Defeated is not a theme that persists in “Brave Miss World,” a documentary that features the journey of survivors of sexual assault. Accordingly, that word no longer exists in the lives of Monika Korra, Courtney Underwood and Linor Abargil.
The three women represent three different countries. Korra is a native of Norway, Underwood is from the United States and Abargil is from Israel.
Their upbringing may be a world apart from each other, but they share an experience that they hope no other person will ever have to go through.
As survivors of sexual assault, they are coming together to empower victims. The three women are supporting “Brave Miss World,” a new documentary that is being shown at the Angelika Film Center in Mockingbird Station. It tells the story of former Miss World, Linor Abargil.
Abargil was raped in 1998, seven weeks before she was crowned in Milan, Italy. The documentary not only shows her struggles and victories, but it also spans the world, telling the stories and the journey’s of other survivors of sexual assualt.
“It is a movie that addresses an issue that takes place all over the world,” said Korra. “Victims can gain strength,” she continued, “and everyone else can feel empowered to take action to make our world a better safer place.”
Abargil says in the documentary that she did not become aware of her mission to empower others until the moment when the crown was placed on her head.
Since then, she has launched an international campaign of encouraging victims to speak up.
Abargil is demanding that perpetrators be brought to justice and most importantly, according to her response in “Brave Miss World,” to allow the voices of the victims to be heard.
“Linor inspired me to make the film,” said Cecilia Peck.
Peck, the director of Brave Miss World, said it didn’t take much convincing for her to get on board with the documentary.
“She was such a riveting person,” said Peck. “I felt she would be capable of taking an audience through a documentary about rape.”
Underwood, who helped establish Safer Dallas and co-founded Dallas Area Rape Crisis, pointed out that she was inspired by Linor, who came out regardless of the backlash that may have resulted within her community.
Underwood also said that there is a stigma related to rape.
But what really troubles Underwood is victim blaming, which she says is a symptom of a community that is under-educated about the issue.
To echo this response, Korra established the Monika Korra foundation to encourage other students to tell their stories.
“We need to continue to educate,” said Korra. “But in a way that empowers all students to stand up for each other to create a safe environment.”
“There are many survivors featured in the film who had never been able to tell anyone they were raped, ” said Peck. “And who open up to Linor because she refuses to feel shame.”
Underwood and Korra hope that message to rid of shame will get through to all victims.
“We have to continue this work that now has been started to prevent rape and abuse, ” said Korra, who underscored the importance of including students in advancing the message behind the documentary.
“I hope that the documentary can empower other victims to seek the help they need to recover from the trauma they’ve been through,” Korra said.
