Interview by Damian Herren
Miss Iraq 2010, Olga Kojaman,
Damain: Hi Olga, this is your first interview, this will be published in various magazines and I interviewed last years winner Alina Shohet after she took over from the winner and runner up who both resigned and I am referring to Zeena and Aure who both did not complete their reign. we are in Dubai now, I love your apartment, please tell me what has happened to you since you won on April 13th in the Comoros.
Olga: After I won, I made a few appearances in Comoros, in Moroni to be exact the very next day, promoting our sponsors and their businesses, then on April 16th I flew with my managers at Talat Models to Milan for my photo shoot and started work, while the other girls went home, except for the top 5 titleholders we flew to Milan and then they left home while I went to Dubai, I am accommodated in Sheikh Zayed road, and the apartment is owned by the Talat Organization that deals in real estate, and the winner uses it for a year as a base for her travels and also the other runners up or titleholders use it when they are here, its huge and I love it.
Damian: your name sounds Russian and I have dug up some info and googled your name, there are some negative vibes and sentiments written on message boards, I won't name any but some say that you don't look Iraq, some are displeased that all 20 girls are Jewish, etc....
Olga: my mother is from Latvia and my dad is Jewish and Iraqi, he left Iraq when he was young, and as for the forums I have read some of those comments on some forums that are run by Shiites and Kurds and I guess they are entitled to their opinion, Iraq is a free country and if I displease them as Miss Iraq 2010 then they can lodge a complaint to the organizers I guess.
Damian: How come there are no Shiite or Kurdish entries and the Sunni entries are few?
Olga: there have been many Sunni girls in the pageant prior to 2009, with the other communities I guess these type of pageants are against their culture, well Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih is a Shiite so I guess they do compete in Pageants.
Damian: very well, what would Miss Universe 2010 look like if Miss Lebanon 2010 to be selected this June is a Christian, A Shiite Miss USA, Miss Israel and Jewish Miss Iraq in Miss Universe?
Olga: first of all, it's a beauty pageant not a world summit so I don't think that there would be issues, second I am not competing in any International Pageant, so I won't compete in Miss Universe, and I would love to meet all the Misses you mentioned and I don't have any issue with anyone, would love to meet Miss Israel, we share alot of sentiments and since we are both Jewish this is great, as for the others I would love to meet them as well, but If I am snubbed because I am a Jewish Miss Iraq then I would laugh it off and socialize with the other delegates I guess, but since Miss Iraq was held in the Comoros we breach Miss Universe rules to have the National pageant on National soil so we can't compete in Miss Universe or Miss World.
Damain: What do you intend to do this year ? any trips to Baghdad?
Olga: yes I will be in Baghdad in October for a month I will visit the local charities that we work with and hand them the cheques , the money we raised for them, and I will be doing modeling assignments in Germany, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Paris and New York.
Damian: Do you think Iraq will ever have a Miss Universe or Miss World winner?
Olga: Yes, why not? I am sure if the girl is prepared well enough she might make it, although in the Middle East we are not pageant crazed nations, so her Victory wouldn't matter much.
Damian: How many languages do you speak? and how tall are you?
Olga: I stand at 175m, and I speak Arabic, Hebrew, Russian and English.
Damian: Do think Iraqis resent having a Jewish Miss Iraq? is there another message being sent here, like Jews are better looking or that Iraq celebrates its Jewry through pageants?
Olga: Perhaps, I think you are better off conducting survey's on the streets of Baghdad asking people how they feel about a Jewish Miss Iraq, but I haven't had any issues not have we received any hate mail at Talat Model Managament. I don't think that there is any message, it's coincidental that there are more Jewish applicants.
Damian: Why does the pageant use a system similar to Miss Israel?
Olga: I guess the previous organizers back in the year 2000 liked that system and applied it, but I think in 2011 this may change, having only one winner on stage wearing a sash and crown and other titles for Runners Up such as Iraqi Beauty, Queen of Grace etc... might be omitted next year.
Damian: Thanks Olga you are great to talk to, it was fun hanging out with you in your apartment, tell me what is your favorite Dubai hot spot?
Olga: I love Dubai, aside from the Malls and I spend alot of time in the Mall of the Emirates, I love the Bhudda Bar and The Raffles Hotel, oh and the Grand Hayatt.
Damian: Can I come over in December for a chat?
Olga: You are welcome my dear any time.
Damian: Thanks, what happens if some Iraqi recognized you at a Mall or a restaurant?
Olga: I would invite them to join me for a meal or a drink.
Damian: I wish you the best and you seem like a well rounded person.
Olga: Thank You
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