In Louisville, Ali seen as face of ‘real Islam’

TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016 38

Students sit in circles during a Quran recital class on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic boarding school in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia yesterday. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. — AP Army officer crowned Miss USA

he newly crowned Miss USA is a 26-year-old icon Muhammad Ali. Fan favorite Miss California, presidential nominee wasn’t forgotten by viewers Army officer from the District of Columbia Nadia Grace Mejia, had stumbled and paused on social media. Perhaps as polarizing as his policy Twho gave perhaps the strongest answer of when answering a question about social and eco- views were the reactions to the Miss USA show on the night when asked about women in combat. “As nomic inequality. Twitter. Some commented that the event was less a woman in the United States Army, I think ... we The 20-year-old model, who is the daughter of campy and more boring than previous years with- are just as tough as men. As a commander of my the 1990s one-hit-wonder singer known as “Rico out the brash billionaire’s involvement, while oth- unit, I’m powerful, I am dedicated,” Deshauna Suave,” had also talked about suffering from ers said they were glad to take in the guilty-plea- Barber said. “Gender does not limit us in the United anorexia and wanting to promote body confidence sure show without supporting the businessman States.” As the winner of Sunday’s 2016 Miss USA earlier in the show. The Fox network carried the turned politician. A year ago, Trump set off an ugly competition held at the T-Mobile Arena off the Las three-hour broadcast. Last year, the show aired on break up with The Organization, Vegas Strip, Barber will go on to compete in the cable’s Reelz network. The beauty pageant organi- then co-owned by Trump and NBC Universal. Miss Universe contest. zation is bouncing back from a series of controver- Trump offended Hispanics last June when he made Coming in second was Miss , who punted sies last year, including a breakup with former own- anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for during the question-and-answer segment when er Donald Trump and the mistaken crowning of the White House. asked who she would vote for among the likely Miss Universe. NBC, which had aired the pageant since 2003, presidential candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton At the start of Sunday’s show, Steve Harvey quickly cut business ties with Trump and refused to or former pageant owner Donald Trump, a made a cameo in a video to poke fun of the Miss carry the 2015 show it had already scheduled. The Republican. acknowledged that Universe crowning that he botched in December. Spanish-language network Univision also pulled there was no way to correctly answer the question Harvey was hosting that event, also held in Las out of the broadcast for what would have been the during the beauty pageant. The question was Vegas, and had mistakenly named Colombia’s first of five years airing the pageants. Trump then framed with Clinton’s likely status of being the first Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo the winner before cor- sued both Univision and NBC. He settled with NBC woman nominated by a major political party for recting himself on the stage. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach in September. Trump’s $500 million lawsuit against the White House. Hardin responded that gender of the Philippines was then given the crown. Univision claimed his First Amendment rights were doesn’t matter when deciding the next command- Officials later said it was due to human error. The violated, as well as claiming a breach of contract. er in chief. talk show host said he had re-read the card and That dispute was eventually settled, too. The talent The 24-year-old college student from noticed it said “first runner-up” next to the management company WME/IMG then acquired simply said the new president should push for Colombia contestant’s name before clarifying with The Miss Universe Organization. — AP what’s right for the country. The other women in producers his mistake. Miss District of Columbia USA 2016 (left) reacts as she is crowned Miss the top five were asked about voting rights, As for Trump - who didn’t appear at Sunday’s USA 2016 by Miss USA 2015 during the 2016 Miss USA pageant on June 5, income inequality and the recent death of sports Miss USA pageant - the presumptive Republican 2016 in Las Vegas, . — AFP

Contestants celebrate as Miss District of Columbia USA 2016 Deshauna Barber is crowned Miss USA 2016 during the Finalists Chelsea Hardin (center), Miss District of Columbia Deshauna Barber (right) and Miss 2016 Miss USA pageant at T-Mobile Arena on June 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — AFP Emanii Davis stand during the 2016 Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas. — AP