An American woman entered a "Miss Bikini" pageant in China as an unauthorized representative of Pakistan, a conservative Muslim country.

Mariyah Moten, 22, won "Best in Media" at the pageant for being the most photographed and interviewed contestant.

A government official says the Houston resident did not have permission to represent Pakistan. The country does not hold beauty contests, and many women only go out with veils covering them.

Senior Culture Ministry official Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry tells Reuters, "We have asked our missions in Washington and Beijing to investigate this because it is against our policy, culture and religion."

He adds, "She is an American passport holder. She is an American national of Pakistani origin, so how did she get entry as a Pakistani?"

Moten was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. She moved to the United States eight years ago.

She is currently a student of hotel management at the University of Houston.

Chaudhry said Pakistan may discuss the issue with China, pending the results of an investigation.