New York Post, NY
April 15 2006
DONALD APPLAUDS MISS IRAQ
By LUKAS I. ALPERT
April 14, 2006 — Miss Universe contest owner Donald Trump yesterday
praised the bravery of the newly crowned Miss Iraq, who has been
forced into hiding amid death threats.
“She is very proud to have won, and now she is in a very tough
position,” Trump said of Miss Iraq, Silva Shahakian. “She is
extremely brave.”
Shahakian, a Christian of Armenian ancestry, was crowned Sunday when
the original winner stepped down after receiving threats from
extremists.
“I’ll take care,” Shahakian, 23, told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“I will change my living place. I will do my best.”
Her whereabouts are currently unknown, although she is believed to
still be in Iraq.
Trump said he and Miss Universe organizers were considering making a
special salute to Shahakian at the July 23 pageant in Los Angeles.
“We’ve had countries in the contest before where it was not the most
popular thing to do, but never like this,” Trump said.
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