Miss Iraq 2021 Maria Farhad Salem, 21, of Qaraqosh, Nineveh, Iraq will crown her successor on July 28, 2022. It is the ninth edition of the national beauty pageant that selects Iraq’s Miss Universe and Miss World candidates.

In 1947, Renée Dangoor became the first ever Miss Iraq. She was followed by Kholoud Saleh in 1962, Sameera Zeidan in 1963 and Nasik Shali in 1971.

In 1972, Wijdan Burhan El-Deen Sulyman became the first woman to represent Iraq in Miss Universe. Her successor Shimaa Qasim was crowned in 2015 followed by Sarah Idan in 2017 and Miss Iraq 2015 second runner-up Susan Amer became the first Miss Earth candidate representing the country.

Iraq was represented by Amer at Miss Earth 2016, Idan at Miss Universe 2017 and Farhad at Miss World 2021. They were all unplaced.

There are 20 women competing for the Miss Iraq 2022 crown. If facial beauty is the only criterion, these will be my Top 5 candidates:

#5. Sarah Khaled (Mosul)

.

#4. Jihan Majid (Wasit)

.

#3. Wala Nuri (Anbar)

.

#2. Maria Waad (Dohuk)

.

#1. Balsam Hussein (Baghdad Karkh-West)