Shayma Qassim Abdelrahman, 20, took out top honours in the competition on Saturday, the first time it`s been held since 1972, only to receive a phone call demanding she join the Caliphate – or else.
But the stunner from Kirkuk, who described hers as a victory for women`s rights, said the kidnapping threat wouldn`t stop her from following her path, which includes next year`s Miss Universe contest, to be held in Thailand.
"(I will) continue forward despite any obstacles," the student said, admitting that she was a little rattled by the call.
"I want to prove that the Iraqi woman has her own existence in society, she has her rights like men," Ms Qassim told NBC News.
"I am afraid of nothing, because I am confident that what I am doing is not wrong."
Although certain components of the pageant, including the swimsuit section, were toned down in order to preserve Muslim modesty, headscarves, in accordance with the rules of Western contests, were not allowed.
Nonetheless, the event, originally scheduled for October, had to be postponed after tribal leaders menacingly voiced objections to their family members taking part, with at least two prospective contestants dropping out after receiving death threats, according to the Jerusalem Post.
But many believe the revival of the pageant is a positive step, especially for a country that has yielded a third of its territory to the murderous and repressive Islamic State.
"Iraq needed this," pageant director Ahmed Leith told CNN.
"The situation is weak here, and we wanted to celebrate this the same way other countries like Lebanon and others do. To have a sense of normalcy."
First Miss Iraq since 1972 rattled but unbowed by ISIL threats
23 December 2015
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It aimed to show off the "bright side" of the war-torn country, but as Miss Iraq is crowned for the first time in more than 40 years, the beauty pageant has been soured by threats from ISIL.
