A UK beauty queen who was denied entry to the United States to compete in a global pageant claims her visa was denied because she was born in Syria.
Leen Clive, from Hessle in East Yorkshire, will compete in the Mrs World final for the United Kingdom, reports BBC.
Her family's permits to visit Las Vegas were approved, but she was denied since she was born in Damascus, according to the trainee NHS doctor.
"I applied with a British passport, I am representing Britain and I'm a British citizen so I had no idea that I'd be banned from the US," Mrs Clive told BBC.
Since coming in the United Kingdom in 2013, the 29-year-old has learnt English and advocated for female equality and refugee rights.
She will compete alongside 57 other married women in the 35th annual Mrs World tournament.
However, because of the visa difficulty, the UK may be unable to send a representative to the event on January 15.
Mrs Clive moved in the UK in 2013 and is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor with the National Health Service.
The US government states on its website that candidates from nations that engage in state-sponsored terrorism must be examined by a consular officer. Syria is identified as being one of those countries.
"My husband and my baby girl had their visas granted, but mine was refused - and the only difference is my place of birth," Mrs Clive added.
Mrs Clive's husband, Nigel Clive, received approval for his visa application, as did their daughter.
Hull West and Hessle Labour MP Emma Hardy said she was attempting to intervene and correct the situation.
