Kurdish beauty from Kirkuk, Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman, who was crowned as Miss Iraq 2016 in the first beauty pageant to be organized since 1972 was officially welcomed by the Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Ministry of Iraq last night.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, Faryad Rawandozi, officially received the winner of Miss Iraq 2015, Shaymaa Qasim, in his office in Baghdad on Sunday. Shaymaa Qasim was escorted to the Minister's office by a delegation which consisted of the Deputy Minister of Culture of Iraq, Fawzi Al-Atroshi, members of Iraqi Fashion House and organizers of Miss Iraq.

The Ministry recognized the significance of the national beauty pageant after the wide media coverage the event received and hence, invited the reigning Miss Iraq for a meeting with the honorable Minister.

Iraq only held one pageant as part of Miss Universe in 1972, and since then it has never sent a delegate to international pageants. The beauty contest is the first one in more than 40 years to take place in the war torn country. The newly crowned Miss Iraq has been receiving a multitude appraisal and compliments from worldwide, and as such it would be exciting to see which pageant, the queen will be elected for representation.