Photo Courtesy: Erica Robin Instagram page

Karachi: Karachi-based Erica Robin has done something unthinkable as she won the ‘Miss Universe Pakistan’ contest recently.

In the run-up to the contest, the five finalists had also done a photo shoot titled ‘The Power in Modesty’, reports Geo News

“I am honored and humbled to be the first ever Miss Universe Pakistan and I want to highlight the beauty of Pakistan," Robin was quoted as saying by Geo News upon winning the Miss Universe Pakistan title.

However, the beauty pageant and Erica Robin's victory have triggered controversy as several conservatives have criticized the event.

Religious scholar Taqi Usmani was among the first to take offense, insisting that the government take notice and proceed against those responsible for the pageant. He also demanded that the impression that these women were “representing Pakistan” should be dispelled, reports Dawn News.

Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan — who was also one of the voices critical of the film Joyland when it was released in Pakistan —tweeted that preparing for and competing in such pageants was “shameful” for Pakistan.

Journalist Ansar Abbasi also raised a similar gripe, asking which government functionary had approved sending Pakistani women to participate in the beauty pageant, the newspaper reported.