"This attitude is misogynistic and condemnable."
After being named Miss Universe Pakistan on September 14, Erica Robin of Karachi will now represent Pakistan at the international Miss Universe pageant, in El Salvador later this year.
Her success was lauded by many, but it also aroused the wrath of more orthodox forces, who questioned how someone could represent Pakistan in an official capacity without official approval.
Taqi Usmani, a religious scholar, was one of the first to express outrage and demand that the government take notice and take action against those in charge of the pageant.
Additionally, he insisted that any notion that these women were “representing Pakistan” be refuted.
As one of the critics of the movie Joyland when it was released in Pakistan, Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan tweeted that participating in such pageants was “shameful” for Pakistan.
Similar complaints were made by journalist Ansar Abbasi, who questioned which government official had given the go-ahead for Pakistani women to compete in the contest.
Information Minister Murtaza Solangi tweeted in response to his criticism that no one has been formally nominated by the government for such actions.
The Foreign Office may have gotten involved in the controversy on September 13, according to media sources, but according to FO spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, no statements have been made on the subject.
However, many individuals found this kind of official inspection of something as trivial as a beauty pageant offensive.
Some even criticised the government for fanning the flames of a “non-issue” by adding to the controversy.
Speaking to Dawn, Ms Yusuf, a former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said that after Malala Yousafzai and Sharmeen Chinoy faced backlash, this young woman is now facing similar attacks.
She said: “This attitude is misogynistic and condemnable.
“Attacking Pakistani women who become famous on the world stage has become the norm.
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“Why are women’s achievements abroad seen as a blot on the nation’s morals?”
In the meantime, Erica Robin received many well wishes on social media.
Journalist Mariana Baabar wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Pakistan belongs to all. Every Pakistani can represent Pakistan anywhere, whenever, however.”
In an interview with VOA Urdu, Erica said being the first Pakistani to compete in the Miss Universe pageant was a tremendous responsibility for her.
She also promised not to do anything that would harm the reputation of the nation.
More than winning, she claimed, just being acknowledged as a Pakistani on the international stage was an honour.
The 24-year-old revealed in the interview that actress and model Vaneeza Ahmed noticed her and urged her to pursue modelling.
In addition to congratulating Erica Robin on her victory, Vaneeza gave her opinion on the Miss Universe Pakistan controversy, telling VOA Urdu that most of the criticism of her accomplishment came from men.
Vaneeza Ahmed questioned: “Why do the same folks have an issue with a person participating in international competitions and winning titles like Mister Pakistan?”
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