A member of the Jamaat E Islami party, Pakistani MP Mushtaq Ahmed, publicly criticized her participation, deeming it a source of shame. Anwar Ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, has gone a step further by ordering an investigation into the matter.
Robin, who was one of the five finalists selected during a competition held in the Maldives, expressed her surprise at the backlash. In an interview with the BBC, she speculated that the criticism stemmed from the misconception that she would be “parading in a swimsuit in a room full of men.”
In a predominantly Muslim-majority country, critics argue that Pakistan should not be represented in events like beauty pageants. Miss Pakistan World, the pageant through which Robin was selected, was initially established in Toronto in 2002 and later moved to Lahore in 2020. It includes various versions such as Miss Pakistan Universal, Miss Trans Pakistan, and Mrs Pakistan Universal.
Notably, Pakistan has a history of women leaders, including Benazir Bhutto, Squadron Leader Ayesha Farooq, and Malala Yousufzai. Despite this, in its 72-year history of participating in Miss Universe, Pakistan had never nominated a representative until Robin’s selection.
At the selection round of the competition, Robin voiced her desire to change the perception of Pakistan as a backward country. Her courage is evident in a nation where public response to such competitions is often met with hostility.
Many prominent Pakistani celebrities, including Mariana Babar, congratulated Robin on her victory, praising her as a combination of “beauty and brains.”
Model Vaneeza Ahmed, who encouraged Erica Robin to pursue modelling, highlighted the disparity between people’s acceptance of competitions like Mister Pakistan and their resistance to women’s achievements.
Some argue that Pakistan is a country filled with contradictions, where marginalized groups and women often provoke the strongest reactions from protesters. One Karachi-based commentator told the BBC that Pakistan remains an authoritarian state with deeply entrenched patriarchal values.
However, Pakistan has an archived history of being more liberal, with reports indicating that the country was more culturally open in its early days. The BBC has referenced copies of Dawn newspaper featuring cabaret and foreign belly dancers performing at clubs, which were frequented by politicians, bureaucrats, and influential figures.
Erica Robin’s recent actions demonstrate that, despite the criticism from conservative quarters, there are individuals in Pakistan who yearn for a more liberal society. In her own words, “I’m not breaking any law by representing Pakistan on a global platform. I am doing my bit to quell any stereotypes about it.”
