Detroit native Zenovia Jafar crowned Miss Arab USA

Zenovia Jafar, a 27-year-old from Detroit, was crowned Miss Arab USA 2024 in Arizona this past week.

The Miss Arab USA Pageant hosted by the Phoenix-based Arab American Organization included 20 finalists who were judged based on charity work, personality and community involvement.

Zenovia Jafar bio

The Michigan State University alum moved to the U.S after escaping the war in Iraq in the late 1990s.

She is one of nine siblings and is a self-taught photographer, poet and social media content creator .

Jafar told the Free Press she hopes to use the cash prize of $10,000 and her influence to help others.

More: Miss Michigan USA 2024, Alma Cooper, is also a soldier and mathematician

"Prior to earning the title, I have done my own things with philanthropy and fundraising for people who are in underdeveloped communities," she said. "This is something that I started a long time ago and want to keep doing."

"There's a lot of things I'm looking forward to, one of them being working with refugees. I came to America as a refugee. I know this won't only be an emotional experience for me, but a rewarding one as well."

Jafar says she is also interested in helping cancer patients and visiting children hospitals.

"The competition is so much more than just beauty; beauty doesn't define who you are. It's really nice when a woman takes cares of herself, but beauty is from within and that's the most important part," she said.

Selection process

Jafar was picked out of 20 finalists between the ages of 18-28.

Ashar Elgmal, president of the American Arab Organization, told the Free Press that the competition is meant to uplift young women who help the Arab community nationwide.

"For the contestants' qualifications, they must met the age requirement, be of Arab origin, be born as a female and have a minimum of a high school diploma."

Elgmal said contestants prepare for eight weeks before the pageant date. They first submit an online portfolio that is reviewed by judges.

Contestants who make it past the application process then receive an invitation to an in-person cohort meetup. For six weeks, contestants workshop fundraising ideas and go through a collection of interviews while simultaneously developing community with each other.

More: Resignations, troubles at Miss USA pageant could complicate matters for Miss Michigan

Then participants compete in the final pageant and are graded on a 200-point scale.

The scale measures contestant's education, hobbies, skills, character and connectivity to community. The winner receives a cash prize and the title of Miss Arab 2024.

The judges are selected through an application process. They serve in unpaid voluntary roles and all expenses are covered through the organization, including meals, transportation and lodging.

The Arab American Organization is a nonprofit, non-religious, non-political and nonpartisan organization serving the Arab community nationwide, promoting Arab culture. They are headquartered in Phoenix.

Jalen Williams is an intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit native Zenovia Jafar crowned Miss Arab USA