Although, the Republic of Afghanistan never recognized her as Miss Afghanistan, is credited as Miss Afghanistan 2003, as per reports in the international media. Her appearance in a red bikini in the 2003 edition of Miss Earth pageant was hugely controversial in Afghanistan, as her critics viewed the display of female body went Afghan culture.
Afghan traditionalists objected to her appearance in a red bikini during the pageant's press presentation. She was given a special ‘Beauty for a Cause’ award at that year's Miss Earth competition.
She was the second Miss Afghanistan taking part in a beauty contest since Zohra Daoud was crowned Miss Afghanistan in 1974. Samadzai, an ethnic Pashtun from Kabul, had moved to the U.S. in 1996.
On May 1, 2005, Samadzai won the Ms. America 2005-06 pageant, and on July 3, 2005 she represented the United States at the Miss Tourism Queen International 2005, where she was named the first Miss Personality in the pageant's history.
