As the crown dropped on her head, it turned the rape victim into a beauty queen. The stage she used to pledge for change became the platform she used to transform ideas into action.
The dark theater in the Beach Auditorium at California State University, Long Beach shed some light on a bleak subject during Tuesday’s screening of “Brave Miss World.” CSULB Women’s Gender and Equity Center, with funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach Hillel, screened the apolitical documentary that aims to raise sexual assault awareness.
The film follows Miss Israel ’98 Linor Abargil, who was abducted, stabbed and raped in Milan, Italy at age 18. Six weeks after her attack, she felt the pressure of representing her country in the Miss World competition while still recovering from the trauma.
When she was crowned winner, she vowed to promote legislative change concerning sexual violence. The film documents her crusade to seek justice and break society’s silence on the issue, according to bravemissworld.com.
“Brave Miss World” was nominated for an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking last year.
For the screening, reigning Miss Long Beach 2015 Erica Abke will be speaking about her own experiences with domestic violence and insight on the movie.
The Daily 49er caught up with Abke on her personal experience and motivation to disseminating awareness.
- How did you hear about the film? Were you involved in it in any way?
I actually heard about the film while I was volunteering at a non-profit organization called Peace Over Violence a couple years ago while I was in college. I was not personally involved with the film, I’ve only heard about it and seen it, but I do connect with Linor, the beauty queen who brought her story to light through this beautiful film. I think the film really shows the true reality of domestic violence – it is the violence that occurs between someone we know and trust, and most of the time love. The film brings to light that domestic violence can happen to anyone – all races, all education levels, all income levels, and all religions. I really think this film is important for all students to see, male or female because it is a powerful reminder of how one must be careful in our relationships.
- How did you escape your own situation struggling with domestic violence?
I escaped by breaking my silence. I saw the warning signs from the beginning, looking back now. It is very difficult to leave an abuser and I hid my situation from my family and friends. When I did escape, a lot of people I thought wouldn’t understand did, in fact, understand and actually helped me. I moved to a beautiful apartment on the beach in Long Beach and haven’t left since.
- What motivates you to speak around the country on these issues?
What motivates me is the simple act of raising awareness and reaching other people, both men and women, who are having these issues. The fact that one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. That means a lot of people who read this newspaper, and a lot of students at CSULB. That’s why we need to raise awareness, educate youth and talk openly about these issues. That’s why I share my story.
- What are some of the challenges you have faced by working through these struggles and getting to the position you’re in today?
As if there aren’t enough struggles being a young person today, finding a healthy relationship, but first, finding a healthy ‘me’ has been my goal. I think I’ve made a strong recovery and recently launched my own charitable fashion label AbkeCollection.com, which gives back to three local Long Beach non-profits.
- Have you let your experience slow you down from reaching your goals at all? Has it affected the goals you have?
It is difficult to go for your dreams when you have someone controlling you. Leaving him was the best decision I could’ve ever made and led me to this point of achievement in my career. I can finally focus on myself, and I have found someone new that respects me finally—a healthy me, and a healthy relationship.
- Do you have any advice on how to avoid becoming a victim?
Get out or get help when you first experience warning signs. Don’t jump into anything before knowing the person, and look for these characteristics both in others and in yourself: jealousy, controlling, manipulation, a critical, angry temperament—especially when drunk. We are all capable of these emotions, and that’s why it’s important for all of us to get involved and speak up against domestic violence.
