Miss Universe 2023: married women, mothers allowed to participate in contest

The forthcoming Miss Universe pageant, scheduled for November 18 in El Salvador, is poised to make history in various ways.

In its 72nd edition, the annual beauty contest will allow married women and mothers to participate for the first time, signifying one of the most significant shake-ups in the competition’s long-standing tradition. The Miss Universe competition had previously limited participation to single women between the ages of 18 and 28 who had never been married or had children.

Several notable developments are set to unfold at this year’s pageant, with Pakistan making its debut, thanks to the franchise rights acquired by Dubai-based company Yugen Group.

Additionally, several countries are poised to return to the competition after a hiatus, including Egypt, Bangladesh, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Norway, and Zimbabwe.

The reigning Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel from the USA, will crown her successor, and many countries have already selected their representatives, including pageant powerhouses the Philippines and Venezuela.

Here are the 10 Miss Universe 2023 contestants who have been crowned thus far:

Maya Aboul Hosn

Maya Aboul Hosn, a 25-year-old radio and television personality, secured the title of Miss Universe Lebanon. Hailing from Btekhnay, she was the first runner-up in last year’s Miss Lebanon competition but emerged victorious this year. She serves as the host of LBCI Lebanon and expressed her excitement about representing Lebanon on the global stage.

Lebanon has one Miss Universe title to its name, won by Georgina Rizk in 1971, marking the first win for a woman from the Arab world. The country’s most recent placement was in 1973, with Marcelle Herro reaching the Top 12.

Mohra Tantawy

Mohra Tantawy, a 21-year-old runway model, was crowned Miss Universe Egypt. She will be the first Miss Universe representative from Egypt since 2019. Tantawy underwent rigorous scoring in four segments during the event, including a personal interview, swimwear round, evening gown round, and a final question. Her response to a question about the persistence of poverty in many countries earned her the title.

Tantawy emphasized her commitment to fighting poverty and creating opportunities for those in need. If crowned Miss Universe Egypt, she intends to collaborate with local and international organizations to establish a micro-funding environment and empower individuals trapped in poverty.

Erica Robin

Erica Robin, a 24-year-old fashion model from Karachi, became the first-ever Miss Universe Pakistan. She expressed her honor and humility in representing Pakistan at the forthcoming Miss Universe pageant. In addition to highlighting Pakistan’s beauty and culture, she extended an invitation to explore the nation’s rich offerings, including its cuisine and natural landscapes.

During the question-and-answer segment of the ceremony, Erica Robin expressed her desire to have coffee and a conversation with Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and discussed her concerns about the dowry system in the country.

Jane Dipika Garrett

Jane Dipika Garrett, a 22-year-old advocate for positivity and mental health, emerged as the winner of the Miss Universe Nepal crown. She surpassed 20 other contestants with her charm and advocacy for mental health awareness. Notably, Garrett is the first plus-size contestant to clinch the Miss Universe Nepal title.

Garrett emphasized her mission to represent women who don’t conform to conventional beauty standards and face challenges related to weight gain and hormonal issues. She firmly believes that every woman is beautiful as she is.

Isabella Garcia-Manzo

Isabella Garcia-Manzo, a 20-year-old business administration student, is set to represent El Salvador as the host nation’s candidate. She triumphed over 13 other contestants to secure the title.

El Salvador last hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 1975 in San Salvador, Garcia-Manzo’s hometown. She expressed her gratitude and excitement for the upcoming experience and conveyed her appreciation to her supporters.

Michelle Dee

Michelle Dee, a 28-year-old actress from Makati, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines after defeating 37 other candidates in May. Dee garnered praise from judges by emphasizing the warmth and hospitality of Filipinos as the country’s greatest asset.

She highlighted the Philippines’ natural beauty and resources, including beaches and mountains, while underlining the exceptional qualities of its people. Dee comes from a family with a strong pageant history, including her mother, Melanie Marquez, who won the Miss International crown in 1979.

Shweta Sharda

Shweta Sharda, a model and dancer originally from Chandigarh, emerged victorious among 15 other contestants, securing the Miss Universe India title. Her journey from Chandigarh to Mumbai, where she followed her dreams of entering the entertainment industry, culminated in this achievement.

Sharda’s career includes appearances in reality shows and collaborations with Bollywood stars. She emphasized her mission to inspire, educate, and empower others, drawing from her own experiences as a single mother’s daughter.

Lujane Yacoub

Lujane Yacoub, an actress, dancer, and model, claimed the Miss Universe Bahrain 2023 crown, a year after finishing as the runner-up. Born to a Bahraini father and American mother, the 19-year-old impressed judges with her beauty, communication skills, and dedication to advocacy.

Yacoub expressed her commitment to being a voice for her people and young women in the Gulf region. She aims to contribute to positive representation for the Arab world on the international stage.

Diana Silva

Diana Silva, a 25-year-old model, actress, and former cabin crew member, was crowned Miss Venezuela in November of the previous year. She previously won Miss Earth Venezuela in 2018 and represented her country at the Miss Earth pageant.

Silva overcame an unfortunate incident during her Miss Earth participation, sustaining an injury that ended her run in the competition. She emphasized the power of words and determination in her journey to become Miss Universe Venezuela.

Jessica Page

Jessica Page, a 27-year-old businesswoman and Miss Liverpool, triumphed over 33 other contestants to clinch the Miss Universe Great Britain title. Page’s mission is to inspire, educate, and empower others through her business endeavors, particularly with her company, Oh My Cheesecake.

Her commitment to providing valuable insights to fellow entrepreneurs is evident on the Miss Universe Great Britain website, where she shares her mission to help others succeed in their business ventures.

These 10 remarkable contestants represent diverse backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations on the journey to the Miss Universe 2023 pageant in El Salvador. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic event.