The 1930’s
In the mid 1930’s, Arshak Photoshop started displaying the photos of the fairest women in Baghdad, he labeled them beauty queens of the month, then when the idea was successful it became an annual event with the winners from each month would compete for Miss Baghdad or Baghdad’s Queen of Beauty.
The idea proved successful, more customers were coming in, generating more business to the owner. In 1934 the very first official MISS BAGHDAD or Baghdad's Beauty Queen was elected, sponsored by Arashak, Winners of this title would promote Arashak's Photoshop and have their photos published in local news papers as the fairest women in Baghdad. This tradition continued until 1946.
1947 The Miss Iraq Pageant is born
In 1947 Mr. Naim Dangoor and owner of the Cocal Cola franchise in Iraq organized the first Miss Iraq Beauty Pageant (The Iraqi Kingdom’s Queen of Beauty)
In December 1947 the very first MISS KINGDOM OF IRAQ was crowned, Renee Dangoor, wife of Naim Dangoor , she also held the title of Miss Baghdad, which she had won earlier in April.
The 1950’s
In 1950 The Ministry of Tourism started organizing the event, because of Mr. Dangoor and many Iraqi Jews who funded the pageant were expelled from Iraq due to the establishment of the State of Israel.
In the early years of the Miss Iraq contest, married women were allowed to compete; in 1957 new regulations stipulated that married women are NOT allowed entry into the contest.
In 1958 scholarships were offered to the winners
The 1960’s
The Directorate General for Tourism took over in 1963.
Swimsuits were first introduced during the 1963 pageant as part of the preliminary show only and thus they were not worn on stage during the actual event.
Scholarships were handed out for the last time as part of the prize package in 1963.
The Titleholder's duties were merely making appearances in parades and festivals, especially the spring festival which was always held on March 21st of every year.
The 1970’s A new era and a new phase
In 1970, swimsuits were discarded, due to the then feminist's movements around the globe.
In the 1970’s the winners won contracts with the Iraqi Television as part of the prize. In 1972 the semi finals were introduced for the first time. Previously, all participants were judged in interview and evening gowns and then runners up were named and the winner's names were called, they crowned a beauty queen and regional queens such as Miss Northern Iraq, Miss Southern Iraq, Miss Baghdad, Miss Basra, Miss Nineveh, Miss Babylon and Miss Sumer & Akkad.
The swimsuit segment was brought back in 1974.
The 1980’s
In 1988 the State Directorate for Tourism was abolished and an Iraqi business woman and entrepreneur of French and Scottish descent named Edith Nouri took over the Beauty Competition and decided to modernize it.
The 1990’s
Previously, the pageant admitted 15 – 30 contestants and in 1990 there was a fixed number of 20 contestants, they were judged for their personality rather than just looks for the first time, the promoter of the pageant wanted Miss Iraq to follow International standards, but lack of funding ( which was the main cause during the 70’s and the Iraq – Iran war during the 80’s made it difficult to send representatives to International beauty competitions. The 1990’s decade was even more difficult, especially with Sanctions and the second gulf war.
Ms. Nouri’s MISS IRAQ COMMITTEE, redefined the pageant adding a sense of philanthropic side to the title, unlike previous winners who only attended gala events and parades, the new winners had a contract that urged fund raising and other charitable events that helped the community.
In 1998, the committee introduced the Super Model of Iraq and the Elite Model look –Iraq competitions in an effort to encourage young women to enter the modeling industry, and to encourage aspiring Iraqi fashion designers, stylists and jewelers to display their creations during these events.
In 1999 the MISTER IRAQ pageant started its debut, in order to promote Iraqi males to enter the modeling industry and appear in advertisements.
The new Millennium, The 2000’s
In 2000, a second queen was crowned: "Fatinat El Rafidain" - Iraq's Maiden of Beauty (IMB).
In 2002, other titles were added : The third queen was named "Malkat El Hasnawat" - Iraq's Queen of Grace (IQG) , the fourth queen was : "Malkat Jamal Sinn Al Murahaka" - Iraq's Teen Queen (ITQ), A fifth queen was added: "Ameerat Al Jameelat" - Iraq's Princess of Beauty These two are not elected every year.
Another notable title introduced during the year 2002, was Audience favorite title, this is voted on by the audience attending the show; they submit the name / number of their favorite contestant.
In 2002 Edith Nouri signed a deal with an Iraqi business man called Mahmoud Al Damirci ,they started the MARDUK ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, in an effort to turn these events into annual TV productions ,they also wanted to add the EUROVISION IRAQ song contest, acquiring a Eurovision franchise proved to be an unsuccessful venture, because they were unable to find a TV station in Iraq that was a member of the European broadcast corporation.
In 2003 they parted ways and Ms. Nouri stared a new company with another partner and called the company " MISS IRAQ ORGANIZATION” which later in September of the same year Ms. Nouri's business partner pulled out due to financial losses and 2003 proved to be almost fatal for the pageants produced during this tough year.
Edith was not torn by the down fall that almost brought these events to a halt, she started IRAQ MODEL MANAGEMENT in November - 2003.
In May 2005, Edith decided to leave Iraq and to return to her native France.
Miss Iraq Pageant’s of 2003, 2004 and 2005 were held in Kenya as were the Mister Iraq Pageants of 2003, 2004 and 2007. The 2006 Mister Iraq Pageant was held in Baghdad - Iraq.
The 2007 Miss Iraq Pageant was held in Izmir - Turkey while
The 2008 Miss Iraq pageant was held in Nice - France.
In the summer of 2005, Ms. Nouri sold the company to Talat Model Management, The 2006 events were organized under TALAT MODEL MANAGEMENT.
In 2008 the Miss Teen Iraq pageant made its first official debut as a separate pageant, held simultaneously with the Miss Iraq 2008 pageant, previously, the Teen Title had been rewarded to the Third Runner Up (4th place winner) to Miss Iraq since the year 2002.
In 2009 Miss Teen Iraq was held in January and not simultaneously with the Miss Iraq 2009 pageant. There was an effort to produce Miss Teen Iraq in 1993 and 1998, but both efforts failed at the last minute due to lack of funds, however the 1993’ edition a winner was appointed as Miss Teen Iraq 1993, she was Randa Kanadilo, who later won Miss Iraq 1997.
