IT IS proving as hard to find a beauty queen as it is to find a prime minister in Iraq. Exhausted by the time their politicians are taking to agree on a leader, the country thought it had at least succeeded in choosing a Miss Iraq.
Miss Universe contest owner Donald Trump praised the bravery of the newly crowned Miss Iraq, who has been forced into hiding amid death threats.
"She is very proud to have won, and now she is in a very tough position," Trump said of Miss Iraq, Silva Shahakian. "She is extremely brave."
Shahakian, a Christian of Armenian ancestry, was crowned Sunday when the original winner stepped down after receiving threats from extremists.
"I'll take care," Shahakian, 23, told ABC's "Good Morning America." "I will change my living place. I will do my best."
Her whereabouts are currently unknown, although she is believed to still be in Iraq.
Trump said he and Miss Universe organizers were considering making a special salute to Shahakian at the July 23 pageant in Los Angeles.
"We've had countries in the contest before where it was not the most popular thing to do, but never like this," Trump said.
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