Iranian-German Beauty Queen Faces Cyberbullying

In an interview with Agence France-Presse in Berlin, the newly crowned Miss Germany, Abamé Schunawer, expressed her dismay at the cyberbullying campaign against her, stating, "I find this very sad." She added, "These messages are so superficial that I am unable to say anything," referring to the mocking comments and insults directed at her appearance, age, and heritage.

Since 2019, changes have been introduced to the "Miss Germany" competition, somewhat resembling those in the "Miss Universe" competition, although there is no connection between the two. The competition, renamed the "Miss Germany Awards," now pays less attention to measurements, age, and weight, focusing more on the contestants' personalities, beliefs, and the social issues they wish to advocate for and work towards. As a result, Schunawer was crowned Miss Germany at the end of February.

"I participated in the Miss Germany competition because I wanted to make a change. I have a two-year-old daughter, and I felt that I wanted to take on responsibilities to be a role model for her," she said. "I have always been inspired by strong Iranian women who go out into the streets every day and fight for their freedom. These are the reasons that made me decide that I need to accomplish something."

Two years ago, Iran witnessed protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died days after being detained in Tehran for not adhering to the strict dress code in the Islamic Republic.

Racism in Germany
Schunawer, a mother of two, does not want to be overcome by fear. She said, "I did not imagine that winning the title would cause such a stir, but it shows me that my struggle for gender equality and respect for differences is more important than ever." In addition to her work, she is the founder of the "Sherzan" network, which fights for women's rights.

Competition director Max Klemmer expressed his solidarity with her as soon as the hate messages began to appear. He said on his Instagram account that the judging panel is comfortable and confident that they "chose the right person."

As foreigners face discrimination in Germany, particularly from the far-right and conservative right-wing, her journey serves as a positive and encouraging example.

"I attended school in Germany, received my diploma, and studied architecture," she said. "I learned to prove myself in this male-dominated environment, to fight and earn respect as a woman, and as an Iranian, and therefore as an immigrant."

She confirms that she receives positive feedback from the Iranian community. She added, "They are very proud that we are giving them a little hope, and that as Iranian women, we can achieve something in another country where we were born and have lived for over 30 years."