Afghanistan has played host to its first fashion show in decades, with models displaying designer garments at a hotel in the capital, Kabul.
Models wore head scarves during the show
The show, which made the news on Afghanistan's Tolo TV channel, attracted an audience of expatriates and well-to-do Afghans. Clothes made from Afghan textiles, including fashion burqas, were shown off by non-Afghan models to the accompaniment of traditional local music.
Organisers said they did not want to court controversy by using models from the conservative Muslim country. The Taleban, who ruled the country in the 1990s before being ousted in 2001, enforced laws requiring women to cover themselves from head to toe. Nearly five years after the Taleban's fall, many Afghan women still choose to cover up completely when in public.
Balancing act
One of the designers behind the show, Italian Isabella Ghidoni, told Reuters: "We invited a lot of Afghan women to attend the show but not to be models." The garments on display were body-skimming rather than skimpy, and covered the models' chests, legs and arms.
Nooria Farhad, one of those in the audience, harboured her own hopes for the future.
"It will be much better and more effective if, in future, our Afghan models do fashion shows and show the world Afghan clothes," she said. "But we know many families still do not allow their daughters to do things like this."
Fashion sense
Ms Ghidoni and her partner, Afghan designer Zolaykha Sherzad, started off by training women in fashion and jewellery design and went on to sell their creations in Kabul shops.
Ms Sherzad said small fashion shows were held in the city before war broke out in the late 1970s. "There's not much in terms of the fashion we see in the West but there is fashion within a private environment, within the houses," she said. "People like to be fashionable."
MUSLIM TEEN MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST Miss England
London September 5, 2005
Hammasa Kohistani is crowned Miss England before a cheering crowd in Liverpool's Olympia Theatre.
AN UZBEKISTAN-BORN teenager has become the first Muslim to be crowned Miss England, and will compete in the Miss World pageant in China in December.
Hammasa Kohistani, 18, whose parents had fled Afghanistan, said she was delighted but surprised, and hoped she would not be the last Muslim to receive the honour.
"When they announced that I had won I thought I had misheard," said Ms Kohistani, dressed in an ivory white chiffon-and-silk ball gown designed and made by her mother. "It took a second to sink in." Asked about being the first Muslim Miss England, Ms Kohistani said: "I'm making history, and I'm very happy. Hopefully, I won't be the last."
Ms Kohistani was born in Tashkent, central Uzbekistan, after her parents were forced to flee Afghanistan. She speaks six languages, including Russian, Persian and French, and looked ecstatic as the crown was placed on her head before a cheering crowd in Liverpool's Olympia Theatre on Saturday night. She was selected from a group of 40.
Known as Miss Maya, after the Asian fashion house that sponsored her, she has also been offered a part in a Bollywood movie. The competition winner secures a place in the Miss World final in China in December, which offers a $US100,000 ($A130,000) prize.
Ms Kohistani and Sarah Mendly, 23, a biochemistry graduate who had already been named Miss Nottingham, were among four Muslims among the 20 finalists, which has annoyed some Islamic clerics."There is no way a Muslim girl should be playing any part in this competition, because it is unlawful," said Hashim Sulaiman, of the Liverpool Islamic Institute, according to The Times."The ladies in that contest are very scantily dressed, and the only part of the body that should be on display are the face, the hands, and the feet."
Miss England, Hammasa Kohistani, smiles in front of other contestants. She won the title ahead of 39 other girls from all regions of England.
Hammasa speaks six languages including Russian, Persian and French.
Miss England 2005
Afghanland.com - Hammasa Kohistani became the first ever Muslim girl to win Miss England beauty contest.
Hammasa was not born in England, she is an ethnic Afghan who's parents fled Afghanistan war and spent her childhood in Uzbekistan. They subsequently moved to England here Hammasa began her new life.
Hammasa speaks six languages including Russian, her native Dari and French,
In August 2005 She caused a controversy among the Islamic community in England by entering the beauty contest.
And despite the criticism she beat 39 stunning girls at the glitzy two day event at Liverpool's Olympia last weekend.
With pressure from the community to pull out, she stayed the course with the encouragement of her parents to ultimate success
Hammasa told the Gurdian news: "I never even considered pulling out. I’m not going to let someone else dictate my life.
"My parents were all for it and I was happy and that is the most important thing.
"I don’t think anyone has the right to tell me what to do because I don’t tell them what to do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
"I will accept theirs so they should accept mine. I didn’t do anything
"My mother came from a background that oppressed women for decades. It made me realize that girls and women who have the chance to make their voices heard should make the most of the opportunity.
"It is great to have been given the chance to have my voice heard in a society such as Britain.
"Britain is a great country and it is one of the most powerful nations in the world. Winning is a really unbelievable achievement for me."
"We moved away from Afghanistan after the war broke out for our own safety.
"I wasn’t aware of the severity of the problems at the time. It was only when I moved back here when I was eight that I look back at the situation and I think wow: ‘That was then and this is now.’
"So much has changed since then. I’m so lucky to be in England now.
"My win has shown how accepting Britain has become. Letting ethnic girls represent England in Miss World is a great thing.
"I’m so proud. In fact proud just isn’t even the word. I just can’t even tell you how happy I am. Making history is always a good thing.
"My family are really proud of me too. They are looking forward to coming to China with me to Miss World. They have been so supportive."
"I wasn’t that shocked at winning because I had as much of a chance as any of the girls, but still you never think that kind of thing is going to happen to you.
"I actually was reading my horoscopes in Mystic Meg in The Sun last month and it said my life would dramatically change.
"At the time I didn’t think much of it but now I’m thinking maybe she is good at predicting the future!
"She was definitely right! My life is crazy right now."
As well as a place at the Miss World Final in China in December, Hammasa’s film-star looks have also earned her a star role in a top Bollywood movie.
"Yes it is very exciting. I’m going to be a guest star in a Bollywood movie," Hammasa said.
"I am going to work with top Bollywood actors. That is all I know so far. A date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
"I can’t believe how my life has changed so suddenly. I'm meant to be going back to college tomorrow but I think I'll have to take a gap year because otherwise I'll get chucked out for my low attendance.
"Last week I was just an ordinary girl. Now everyone wants to talk to me. What will happen to me if I get lucky at Miss World and somehow win? I just can’t imagine.”
Hammasa will be participating in the Miss World contest in December 2005
Achievements
·Experienced and dedicated model and student with highly developed outcome of 11 GCSES Grades A* - C.
· Ability to speak fluently Russian and Persian fluently as well as French.
·GAP kids Summer Campaign ·Worked in Business Information Centre ·Asian Woman Magazine, 3 Issues ·Asiana Magazine Front Cover Autumn 2004 + 4 Issues
·The Bridal Look Book
A Beauty Campaign
·The Lifestyle Show - A three day live catwalk for an audience of over a thousand people.
Talents
I have done professional modeling for the last three years. I also have a passion in dance and am interested in advertise design. I have done professional dancing for three years consisting a hybrid of hip-hop, r'n'b and belly dancing.
Lastly I have hosted a show for two evenings with an audience of 600 people. .
Ambitions
My ambition is to travel the world. I have had the opportunity to have visited over 25 countries and would love to be able to continue seeing the different cultures and customs of The World.
My aim is to make a difference and have my voice heard. I would be honored to represent England in The Miss World competition, it would be an experience of a lifetime.
Most Importantly- I would like to make my parents proud because family means the world to me.
Age: 18
Height: 5'7.5"
Shoe: 5
Chest: 32
Waist: 24
Hips: 34
Dress: 8
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Woman Magazine, 3 Issues ·Asiana Magazine Front Cover Autumn 2004 + 4 Issues 