بغداد الكرخ". اخبار العراق الآن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ↑ الرشيد, قناة. "شاهد بالفيديو.. لحظة تتويج ملكة جمال العراق لعام 2022 "بلسم حسين" من بغداد الكرخ". اخبار العراق الآن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ↑ "Christian Survivor of ISIS Crowned as Miss Iraq 2021". Albawaba.com. August 2, 2021.
- ↑ "Miss Earth 2022 Delegates". Miss Earth.
- ↑ "Miss Earth 2021 Delegates".
- ↑ Mehta, Ankita (2016-10-12). "Miss Earth 2016: 84 contestants walk in swimsuit; Rashi Yadav to represent India". International Business Times: www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ↑ "Miss Grand International 2016 contestants". Miss Grand International. 20 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2026 – via Internet Archive.