Muslim Mom Competes in National Comedy Contest

May 14, 2006

Source: The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=3818144

On May 14, 2006 The Denver Post reported, "Rubi Nicholas works long hours as an assistant vice president at a health care insurance carrier in Denver. At 36, she has two young daughters, a husband, a house in Castle Rock and dreams of becoming a comedian. She's a Muslim of Pakistani descent who married a Greek Orthodox man. Her husband converted to Islam, and became a stay-at-home dad so she could get her MBA and become a corporate executive. Now she's writing and performing jokes about her life as a working mom and Muslim. Last week, she won Nick at Nite's Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2, a TV competition that resembles an 'American Idol' for comedians. Today, she will host a special night of programming from 7 to 10 p.m. on Nick at Nite, which is piped into 88 million homes. And she will soon develop a comedic TV pilot about her life. 'Growing up as a Muslim and a Pakistani, it's just not something you do,' she said. 'It's very inappropriate behavior for a young lady, clowning around and goofing off.' Nicholas runs her jokes by an imam, or cleric, out of respect for her family, culture and traditions. But her humor isn't without its edge. 'It's strange being a Muslim family in an all-white suburb,' jokes Nicholas, who moved to Colorado from Pennsylvania three years ago. 'Every time my daughter leaves her Barbie Jeep in someone's driveway, they call the bomb squad.' Nicholas hopes to offer Americans a lighter perspective on the Muslims living in their midst. But in a world where some Muslims protest editorial cartoons, she knows she's taking a risk. 'I'm waiting for the fatwa papers to come through my door any day now,' she laughs."