By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN —Miss USA has joined the ugly row over the proposed Ground Zero mosque.
Rima Fakih, the first Muslim to win the beauty crown, said religion should take second place to sensitivity for 9/11's victims.
"We should be more concerned with the tragedy," she told Inside Edition.
“I totally agree with President Obama with the statement on constitutional rights of freedom of religion. I also agree that it shouldn't be so close to the World Trade Center."
The controversial plan for a 13 story community center and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero has dominated the news for weeks, with politicians, celebrities and even construction workers weighing in on the proposal.
Meanwhile, worshippers have already begun to fill the Park Place building, a redundant Burlington Coat Factory store, which developers have earmarked for the $100 million conversion, the New York Post reported.
The Post said worshippers came after a different mosque, which is ten blocks away from the former site of the World Trade Center, became overcrowded.
The newspaper said religious gatherings had taken place in the space since May of last year.
But as the debate heats up, the faithful are greeted with protestors and provided police protection.
