The pageant and modeling industry has always excluded women under 5-foot-9 — until now.

Sabrina Nooruddin, a junior from Lawrenceville, discovered a way to get past the blonde hair, blue-eyed beauty queen stereotype.

With only two pageants under her belt, Nooruddin traveled to Orlando, Fla. in June to represent the state of Georgia in the first annual USA Petite Miss pageant. She came home with the national title.

University student, Sabrina Nooruddin, represents petite women as winner of the first USA Petite Miss pageant.

The six-day long competition was specifically for women under 5-foot-5 and consisted of interview, evening gown, swimsuit and on-stage question portions.

Nooruddin said she has always been interested in pageants, photo shoots and modeling, but has been told over and over again that she is just too short.

“Beauty is about believing in yourself and not changing for anyone else’s standards,” Nooruddin said. “I was chosen as a role model and that is exactly what I am.”

Nooruddin said she never had professional coaching. However, a friend who coordinated several pageants offered to help with her evening gown walk, swimsuit walk and overall poise.

After weeks of dieting and a five-day per week workout plan, her body was in tiptop condition — but, Nooruddin admitted, she was anxious before the swimsuit portion of the competition because of a few small scars on her leg.

“When I was up on that stage, the judges didn’t notice the small imperfection on my leg,” Nooruddin said. “They were looking into my eyes and saw that my confidence radiated on stage and they knew I believed in myself — that was the key.”

The pageant was hosted by Hazely Corporation at the Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort. Each winning contestant was awarded the official USA Petite Miss sash, crown and trophy as well as numerous gift certificates.

Even though the pageant is over, Nooruddin’s duties as USA Petite Miss have just begun. She will represent petite women all over the nation and promote her platform, “Beauty without Boundaries,” to the press and different organizations.

“Pageants build character and I have personally seen the difference that it has made in myself,” Nooruddin said. “You should never let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough or try to change who you are. Because, where there’s a will, there most certainly is a way!”