7ikayat حكايات … الموقع الأول للمسلسلات العربية

With two U.S. flags in front of the stage inside a Dearborn restaurant, Arab Americans cheered, danced, and sang into the night Sunday for Rima Fakih of Dearborn -- crowned Miss USA in Las Vegas.

"This is unbelievable," Rami Haddad, 26, of Livonia said Sunday night after the pageant. "It's a dream come true. I can't express my feelings."

Fakih, of Lebanese descent, went into the pageant as Miss Michigan. She is thought to be the first Arab American and Muslim to become Miss USA.

She won the pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip after swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions.

Haddad was one of many supporters who gathered at La Pita in Dearborn, where Arab Americans were proud to see Fakih win.

"This is the real face of Arab Americans, not the stereotypes you hear about," said Zouheir Alawieh, 51, of Dearborn. "We have culture. We have beauty. We have history, and today we made history. ... She believed in her dreams."

The music was loud and thumping inside La Pita, with pictures of Fakih everywhere, including on T-shirts her fans sported. On the back was a quote from Fakih: "It's beauty that captures your attention, personality which captures your heart."

A woman at Sunday's celebration sang about beauty in Arabic, but the overall theme was heavily American, with red, white and blue decorations around the banquet hall that read "USA."

"We're so excited," said Rania Jergess, 35, of Dearborn Heights.

When asked how she felt about winning the crown, Fakih said, "Ask me after I've had a pizza."