Post date: Mar 22, 2013 3:47:2 PM
Miss Israel, an Ethiopian-born beauty queen, speaks about meeting her role model U.S. President Barack Obama at a gala dinner in Jerusalem.
JERUSALEM (MARCH 21, 2013) (POOL) - Yityish "Titi" Aynaw was invited by United States President Barack Obamato attend a gala dinner at the Israeli President's residence in Jerusalem on Thursday (March 21).
The 21-year-old is the first woman of Ethiopian origin to be crowned Miss Israel in the annual beauty pageant awards.Her life of beauty and glamour in Israel could not be more different from the world in Ethiopia where she grew up.
From humble beginnings living in the Horn of Africa to dining with world leaders,Israel's most beautiful woman has become a real-life Cinderella story.
Yityish, which means "look" in Amharic, grew up in Gondar, 420 km (260 miles) north of Addis Ababa in the Ethiopian highlands.
She immigrated to Israel with her brother in 2003 after her parents died.
"I never dreamt that I would get to do such a thing. At the end of the day, just 10 year ago I was in Ethiopia playing in mud and things like that and things like this were not on my mind," Aynaw said, ahead of the gala dinner.
Aynaw read about Obama's background and was inspired by his story.
"I found out what kind of things he went through in life and it's amazing things that declare that person to be a very powerful, charismatic, smart and a person who knew what he wanted and led himself in that direction and while there were difficulties along the way that I'm sure not all are told, he won over everyone," she said, adding that the U.S. leader was a role model for her and others.
"I am at that stage in life where I don't exactly know what to study, where to go, what to do and indeed I can learn one or two things from him," she said.
Thousands of Ethiopians who say their Jewish roots entitle them to live in Israelare still stuck in squalid camps in Ethiopia.
Known as "Falashas Mura," the descendants of Ethiopian Jews have reverted to Judaism since their late 18th and 19th century forbears converted to Christianity, sometimes under duress.
"I am very happy that we have an Ethiopian beauty queen and it helps the Ethiopians....less racism against us," said Keren Katamau, a young Ethiopian girl who lives in Netanya.
"I am happy that an Ethiopian beauty queen was selected and that she will meet President Obama, it makes me very happy," added Moshe Addiso, another proud resident.
Some 100,000 Ethiopian Jews now live in Israel but their immigration has been clouded in controversy over their heritage and whether they meet the religious criteria that would allow them automatic citizenship.