THE search for the 73rd Miss Universe has since commenced with about 130 contestants from different countries vying for the coveted crown. In this report, The ICIR captures the unique contestants that make this year’s competition remarkable.

This is one of the big four international pageants alongside Miss Word, Miss International and Miss Earth. Its advocacy centres on “humanitarian issues and a voice to effect positive change in the world.

Sheynnis Palacios, from Nicaragua, who clinched the title of the 72nd Miss Universe will crown the winner on November 16 in Arena CDMX, Mexico.

This year’s competition embraces inclusivity in diverse ways, with mothers, married women, plus-sized models, persons with disabilities, Hijabis, among the contestants.

In 2023, the 71st Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel from the United States of America announced the new inclusive changes in the pageant which eliminates the age limit of 28 for delegates and allows older women from the age of 18 upwards to partake in the competition.

Mothers take centre stage

The competition this year would feature 12 mothers vying for the crown. They are; Chidimma Adetshina- Nigeria, Luana Caralcante- Brazil, Davin Prasath- Cambodia, Elena Hildago- Costa Rica, Logina Salah- Egypt, Stephanie Cam- Honduras, Beatrice Nyoja- Malta, Faith Landman- Netherlands, Jennifer Colon Alvarado- Puerto Rico, Loredana Salanta- Romania, Ileana Marquez Pedroza- Venezuela and Brandina Lubuli- Zambia.

Breaking sound barriers

Miss South Africa, Mia Le Roux, is the first woman with a physical disability to walk on the Miss Universe stage and the first deaf contestant. Her entrance was expected to marks an opportunity for the excluded and championing a culture of inclusivity where everyone belongs. However, she withrew from the contest on the eve of the competition.

Embracing all types of beauty

Miss Egypt, Logina Salahis, is the first woman with vitiligo on the Miss Universe stage. Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when skin cells that make pigment are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.

First Hijabi Contestant

Miss Somalia, Khadijar Omarr is the first Miss Universe Somalia and the first Hijabi woman to compete at the Miss Universe pageant competition.

According to Ann Jakrajuntatip, the new owner of Miss Universe, the decision was made to create a more inclusive and empowering platform for women.

A trans woman herself, Jakrajunatip says she wants to use the pageant to promote female empowerment and provide a safe space for women to be themselves.

2020 Miss Universe welcome changes

Miss Universe 2020, Andrea Meza commended the change and said she was delighted to hear this was happening. She added that society is changing, and women now hold positions of significance. It was time that beauty pageants changed some rules to accommodate women who have families.

“I honestly love that this is happening”, she reportedly told the media, adding, “As society changes and women are now occupying leadership positions, where in the past only men could, it was time for the pageants to change and open up to women with families.”

Also, The Economic Times of India in an article titled: ‘Historic change in 2023 Miss Universe beauty pageant rules’,  Mothers, wives can now compete’, quotes Meza as saying:  “Some people were against such changes as they always wanted to see women who were available for relationships. They also want to see women who look perfect and unreachable from the outside. While one is sexist, the other is unrealistic.”

According to Maza, there are many women who got married young or had children in their early 20s and wanted to participate in Miss Universe.

“Now, those women can start or grow their careers because of these changes,” she says.