This Malaysian Just Became The First Hijabi To Compete In Miss Universe New Zealand
Nurul, who was born in Ampang, has lived in New Zealand since she was five years old.
By Katrina Khairul Azman — 05 Jun 2018, 04:31 PM
Malaysian Nurul Shamsul will be the first to don a hijab while competing on the Miss Universe New Zealand stage
Nurul (fourth from left) and the other top 20 finalists of Miss Universe New Zealand.
Image via @nurulzbshamsul/InstagramNurul announced her place in the beauty competition's finals in an emotional Instagram post published last month, in which she wrote that, "As a hijabi I will be the first in New Zealand to make it to the finals and one of the first in the world to ever do so."
"I hope that this opportunity will help break boundaries and stereotypes. I also hope that together we can redefine the meaning of what beauty is," she added.
"I prayed that if this opportunity is good for me and my religion, then I wanted God to let it happen. If it wasn't, then I wanted Him to turn me away from it," Nurul wrote in another Instagram post.
Born in Ampang, Nurul was raised in New Zealand by her Malaysian father and Indonesian mother since she was five years old
New Straits Times reported that the 20-year-old, who is a published poet, currently studies Psychology at the University of Waikato in the country's North Island.
Despite growing up in Morrinsville, New Zealand, Nurul revealed that she has always been proud of her Malaysian roots.
In an Instagram post, she wrote that, "It is important to always know who you are and where you come from. Stick to your culture and your traditions because it's such a shame when people assimilate to fit in. Be proud of all that you are."
Though she is not the first hijab-wearing Muslim to compete in a Miss Universe pageant, Nurul creates history as the first Malaysian to do so
Juice Online reported that Somali-British Muna Jama and Somali-American Halima Aden donned headscarves in Miss Universe Great Britain and Miss Minnesota USA respectively.
The finals for Miss Universe New Zealand 2018 will be held on 4 August at SKYCITY Theatre, New Straits Times reported.
Votes for Nurul can be bought on iTicket.
