A 25-year-old Muslim woman was just named Miss World Australia 2017 at a ceremony held in Melbourne on Friday, Arab News reported.
The title holder, Esma Voloder, was only an infant when her family fled a Bosnian refugee camp to relocate to Australia.
Growing up in the country, the young beauty went on to earn a degree in psychology and currently works as a criminal profiler.
According to Arab News, the new Miss World Australia, said that she aims to use her title to challenge stereotypes associated with Islam.
In a statement she made after the crowning ceremony, she said:
“The Islam that I know, that is in the Qur’an, I don’t associate that with any acts that are occurring around the world. People tend to blame religion for the atrocities that are happening, but if we do that we take responsibility away from the individuals.”
"A lot of things have been misconstrued about Islam. I feel that a category has been created that is not really what the Qur’an actually promotes. I believe Islam is about peace, unity, prosperity and inclusion," she added.
"Dreams really can become reality"
In a post she shared on Instagram after her win, Voloder wrote:
"Last night re-affirmed that dreams really can become realities. We have all heard this and some of us have been fortunate to not only think it, but truly know it."
The beauty queen went on to thank her family and all those who supported her along the way.