Rima Fakih was crowned in 2010 as the winner of the year’s Miss USA.
The ex-beauty Queen converted last month in preparation for her marriage in Lebanon which is scheduled to hold next week.
Describing herself to news site Albawaba, the ex-beauty Queen said: “I’d like to say I’m American first, and I am an Arab-American, I am Lebanese-American, and I am Muslim-American.”
She continued: “When I went to the University of Michigan, because there’s more of a Muslim community, my dad wanted me to learn more about Islam,”
Formerly a Shia Muslim, Fakih grew up attending a Catholic school. In 2010, she told the Huffington Post that her family’s religious beliefs have always been open. “We’re more of a spiritual family,” she explained. “Religion really doesn’t define me or my family. My family’s been very liberal, and we appreciate all different kinds of religions.
“I didn’t know much about Ramadan and other holidays, and my dad wanted me to take that opportunity and learn.”
After winning Miss America, Fakih was involved in some controversy when photos surfaced of her participating in a radio station's "Stripper 101" contest. She was also convicted of drunk driving in 2012.
The couple, set to marry in Lebanon, will have The Weeknd perform at the ceremony.
Fakih added: “My brother-in-law is Christian, and he and my sister baptized their two sons. I have an uncle who converted to Christianity, and he’s a priest now.”
In March, Fakih tweeted a Bible verse from Philippians, seemingly signaling her conversion. "Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me," Fakih wrote.
Later that same day, Fakih tweeted a picture of inspirational an message about God.
"Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, a victim into a victory," the message states.
Fakih is also no stranger to Christian traditions and beliefs, as she and her family often celebrate Christian holidays.
"We'd go to church on Easter. We always had a Christmas tree and every year we go the Radio City Christmas Show, and watch 'The Miracle on 34th Street,'" she said. "But we celebrate some of the Islamic holidays as well. When I went to the University of Michigan, because there's more of a Muslim community, my dad wanted me to learn more about Islam. I didn't know much about Ramadan and other holidays, and my dad wanted me to take that opportunity and learn."
She added in the 2010 interview that although her family identifies as Muslim, there are members of her family who are openly Christian.
"I consider myself to be blessed. I have a family that is a mix of different religions and different ethnicities. My brother-in-law is Christian, and he (and my sister) baptized their two sons. I have an uncle who converted to Christianity, and he's a priest now," she said. "My family is Muslim. But none of this ever came up in our family. We don't look at religion as something that defines us, we look at religion as something that we respect, and something that teaches us about ethics."
She concluded the interview by saying that as Miss USA, she can be a "Muslim ambassador" for the country.
"I feel like I can be a great representative. America is the land of opportunity, and people can live in America and be who they want to be," Fakih stated. "Don't deny your faith. Don't deny your ethnicity."
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