Source: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4515836.stm
On December 10, 2005 BBC News reported, "A teenager who fled the Taleban regime has made history by being the first Muslim to represent England in the Miss World beauty contest in China. Hammasa Kohistani, 18, had been third favourite but Misses Iceland, Mexico and Puerto Rico were voted top three. Islamic extremists had sent her death threats for taking part in the competition, watched by two billion. Miss Kohistani, who was born in Uzbekistan, fled Afghanistan with her parents in 1996... On arriving in Britain, Miss Kohistani's father Khushal set up a takeaway food business while her mother Layla worked as an interpreter. Spotted on the London Underground at the age of 14, the A-level student speaks six languages and has modelled for Gap and Superdrug. She has also been offered a part in a Bollywood film. Miss Kohistani said: 'This is a real life fairy story that couldn't happen in any other country. So many people from so many nations have been interested in my progress, because I am not what was expected.'"