Israeli-Arab Model receives criticism on bikini

As makeup artists and hairdressers surround her, Huda Naccache calmly discusses the media frenzy sparked by her appearance on the cover of an Israeli Arab magazine wearing a skimpy bikini. The long-limbed 22-year-old, who comes from the mixed Israeli and Arab port city of Haifa, doesn't see the cover shoot for Lilac magazine as anything out of the ordinary. For her, it was simply part of a campaign in the run up to the Miss Earth competition in Thailand this December, where she will represent Israel. But the cover shoot was the first time an Arabic magazine here has put a model in a bikini on its cover, and the first time an Israeli Arab model has been featured on a front page in so little clothing. The image in question featured a defiant-looking Naccache in a black-sequined bikini, an open white shirt draped over her shoulders and her thumbs hooked in the sides of her bikini bottom. The caption that caused an immediate media buzz , read in English: "Miss Huda Rocks This Earth!" to the comments Naccache turned aside and flicked her long, dark hair.