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Turkish model industry and the Islamic World

In the Turkish model industry and the Islamic world the majority are Muslim women because the religion that dominates in Turkey is Islam. However, many people are secular than religious, although in recent years there has been a change on this issue. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and the first president of the republic of Turkey, supported and promoted women’s rights in Turkey. “ Secularism is a cornerstone of the philosophy of Kemalism, by which modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kamal Ataturk (1881-1938), wrenched the newborn Turkish Republic out of the moribund Ottoman Empire in 1923 and set its face westward toward modernization”. Turkey is an Islamic country which promotes a dress code where women have traditional style of handkerchief or large head scarf. Over the time and with the Reformism by Ataturk, women in Turkish society have started to turn into modernization and adapt the secular lifestyle. A traditional Islamic women have to be devoted to their husbands and children. Kemalism planned to encourage the skills and education of women in Turkey and to improve their contribution to their democratic state. The aim of Turkish nation is to achieve and to be a model of secular, democratic, Islamic country which supports Women’s rights, a modern and moderate Muslim state. There are a lot of popular Turkish female models such as Azra Akin, Tülin Şahin, Çağla Şıkel, Özge Ulusoy, Amine Gülşe, and more. Many of these models have participated in various beauty contests around the world. Also, many supermodels who have adopted the acting career have become Turkish feminists such as Beren Saat.

Models empowering women in Islam - Activism and feminism

The fact that models empowered women in Islam continued to grow in Turkey. This has led to a point where more women have begun to believe that women in Turkey have rights that need to be realized."It is only in recent decades that the state feminist project has been challenged by women with alternative views of what it means to participate in a modern society and by feminists who believe that women should be empowered as individuals, not just as a class”. There are many women in the Turkish society who broke the laws of traditional culture and concentrated on promoting female power in Turkish society. Moreover, Turkish feminists appreciate the support, understanding, and consideration of Ataturk, who believed that women should be educated and live modern life. As the modernism entered Turkey, women have become more educated and sophisticated. The modeling industry quickly developed and models took a positive advantage of their fame to give voice and stage to all women across Turkey. More and more models have started to develop their careers not only in Turkey but also abroad such as Tülin Şahin. Many Turkish models have begun their modeling career in Europe and continued their career in Turkey. Beren Saat, a Turkish model, actress, and activist has donated money to "Mor Çatı" a women's shelter foundation, “Nar Taneleri Projesi” a charity that educates young orphan girls aged between 18 and 24. Beren has also supported a project organized by European Union and Afghanistan's Ministry for women's healthy childbirth in Afghanistan."Women organized popular meetings, gave speeches to the Turkish public, and helped establish Defense of Rights organizations during the war". Nowadays, Turkish models promote women's rights and strengthen women in Turkey so women will have full equality.

Beauty pageants

Beauty pageants in Turkey was a huge revolution. “The Turkish revolution was the small beginning of a great revival of Islam, of which the signs can be seen in every quarter of the Muslim world”. Many Turkish Muslim models have participated in various beauty pageants such as Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Europe, Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss intercontinental, Miss top model of the world and Miss Turkey. Turkish entrances to these beauty contests were almost always successful. Although Turkey is an Islamic country, these Turkish models were walking in all kinds of clothes and demonstrating that the Turkish revolution have changed the society from traditional to more modern and moderate society. Turkish models have brought great honor to their nation and country after they won beauty contests. Many beauty queens have won the coveted title and made history in Turkish culture. Turkish model, Keriman Halis Ece, was the first who won Miss Universe from Turkey in 1932. More models who won Miss Europe were 1952: Gunseli Basar, 1971:Filiz Vural, 1982: Nazli Deniz Kuruoglu, 1984: Nese Erberk, 1993:Arzum Onan. Models who won Miss Asia Pasific, 1979: Ayla Atlas, 1984: Melek Gurken. In 1999, Mine Erbaykent won Miss Intercontinental. Miss top model of the world, in 2001: Yeliz Celiskan won and two years after in 2003, Nihan Akkus won the contest. The last who has won was the model and actress, Azra Akin in 2002. The success of the modeling industry in Turkey has gained great recognition all over the world. This revolution happened with the help of the reformer, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who always aspired to promote the Turkish people and women in particular. “Kemalism represented the ideological basis of this revolution and was, therefore, intimately related to the reforms of Kemal Ataturk".

Career development beyond modeling

Career development beyond modeling happens often when models become famous and integrate their skills in other fields. For instance, careers in acting, hosting, and singing. Most of the models enter into the world of business and fashion. One of the Turkish models who became a fashion businesswoman is Çağla Şıkel Between 1997 and 2003, she made fashion shows in France, USA, Germany, China, Russia, Greece, Switzerland and Egypt. Another Turkish model who developed her career from modeling to music and film industry as well as hosting different TV programs is Petek Dinçöz. One of the most known former models is Cansu Dere a Turkish film and television actress, model, and beauty pageant runner-up. Cansu Dere played in many popular Turkish TV series such as Ezel, Muhteşem Yüzyıl, and Anne (Turkish TV series), these TV series are very popular around the world. Selen Soyder, who was crowned Miss World Turkey in 2007 and also represented Turkey in the Miss World 2007 in China. Aside of modeling she is also a Turkish actress and activist. These Turkish models are an icon to women in Turkey, and a role model for a successful ambitious woman in the Turkish society.