Miss Universe opens up eligibility to mothers and married women

Agencies | Washington

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

In one of the biggest changes to its selection process, the prestigious Miss Universe pageant is all set to welcome mothers and married participants starting in 2023, as reported by Business Today. So far the United States–based Miss Universe Organisation permitted only single women to apply who are aged between 18 and 28 and who have never been married or had children.

Miss Universe 2020 winner Andrea Meza, who represented Mexico welcomes the new rule change and believes it was long due.

"I honestly love that this is happening. Just like society changes and women are now occupying leadership positions where in the past only men could, it was about time pageants changed and opened up to women with families," Meza told Insider.

The marital and parental status will no longer affect the eligibility of the contestants making the pageant more inclusive. So far the winners have also been traditionally been expected not to become pregnant while reigning as Miss Universe, resulting in the exclusion of mothers.

The Miss Universe pageant is broadcast in over 160 territories and countries around the world, including the United States on FYI and Telemundo. In the 70th Miss Universe 2021 held in Israel, Punjab-based Harnaaz Sandhu represented India and was crowned Miss Universe 2021.