“Miss Elegant International pageant is very good opportunity for any young girl. This experience comes as a journey of self-discovery through which I have learnt a lot about myself,” Rahim told Ahram Online an hour after her big win last Saturday evening.

“It was a very difficult contest. I did not expect to win the title. All the queens worked really hard and the pageant project ideas and topics were very good. We all deserved to win,” the beautiful 17-year-old young lady said.

Rahim, who is a student at Qatibay International School in Cairo, presented a project about promoting therapeutic tourism.

During the project, she will explore natural healing destinations all over Egypt such as Helwan, Fayoum, Baharyia, salt caves, oases, Sinai, Hurghada, Siwa, the Red Sea and Aswan.

She talked about Egypt being one of the most therapeutic places in the world, with certain locations alleviating problems like chronic digestive diseases, gout, diabetes, rheumatism, high blood pressure, skin conditions and arthritis.

“I will travel, explore and introduce these places to the public and abroad through my social media platforms. I probably will start phase one of my project in Ain Sokhna area. I will go to Siwa and El-Wahat El-Bahariya districts when the weather gets cold,” she added.

Her charitable social project is encouraging and raising awareness about Egyptian families sponsoring orphan children. “I will create videos from inside orphanages to tell untold stories about how people can be part of solution,” she said.

“Psychological support and care are really important for orphans. Paying regular visits, sharing feelings, playing and spending time with them at the orphanages has enormous positive impacts on their lives,” she explained.

“I worked on this project for a long time before the beauty pageant,” she said, adding that she would “start with Cairo then move to the other governorates.”

Rahim loves music and singing as a hobby too, saying “I took several vocal training courses at Cairo opera house.”

She is also an advocate of animal rights.

Rahim believes there are no secrets for staying naturally gorgeous. “Girls are like flowers. All flowers are beautiful in their own way. Love, cherish and take care of yourself,” she said.

Her role model is her mother Heba Haseeb, who is a successful businesswoman in the export and import business. “I am so proud of her. She always encourages and supports me no matter what path I choose to pursue,” she proudly said.

Rahim’s motto in life is “Never say never. All the power is within you.”