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Miss Afghanistan 1972 – the country’s first and last beauty queen Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Wajid Baysudee, United States Sep 9, 2008
Media , Culture   Interviews
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How did you become Miss Afghanistan 1972?

Miss Afghanistan at that time was something very symbolic. It was basically a tool to encourage young girls to participate in society. This force of encouragement enables girls to be active in a simple way. The Miss Afghanistan pageant was created by an Afghan magazine called “Life”. Almost 100 girls from different schools in Kabul and big cities participated in the event. Girls were tested on a serious of things, and the highest scores were gathered. I obtained the highest score in the pageant, and was that first crowned Miss Afghanistan.

Were people in Afghanistan supportive of you and your role as Miss Afghanistan? What were people’s attitudes towards you back then?

At the time, Kabul’s were the most talked about people in the country, and yes they were more supportive of me being Miss Afghanistan. It was announced on the radio and in the newspapers. And all those who watched TV, or read the news definitely knew about the Miss Afghanistan pageant and were very excited about the event.

How did you see your role as Miss Afghanistan then?

I saw my position as Miss Afghanistan as not only an opportunity to learn more about the country, but also to try to act as a role-model for other young girls. I was able to travel to the big cities like Khandahar, Heart and Mazar-e-Sharif and visit the girls school there. I was able to talk to these girls and to inspire them to participate in school as well as achieve greatness. A sad memory I had was visiting a women’s prison in Heart. I witnessed young women, who were charged for very small crimes, suffer tremendously. The biggest reason women were in prison at the time was for escaping their homes due to forced marriages. My role as Miss Afghanistan helped me later to pursue a career at Kabul radio and television.

Where were you during the Taliban regime and why?

During the Taliban regime I was in Malibu, California, living my life. I was the first Afghan woman to meet with Taliban who came to America. I met with them because I was very curious to know what they represented and what they were about. I wanted to know why they deprived half of the society of education and basic human rights. I challenged them several times and thoroughly discussed these issues. I found them to very lost, young men who wanted good for the country, but were unsure and confused as to how to obtain this vision. Because they were deeply entrenched in their ideology, it was difficult for them to find a compromise for things like women’s right.

What happened to you after 1972?

After 1972, I studied at Kabul University and received my B.A in French Literature. I was working as a volunteer at Kabul Radio, and was hosting a very popular quiz show for Afghans around the country. During my educational career, I also married a young afghan pilot and later in 1978 had my first son. In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and I left my country in 1980 due to the political turmoil. It was an extremely difficult and saddening time for all of the Afghans. I became a political refugee in America and started a new life from scratch. I went from being a popular icon in Afghanistan, to sweeping floors in a French Bakery in Virginia. The shock was intense, but I never looked down: I always looked ahead with pride and hope. Throughout the rough times, I always had Afghanistan on my mind, and never forget the misery my people had faced and were facing. I had never revealed my position as Miss Afghanistan until 0/11. There was no reason to discuss my personal position, when there were much more important issues to discuss. After 9/11, however, when the face of my people were being shown by the West as dark, backward people wearing burqas and men with long beards, I saw it as my duty to reveal the truth and explain that we are much more than these images. It was my duty to state that once upon a time we were a country, where women were relatively free and we even had a Miss Afghanistan.

What do you think about your native land now? How differently are women treated now compared to the 1970s?

The 1970s was totally a different era. It is hard to compare now an then. While a few women wore burqas back then, a portion of the female population were active in society as doctors, lawyers, and teachers. The society was not fundamentalist at the time, something that is quite new for the Afghans to today. This fundamentalism, however, is partly attributed to the years of war as people’s hearts and minds have permanently changed. Because the control by a legitimate authority has been lost, religion is now used as a tool to control women and the society as a whole.

What do you do now? Are you still involved in the competition in any way?

I am married with ta son and two daughters. My husband used to be a pilot for United Airlines, and is currently a member of the Afghan Parliament. I am very much active with Afghan issues. I am the co-founder of the Afghan Women’s Association of Southern California, a non profit organization.





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Wajid Baysudee


I am Wajid Baysudee from Afghanistan. Working as a Farsi Content Researcher with TakingITGlobal as a volunteer.
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