Before that, the last internationally recognized beauty queen of Iraq was a winner of the 1972 pageant.
The event held an importance for the country as a significant number of both Sunnis and Shiites hold conservative religious views.
The competition was attended by about 150 girls, although local officials were against the event. The winner of the title “Miss Iraq” was a 20-year-old Shayma Abdelrahman of the city of Kirkuk.
#Kurdish girl Shayma Qassim from #Kirkuk receives the Miss Iraq 2015, first Miss Iraq beauty contest in 40 years. pic.twitter.com/39C3mpfTpj
— Duhok Post (@Duhokpost) December 19, 2015
“I am very pleased that my country is looking to the future. This great event brought smiles to the faces of Iraqis,” the winner of the pageant was quoted as saying by Repubblica.
Several other contestants pulled out of the contest after receiving death threats.
