December 07, 2007
THE Muslim teenager who generated a wave of controversy by entering last
year's Miss Teen Australia beauty contest has made this year's finals.
Then aged 16, Melbourne schoolgirl Ayten Ahmet was condemned by Muslim
leaders when she entered last year's competition, with Melbourne cleric
Sheik Mohammed Omran branding participation by Muslim girls as "a slur
on Islam".
However, this year reactions had been more low key for Ayten, who was
one of 12 Miss Teen Australia finalists at the Gold Coast's White Water
World yesterday.
"It hasn't really been a big deal this year," she said.
"At the time last year I said it (religion) wasn't really relevant to me
entering the competition."
Being the centre of a raging debate on Muslim values was difficult for
the teenager, but it did not dissuade her from entering again.
"My family has been very supportive," she said.
"It was made into a big issue by some people last year but I didn't see
it as anything wrong."
Former Gold Coast Islamic Society president Naseem Abdul said Ayten was
free to make her own decisions about entering modelling or beauty
competitions.
"It is her life," he said.
"She is an individual, she can decide for herself if she wants to do
that sort of thing, it doesn't affect or offend me in any way."
The winner of this year's pageant was due to be crowned last night.
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