Miss Arab USA 2022 Overcomes Bullying to Inspire Others

Like any human being, Marwa Lahlou has encountered difficulties in life. At the age of 12, she left her country, Morocco to settle in the United States. At school, she was subjected to bullying. "I was a victim of serious bullying, unfortunately, my first year there, but I was happy, and I was proud and lucky to have parents and a family who supported me," she told Arab News. But she had sworn never to let this experience break her. Marwa Lahlou earned a master’s degree in international business management and marketing from the University of New Haven, located in West Haven, Connecticut. Over the years, she has developed language skills: she can fluently speak Arabic, English, French and Spanish. She then embarked on teaching English and American culture to Arabs settling in the United States.

When she learned that the Miss Arab pageant was going to be held in July 2022 after two years of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, she wanted to try her luck. Here again, she faced criticism and mockery. "Even from my close relatives or friends, they said: ’Oh, I don’t think you can do it. You’re small. You are this. You are that. This looks like a very difficult competition’. Which it was, without a doubt. All the candidates who were with me were incredible, great, intelligent and beautiful," she confided. But she did not let herself be overcome by despair. She remained confident until the consecration.

Her community service spirit seduced the organizers of the competition. "Their mission exactly matches my mission, helping people in need, helping refugees, helping children, the homeless, young women, being the spokespersons for people who need help. [...] " Marwa is delighted to have realized her dream of becoming the beauty queen and representing her two roots. "As an Arab American, I did my best to represent my two roots in the best possible way before the title. And now, with the title, it’s a true honor and a great responsibility, and I’m ready to take it on and I’m so happy to have it," she added.