Miss Germany Abolishes Swimsuit Competition... This Year, '39-Year-Old Women's Rights Activist from Iran'

Abolished as of 2019... Selection Based on Personality and Responsibility
Moved to Germany at Age 6... Currently an Architect Living in Berlin

Apameh Sohnauer (39), an architect and women's rights activist from Iran, was selected as Germany's top beauty this year.

According to local media including SWR on the 25th (local time), Sohnauer was chosen as 'Miss Germany' at the finals held the day before at Europa-Park in Baden-W?rttemberg, Germany, beating eight competitors and receiving the 'Women Leader Award.'

Apameh Sohnauer (39), an architect from Iran and a women's rights activist.
[Photo by Apameh Sohnauer Instagram]

She moved from Iran to Germany with her parents at the age of six and is currently working as an architect while raising two children in Berlin.

Sohnauer, founder of the women's rights organization 'Network Sirjan,' expressed her award acceptance speech by saying, "Iranian women who risk their lives every day protesting in the streets for freedom and rights are my role models."

Miss Germany used to select beauties based on appearance, including swimsuit judging, but since 2019, it has abolished such criteria and transformed into a competition that values women's responsibility and individuality.

Starting this year, the age limit was relaxed to 39 and then completely abolished, allowing a 42-year-old woman from Hamburg to advance to the finals as the oldest contestant.

Meanwhile, in January this year, a naturalized woman from Ukraine won a beauty contest in Japan, sparking controversy, and last year, Marina Machete, a 28-year-old transgender flight attendant, won the Miss Portugal pageant, reflecting a growing trend of beauty contests making new decisions that break away from traditional beauty standards.

Shino Karolina, born in Ukraine and naturalized as a Japanese citizen two years ago, seemed aware of the controversy surrounding her and said in her victory speech, "Although I look like a foreigner on the outside, I grew up in Japan since I was five, so my essence is purely Japanese."

Additionally, Ricky Koller, the first transgender woman to win the Miss Netherlands pageant, will represent the Netherlands at the Miss Universe pageant (El Salvador) this December, where representatives from around the world participate.

The Miss Universe organizers have allowed transgender participants since 2012.