Hayat Ahmed Mohammed (born 1982) is an Ethiopian model and beauty pageant titleholder. Her name in Arabic means "life." Hayat Ahmed was Ethiopia's first representative to Miss World pageant. At the time of the competition, she was a third-year student at the
Unity University College pursuing a course in
Information Management Systems.
At
Miss World 2003 pageant with 100 contestants, Hayat made the semi-finals and the title "Continental Queen of Beauty - Africa." The pageant took place in
China and was seen by 1 billion people.
Hayat currently focuses her time on promoting condoms and bringing
HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...
awareness to other parts of the country. This has sparked outrage and claims of hypocrisy as she is a Muslim woman promoting
safe sex in Ethiopia, a very culturally conservative country, by using very western-style seductive advertisements for
condoms
A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of inte ...
on billboards.
Recent activities
Hayat now runs Bellissima, a controversial condom café in Addis Ababa where all patrons are given condoms with the receipt. "Some Ethiopian people get shocked when they bring the bill with a condom, some saying we are promoting immorality," a waiter stated in 2008.
By 2010, Bellissima was well established, and still distributing free coffee-flavored condoms with the sponsorship of
Marie Stopes International
MSI Reproductive Choices, named Marie Stopes International until November 2020, is an international non-governmental organisation providing contraception and safe abortion services in 37 countries around the world. MSI Reproductive Choices as an ...
. The condoms are also available for sale under the name "Sensation" and are the least expensive condoms in the Ethiopian marketplace. However, resistance to Hayat's work continues both from Muslim authorities and from the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
How Ethiopia is reinventing the condom
February 12, 2010, Salon.com
''Salon'' is an American politically progressive/ liberal news and opinion website created in 1995. It publishes articles on U.S. politics, culture, and current events.
Content and coverage
''Salon'' covers a variety of topics, including re ...
.
In 2008 Hayat Ahmed received aviation pilot training from Phoenix East Aviation Flight School.
References
External links
*
Official Miss Ethiopia Website
Living people
1982 births
Ethiopian Muslims
Miss World 2003 delegates
Ethiopian female models
Ethiopian beauty pageant winners
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