A graduate from a Michigan law school has set a precedent by becoming the first woman wearing a hijab to win a title in a Detroit suburb with a Muslim majority.

Ameera Hashwi, aged 25 from Dearborn Heights—an area recognized for its extensive Arab and Middle Eastern communities—earned the title of Miss Wayne County 2025 on Sunday, marking the first time a woman won while donning a hijab.

One essential element of the pageant is for each participant to select a personal cause or social impact initiative that they will promote during the competition, and, if victorious, throughout their time as Miss America.

Hashwi’s mission, titled Step Up & Serve, is a heartfelt initiative aimed at promoting physical fitness and empowering communities through community service, according to the organization’s website.

‘Hello, my name is Ameera,’ the newly crowned winner said in an Instagram post, beaming as she was draped with flowers and a badge.

‘My service initiative is Step Up and Serve, and I am your new Miss Wayne County,’ she declared, greeted by an enthusiastic round of applause.

Hashwi, a Wayne State University Law School graduate, represents a pivotal moment for representation and inclusivity, particularly in one of Michigan’s most diverse counties.

Her rich cultural heritage stood out during her on-stage talent, where she captivated the audience with a powerful vocal performance of Koul Chi Aam Yekhlass by Majida El Roumi. 

The Arabic classic, whose title translates to ‘Everything Is Ending,’ holds themes of love, dreams and the passage of time, using its poignant title to reflect on life’s inevitable endings and the transient nature of life.

Lauren Mroczek, the 2025 Miss Greater Kalamazoo titleholder, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram celebrating Hashwi’s historic win, calling her a ‘groundbreaker and change-maker.’

‘Even though I just met you this weekend, I know you have a heart full of love for Wayne County, and will be such a bright light!’ Mroczek wrote. ‘Your smile and heart are contagious!’

Hashwi began her studies at Wayne State University in 2017 as an economics and history major, where she quickly took on a slew leadership roles.

For the next three years, she served as President of the History Club, Social Media Manager for the Lebanese Student Association, and Director of Community Affairs for the Student Senate, according to the university’s website.

In September of 2021, Hashwi began her studies at the university’s law school – completing the program in May 2024, when she was officially sworn in as an attorney. 

‘I am honored to have been sworn in by the Honorable Judge David D. Turfe, with Dana E. Fraser serving as my sponsoring attorney,’ the pageant winner wrote to LinkedIn.

‘Passing the Uniform Bar Exam with a score high enough to qualify for practice in any UBE jurisdiction marks a truly rewarding milestone,’ she added.

Now, Hashwi’s competition win means more than just a crown – it’s her ticket to the iconic Miss America stage. 

The Miss Wayne County title is part of a long-standing scholarship program that helps young women become leaders, advocates and changemakers. 

Winning it means earning a spot at the Miss Michigan pageant – and a shot at Miss America, a national platform that has launched careers and elevated important causes for over 100 years.

While the Miss America Organization has historically reflected narrow beauty standards – with women of color, religious minorities, and diverse body types often underrepresented – recent years have seen a shift toward inclusion. 

Hashwi now embodies that change as she advances to Miss Michigan – and potentially the national stage – where she can help redefine what it means to wear the crown. 

Although she made history as the first woman to win the title wearing a hijab, a Minnesota woman also broke barriers in 2016 as the first Miss Minnesota USA contestant to compete in one.

Nearly a decade ago, 19-year-old Halima Aden made history as the first contestant to compete in a hijab and burkini – a full-body swimsuit – throughout the entire pageant, according to CBC.

Her groundbreaking decision came at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment was rising across the US, particularly in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election.

From 1996 to 2015, President Donald Trump himself owned the Miss America Organization, overseeing nearly 4,000 contestants during his tenure.

The Somali-American teen quickly became a source of inspiration for women nationwide, fulfilling her goal of challenging and changing perceptions within the pageant world.

‘It just makes me that more proud, because Donald Trump came to Minneapolis, and he talked about Somali-Americans, and how it was our fault that things weren’t going right in the community,’ Aden told People at the time. 

‘And how as president, he would make sure that our people weren’t integrated into communities without other people’s approval,’ she added. ‘That just made me really sad because America was founded on differences.’

‘We need to remember where everyone came from. Unless you’re Native American, your great-great-great grandparents came here for the same purpose as me, they came to seek greater life regardless of religion. So we should never forget that.’