Press & broadcasting
Rima Fakih
born 1985 · beauty queen, TV personality
Lebanese-born Dearborn resident who became Miss USA 2010, the first Arab American woman to win the title, representing Michigan.
- Born
Srifa, Lebanon
age 41- Also known as
- Rima Fakih Slaiby
- Detroit years
- 2003–2010s
- Field
- Press & broadcasting
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Fakih was born in southern Lebanon and grew up partly in New York before her family moved in 2003 to Dearborn, the city with one of the largest Arab American communities in the United States. She studied at Henry Ford Community College and earned degrees in economics and business management from the University of Michigan–Dearborn, and worked in development at the Detroit Medical Center, recruiting within the Arab American community. After placing in local pageants she won Miss Michigan USA and then, in May 2010, the Miss USA crown, becoming the first Arab American and the third Michigan woman to hold it. Dearborn's mayor presented her with a key to the city. Her win drew national attention and debate about Muslim and Arab identity. She later trained as a wrestler on WWE's Tough Enough and in 2018 became national director of Miss Universe Lebanon.
Highlights
- Moved with her family to Dearborn in 2003
- Graduate of the University of Michigan–Dearborn
- Miss Michigan USA and Miss USA 2010
- First Arab American woman to be crowned Miss USA
- Received a key to the city of Dearborn in 2010
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · 2000s
University of Michigan–Dearborn
Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan, where Fakih earned her degrees.
Studied here · 2000s
Henry Ford College (Henry Ford Community College)
Dearborn community college where she began her studies.