Hissa Hilal, the veiled Saudi housewife who shot to global celebrity status for her courageous, anti-terrorism poetry in the popular “Million’s Poet” programme on Emirati television got third place in last night’s voting.

Hilal does not return home empty-handed, receiving three million dirhams (817,000 dollars) for coming in third.

Ms. Hilal’s poem last night focused on a defense of freedom of thought.

The contest’s panel, whose voting accounted for 60 percent of the final score, gave her the highest score and praised her courage for expressing her opinion “honestly and powerfully.” via The National

But Hilal lost out after the audience vote, which accounted for the remaining 40 percent, was not enough to give her the crown. The winner Kuwait’s Nasser al Ajami, 30, received 67% of the public votes, allowing him to squeak out the victory.

The voting was close, however. After Masser, Falah al Mowraqi of Kuwait came second with 63 % of the points, and Hissa Hilal received 62%.

The show, which has 18 million viewers throughout the Arab world, attracted international media attention after Hissa Hilal recited a poem denouncing “ad hoc” fatwas.

Before last night’s competition, The CSM followed up on Hissa Hilal, writing:

Hilal’s performance may resonate particularly with women in Saudia Arabia, who Kraidy says are “becoming restless.” Opportunities for women are extremely limited in a society where they cannot legally drive and must have the permission of a male relative to travel. Hilal, a wife and mother of four, had to get her husband’s permission to compete on the show.

As a child, she once had to hide her poetry from her parents, who did not think it was appropriate for a girl to be composing. But she persisted, and eventually began working from home as a poetry editor for Al Hayat, a pan-Arab daily newspaper. via Christian Science Monitor

The poetess says she hopes the show will spread her message, encouraging other women to speak out on issues that concern them.