One year after she was crowned Miss Kurdistan Shene Aziz, who had vowed to devote herself to charity and put Kurdistan on the map by hosting an international festival where invitees would include other international Beauty Queens, says she would have done a lot more, given the funds. She laments that few local companies gave her financial support for projects, and those that did offer wanted her to appear in advertisements. “I did not want to be a logo for the companies,” she explains. Here is her interview with Rudaw:
Rudaw: Last month your Beauty Queen term ended. Why has there been no pageant contest to choose a new candidate?
Shene Aziz: First of all, I would like to make a clarification on your question. The term of the current Beauty Queen ends when a new one is elected. As for electing a new one, that is something that the Tourism Commission and the contracted companies will decide. As far as I know, in the near future preparations will be made to elect the new Miss Kurdistan.
Rudaw: On the day your term ended, why did you decide on a public speech?
Shene Aziz: Good question. I think the new Beauty Queen should be elected on the right date. That is because I want the election of Miss Kurdistan to become part of the culture, repeated on an annual basis, so that we can provide opportunities for new contestants to participate.
Rudaw: Will you allow your term to be extended?
Shene Aziz: No. I will help the contest management team elect the new Miss Kurdistan.
Rudaw: When will that contest take place?
Shene Aziz: I am not sure of the exact date. The reason the contest was conducted on a certain date last year was because the management team wanted to have the contest coincide with the Hala Erbil festival. However, for the current year’s contest we are trying to make better preparations. The contest will certainly take place this summer.
Rudaw: Will the contest be conducted in the same way as the one last year?
Shene Aziz: It has to be better than last year’s. Now, we have experience in conducting the pageant. We can make use of that experience in order to do a better job for the current year’s pageant.
Rudaw: What will be your role in the new contest?
Shene Aziz: I do not know yet. The details are not made public. However, I am sure I will have a remarkable role. And like I said, I am ready to help the management team in any way possible. I would also be happy to help the contestants.
Rudaw: It is said that you will be the head of the panel of judges?
Shene Aziz: That is just rumors. I have not been told anything formal in that regard.
Rudaw: In an earlier interview with Rudaw, you said there will be a festival in Kurdistan and that you will invite a number of Beauty Queens from other countries. Why did that not happen?
Shene Aziz: We are very new in this field. We suffered many problems. The Kurdistan government’s Tourism Commission supported us in many ways. However, conducting such a festival required support from major companies. No company showed the willingness to support the festival. Therefore, we could not carry it out.
Rudaw: Do you have good relations with other countries’ beauty pageants?
Shene Aziz: I maintain good relations with a number of beauty pageants throughout the world. However, I have very good relations with Miss Poland 2005.
Rudaw: Have you done any charity work or projects in the past year?
Shene Aziz: I have been able to carry out a number of projects. The first project was in Halabja. It is called ‘Assisting the Butterflies. The project was done with the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the PAO organization. The goal of the project was to provide a bus to the Diya Children’s Center, where children with special needs are served.
The second project was providing $30,000 to three families in the Erbil juvenile prison. Each family was given $10,000 in order to start a small business.
I have also personally assumed financial costs for two projects in Duhok. The projects were for the Duhok Thalassemia and physically challenged association.
On the International Women’s Day I, with the support of the Erbil governor, arranged a dinner and clothing distribution to the Young Girls department in the Erbil Social Services.
On the Newroz feast there was a clothing distribution and dinner for the Sulaimani Juvenile Center. This one was sponsored by the Kurdistan Children’s Protection organization and High Crest Hotel.
On the International Children’s Day, I personally assumed financial costs for distributing gifts to the children of Anfal victim in Chamchamal. I also arranged a sewing course for 25 women and provided sewing machines in Garmiyan.
Rudaw: Do you think your work has met people’s expectations?
Shene Aziz: Had I had financial support I could have done much more. However, I managed to do my part in the fields that I was aiming at, which is serving women and children. Keep in mind that in most of the countries in the world the Beauty Queen only works on one project. And they do not carry out major projects like mine.
Rudaw: You were promised a lot of support. Were those promises met?
Shene Aziz: If you are referring to the promises made by the KRG’s Tourism Commission, then yes. Again I would like to thank them for all of their help.
Rudaw: In the past year, have you made more friends or foes?
Shene Aziz: No doubt, anyone who works in any field will have to deal with some foes and friends. However, thank God, I have had more friends than foes. We worked together and the result was a positive experience of a beauty pageant.
Rudaw: You were born in Raniya. Have you done anything for Raniya?
Shene Aziz: It is true that I was born in beloved Raniya district. However, for me all Kurdistan cities and towns are like Raniya. We are all Kurds and live in Kurdistan. I will definitely have projects for Raniya too.
Rudaw: Many companies promised to support you. Why did you decline their support?
Shene Aziz: As you know, for their support you have to advertise for them. It is their right, but I did not want to be a logo for the companies.
Rudaw: What were some of those projects that you wanted to do, but could not?
Shene Aziz: There are many more projects to be done. The reason for these projects not being carried out is funds. I have tried my best to carry out all the projects, but sometimes finances have created major obstacles.
Rudaw: How have your relations with government officials been in the past year?
Shene Aziz: As Miss Kurdistan I have visited Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, the Iraqi first lady, and Imad Ahmed, Kurdistan deputy prime minister. Also in order to carry out the projects I have maintained good relations with a number of government officials.
Rudaw: You have not visited either the Kurdish president or prime minister. Is that because you are not interested in a visit, or because their doors were not open?
Shene Aziz: Thank you for bringing this subject up. No, I have not visited either one. And sadly, they did not even send a congratulations message to the first Miss Kurdistan. Such a message would have not been for Shene, but for Miss Kurdistan.
Rudaw: What are your plans after the expiration of your term? Will you stay in Kurdistan or go back to Norway?
Shene Aziz: After the term I will stay in Kurdistan. If circumstances allow, I would like to continue my work just as Shene.
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