Yityish Aynaw, the 1st Ethiopian-born to win the Miss Israel pageant, was invited to dine at Shimon Peres’s house for State Dinner with visiting US President.
Newly crowned Miss Israel Yityish Aynaw was invited by US President Obama’s staff of his upcoming visit to Israel to a dinner that will take place at President Shimon Peres’s residence, Army Radio reported.
Miss Israel Yityish Aynaw – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem-The Jerusalem Post
Aynaw who is 21-years-old and a former Israeli army officer became the first Ethiopian-born Israeli to win the pageant.
“It’s important that a member of the Ethiopian community win the competition for the first time,” she was quoted by Israeli media as telling the judges in response to a question. “There are many different communities of many different colors in Israel, and it’s important to show that to the world.” Aynaw came to Israel with her family when she was 12. Acclimating to Israel was difficult at first, Aynaw said, but she picked up the language quickly with the help of a friend.
She has been working as a saleswoman at a clothing store since her army discharge.
During the competition, Aynaw cited the slain American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. as one of her heroes.
“He fought for justice and equality, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here: I want to show that my community has many beautiful qualities that aren’t always represented in the media,” she said.
View original Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=306268
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