First Muslim Miss England crowned

18 year old Uzbekistan-born Hammasa Kohistani has become the first Muslim woman to be crowned Miss England.

Kohistani, known as Miss Maya after the Asian fashion house which sponsored her, beat 40 other hopefuls including four other Muslim girls.

She will now enter the Miss World final in China in December which offers a $US 100,000 prize.

"There is no way a Muslim girl should be playing any part in this competition, because it is unlawful," said Hashim Sulaiman of the Liverpool Islamic Institute, speaking to Friday's edition of the Times newspaper.

"The ladies in that contest are very scantily dressed and the only part of the body that should be on display are the face, the hands, and the feet."