Sara, the first Miss England finalist in a hijab
A MUSLIM law student is to become the first contestant to wear a hijab at the Miss England finals tonight.
Other Muslim women have taken part in Miss England while wearing a hijab but Sara Iftekhar is the first to make it to the final 50.
Organisers have stressed it will make no difference to her chances.
Miss England chief Angie Beasley said: ‘It just proves Miss England is a multicultural competition. It represents modern women today - and represents the way England is today.’
Miss England now consists of 12 rounds and some are optional – including the swimwear section which Miss Iftekhar, 20, chose not to take part in.
Other sections included a contest to find the best sportswoman, a general knowledge round and a beautiful hair round.
If Miss Iftekhar, an undergraduate at the University of Huddersfield, wins tonight at Kelham Hall in Nottinghamshire, she will represent England at Miss World in China, in December.