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A Lebanese immigrant has become the first Arab woman to be crowned Miss USA. Rima Fakih, who moved to the United States as a baby, beat contestants from every American state to win the 58-year-old beauty pageant.

Delighted members of the Arab-American community gathered near Miss Fakih’s home in Michigan to celebrate victory by dancing and singing late into Sunday night. Zouheir Alawieh, 51, said: “This is the real face of Arab Americans, not the stereotypes you hear about. We have culture. We have beauty. We have history, and today we made history.”

The contest’s culturally-inclusive outcome followed a bitter row over homophobia which soured the beauty pageant last year. In 2009, Carrie Prejean, Miss California, finished second after telling a global television audience of more than 200 million that she thought same-sex “marriages” were wrong.

Miss Fakih, 24, was also asked to wade into one of America’s most divisive topical issues. Asked if she thought contraception should be covered under controversial health insurance plans, she said: “I believe that birth control is just like every other medication.”

On religion, she was more reticent saying her family practiced both Muslim and Christian faiths. Organisers were unable to confirm whether she has become the first Muslim Miss USA.

Her sister, Rana Faqih, who moved back to Lebanon a few months ago, said her sister had overcome traditional racial barriers to be considered the most attractive woman in America.

“It was a beautiful surprise,” she said from the family’s home village of Srifa in southern Lebanon. “We’re very proud as Lebanese Americans and as Lebanese that Rima reached this point despite all the pressures and stereotyping about Arabs and Lebanese. She made it. She fought and reached her goal.”

Miss Fakih competed against contestants from all 50 US states and Washington DC. Her prizes included a diamond tiara, a year’s rent in a New York apartment, an undisclosed salary and a full wardrobe of clothes and shoes.