Former Miss USA Rima Fakih pleads no contest to drunk driving

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) - Former Michigan beauty queen Rima Fakih pleaded no contest to a drunk driving charge.

Her attorney W. Otis Culpepper told Action News as part of a plea deal other charges were dropped while one charge of Visibly Impaired still stands.

The former Miss USA appeared in court Wednesday before a judge at 30th District Court in Highland Park.

After her appearance in court, Fakih and her attorney met with a probation officer.

“This has been a problematic situation. I think the settlement we reached is fair to all sides,” said Culpepper.   “It doesn’t require anybody tying up the court and Ms Fakih doesn’t have to go through this anymore.”

The 26-year-old was pulled over by police on December 3, 2011.  Officers reported they found an open bottle of champagne behind the driver’s seat.  She’s accused of blowing twice the legal limit.

At first, Fakih denied her overnight stay in jail on a Twitter.

“Just about going back on my word…  I mean, you learn.  You pay your price from your mistakes and you move on,” said Fakih.

Two years ago, Fakih became the first Arab-American crowned Miss USA.

The former beauty queen will likely serve some type of probation from Los Angles were she is pursuing a Hollywood career.  

“Right now I’m working with WWE and working on a new show,” said Fakih. “So hopefully a lot of upcoming projects that I can actually go forward with now that I have been able to get this over with.”

Fakih will be back in court for her sentencing on May 9th.