<p>In a historic first, Saudi Arabia is making its debut in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2024. Rumy Alqahtani will be representing the country at the international pageant later this year. Alqahtani is a well-known runway model from Riyadh and has already established herself in the modelling industry by winning several beauty pageants across the globe.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Alqahtani took to Instagram to share the news of Saudi Arabia's participation at the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant. She posted a picture of her in a silver-coloured sequin gown, donning a Miss Universe Saudi Arabia sash, and standing beside the Saudi flag.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"Honored to participate in Miss Universe 2024. This is the first participation of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition," she captioned her post.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>More about Rumy Alqahtani</strong><br />
<br />
The&nbsp;27-year-old model and influencer is a well-known face in the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia. She has already won the titles of Miss Saudi Arabia, Miss Middle East, Miss Arab World Peace, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia).<br />
<br />
Since the time Alqahtani's post was shared, it has garnered over 7,000 likes and numerous comments and wishes.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
One individual wrote, "So proud of you queen," while another wrote, "Proud of your success."</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4_w7dHCi7w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by rumy alqahtani | رومي القحطاني 🇸🇦 (@rumy_alqahtani)</a></p>
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<p>"Congratulations, sister," wished another.<br />
<br />
<strong>More about Miss Universe 2024</strong><br />
<br />
According to the pageant's official website, "The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions. We create and provide a safe space for women to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically."<br />
<br />
This year, the pageant will be held in Mexico in September 2024.</p>


In a historic first, Saudi Arabia is making its debut in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2024. Rumy Alqahtani will be representing the country at the international pageant later this year.

In a historic first, Saudi Arabia is making its debut in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2024. Rumy Alqahtani will be representing the country at the international pageant later this year. Alqahtani is a well-known runway model from Riyadh and has already established herself in the modelling industry by winning several beauty pageants across the globe. Alqahtani took to Instagram to share the news of Saudi Arabia's participation at the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant. She posted a picture of her in a silver-coloured sequin gown, donning a Miss Universe Saudi Arabia sash, and standing beside the Saudi flag. "Honored to participate in Miss Universe 2024. This is the first participation of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition," she captioned her post. More about Rumy Alqahtani The 27-year-old model and influencer is a well-known face in the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia. She has already won the titles of Miss Saudi Arabia, Miss Middle East, Miss Arab World Peace, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia). Since the time Alqahtani's post was shared, it has garnered over 7,000 likes and numerous comments and wishes. One individual wrote, "So proud of you queen," while another wrote, "Proud of your success." View this post on Instagram A post shared by rumy alqahtani | رومي القحطاني 🇸🇦 (@rumy_alqahtani) × View this post on Instagram A post shared by rumy alqahtani | رومي القحطاني 🇸🇦 (@rumy_alqahtani) × "Congratulations, sister," wished another. More about Miss Universe 2024 According to the pageant's official website, "The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions. We create and provide a safe space for women to share their stories and drive impact personally, professionally, and philanthropically." This year, the pageant will be held in Mexico in September 2024.

Meet Rumy Alqahtani, the first-ever contestant from Saudi Arabia at Miss Universe 2024 pageant

<p>In what could be termed as a historic move, the Miss Universe organisation has announced that adult women of all ages will be allowed to compete in their pageants.&nbsp;Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel announced the groundbreaking change during Tanner Fletcher’s show at New York Fashion Week on Tuesday. The change will officially take place in 2024.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The news was also shared in an Instagram story on the official page of Miss Universe.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“Starting then, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be Miss Universe,” they wrote.<br />
<br />
So far women up to the age of 28 were allowed to take part in the beauty pageant. Gabriel was the oldest woman to be crowned Miss Universe and is now 29 years old. Now any woman of 18 or above will be able to participate in the pageant.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Gabriel was also the first Filipino-American woman to win Miss USA — and the first Miss USA representative to be crowned Miss Universe in a decade.<br />
<br />
“What I love about Miss Universe is that they are always out first in line, looking for ways they can be more inclusive and better live up to the platform that they’ve designed for us,” Gabriel told a news agency.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“A woman’s ability to compete at Miss Universe, or anything in life, shouldn’t be defined by her age. Age should just be a number," she added.<br />
<br />
Gabriel has been an advocate of age inclusivity for a while now. During the question and answer round in the 2023 edition of the pageant, she was asked what change she would like to see made in the competition rule. Gabriel had back then spoken about how she would like to see the age of eligibility increase.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“My favourite quote is ‘If not now, then when?’ Because I believe age should not define us,” Gabriel said at the time. “It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday, but it’s now — the time is now that you can go after what you want.”</p>

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In what could be termed as a historic move, the Miss Universe organisation has announced that adult women of all ages will be allowed to compete in their pageants.

In what could be termed as a historic move, the Miss Universe organisation has announced that adult women of all ages will be allowed to compete in their pageants. Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel announced the groundbreaking change during Tanner Fletcher’s show at New York Fashion Week on Tuesday. The change will officially take place in 2024. The news was also shared in an Instagram story on the official page of Miss Universe. “Starting then, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be Miss Universe,” they wrote. So far women up to the age of 28 were allowed to take part in the beauty pageant. Gabriel was the oldest woman to be crowned Miss Universe and is now 29 years old. Now any woman of 18 or above will be able to participate in the pageant. Gabriel was also the first Filipino-American woman to win Miss USA — and the first Miss USA representative to be crowned Miss Universe in a decade. “What I love about Miss Universe is that they are always out first in line, looking for ways they can be more inclusive and better live up to the platform that they’ve designed for us,” Gabriel told a news agency. “A woman’s ability to compete at Miss Universe, or anything in life, shouldn’t be defined by her age. Age should just be a number," she added. Gabriel has been an advocate of age inclusivity for a while now. During the question and answer round in the 2023 edition of the pageant, she was asked what change she would like to see made in the competition rule. Gabriel had back then spoken about how she would like to see the age of eligibility increase. “My favourite quote is ‘If not now, then when?’ Because I believe age should not define us,” Gabriel said at the time. “It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday, but it’s now — the time is now that you can go after what you want.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Miss Universe makes a historic change to its age limit rule for contestants

<p>In what could be termed a historic move, the Miss Universe beauty pageant has literally expanded its universe and will now allow mothers and married women to participate in the beauty contest.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
From 2023, the marital and parental status will no longer affect women from applying to compete in the pageant.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Until now, the Miss Universe pageant's strict rules did not allow participants to be married or be a mother. The winners were also expected to remain unmarried through the entire tenure with the title.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mothers were also excluded from the pageant and winners were traditionally expected to not become pregnant for a year till they held the title of Miss Universe.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-miss-universe-andrea-meza-talks-about-her-past-life-says-her-family-was-struggling-391186">Andrea Meza</a>, Miss Universe 2020 winner, applauded the change in rules. Speaking to Insider, Meza said, "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."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/before-harnaaz-sandhu-take-a-look-at-other-indian-miss-universe-titleholders-436475">Before Harnaaz Sandhu, take a look at other Indian Miss Universe titleholders</a><br />
<br />
"A few people are against these changes because they always wanted to see a single beautiful woman who is available for a relationship," Meza added. "They always wanted to see a woman that, from the outside, looks so perfect that she's almost unreachable. The former is sexist and the latter is unrealistic."</p>

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In what could be termed a historic move, the Miss Universe beauty pageant has literally expanded its universe and will now allow mothers and married women to participate in the beauty contest.

In what could be termed a historic move, the Miss Universe beauty pageant has literally expanded its universe and will now allow mothers and married women to participate in the beauty contest. From 2023, the marital and parental status will no longer affect women from applying to compete in the pageant. Until now, the Miss Universe pageant's strict rules did not allow participants to be married or be a mother. The winners were also expected to remain unmarried through the entire tenure with the title. Mothers were also excluded from the pageant and winners were traditionally expected to not become pregnant for a year till they held the title of Miss Universe. Andrea Meza, Miss Universe 2020 winner, applauded the change in rules. Speaking to Insider, Meza said, "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." Before Harnaaz Sandhu, take a look at other Indian Miss Universe titleholders "A few people are against these changes because they always wanted to see a single beautiful woman who is available for a relationship," Meza added. "They always wanted to see a woman that, from the outside, looks so perfect that she's almost unreachable. The former is sexist and the latter is unrealistic."

Miss Universe beauty pageant to allow married women and mothers to participate from 2023

The Philippines military said on Friday it was taking seriously what it believed was a call by Islamic State (IS) militants for an attack on the Miss Universe contest being held in the country next year.<br />
<br />
The military said a recent bomb-making video posted on social media, apparently by Islamic State militants in the Middle East, carried a message in Arabic script reading: &quot;Create bomb for Miss Universe.&quot;&nbsp;The pageant is due to be held in the capital, Manila, in January.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are taking the threat seriously,&quot; armed forces spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo told reporters, though adding that authorities had yet to establish the authenticity of the video or determine its source.<br />
<br />
The Philippines says there are no IS militants in the country although the group has accepted, in a video message, the allegiance of a notorious Philippine militant group known as Abu Sayyaf.<br />
<br />
&quot;We reiterate that there is no ISIS in the Philippines,&quot; Arevalo said, referring to IS.<br />
<br />
&quot;What we have are groups claiming affiliations with ISIS in their bid to draw funds. It is not farfetched for ISIS to claim to have cells in the Philippines to show global membership.&quot;<br />
<br />
The Ministry of Tourism, which helps organise the Miss Universe pageant, was not alarmed by the threat, said ministry spokeswoman Ina Zara-Loyola.<br />
<br />
&quot;We consider this as serious as well as the traffic problem that affects our daily life,&quot; she said, adding that the authenticity of the video was impossible to verify.&nbsp;The government was confident the army and police were &quot;more than capable of ensuring the public safety and security&quot;, she said.<br />
<br />
The Miss Universe beauty pageant, formerly owned by US&nbsp;presidential candidate Donald Trump, has been held in Manila twice before, in 1974 and 1994.&nbsp;The reigning Miss Universe is Filipina-German model Pia Wurtzbach, the third winner from the Philippines.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the army to destroy the Abu Sayyaf group, saying if not, the country risked being &quot;contaminated&quot; by Islamic State.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

The military said a bomb-making video allegedly posted by IS carried a message in Arabic reading: 'Create bomb for Miss Universe'

The Philippines military said on Friday it was taking seriously what it believed was a call by Islamic State (IS) militants for an attack on the Miss Universe contest being held in the country next year. The military said a recent bomb-making video posted on social media, apparently by Islamic State militants in the Middle East, carried a message in Arabic script reading: "Create bomb for Miss Universe." The pageant is due to be held in the capital, Manila, in January. "We are taking the threat seriously," armed forces spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo told reporters, though adding that authorities had yet to establish the authenticity of the video or determine its source. The Philippines says there are no IS militants in the country although the group has accepted, in a video message, the allegiance of a notorious Philippine militant group known as Abu Sayyaf. "We reiterate that there is no ISIS in the Philippines," Arevalo said, referring to IS. "What we have are groups claiming affiliations with ISIS in their bid to draw funds. It is not farfetched for ISIS to claim to have cells in the Philippines to show global membership." The Ministry of Tourism, which helps organise the Miss Universe pageant, was not alarmed by the threat, said ministry spokeswoman Ina Zara-Loyola. "We consider this as serious as well as the traffic problem that affects our daily life," she said, adding that the authenticity of the video was impossible to verify. The government was confident the army and police were "more than capable of ensuring the public safety and security", she said. The Miss Universe beauty pageant, formerly owned by US presidential candidate Donald Trump, has been held in Manila twice before, in 1974 and 1994. The reigning Miss Universe is Filipina-German model Pia Wurtzbach, the third winner from the Philippines. On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the army to destroy the Abu Sayyaf group, saying if not, the country risked being "contaminated" by Islamic State. (Reuters)

Philippines on alert after receiving 'IS threat' prior to Miss Universe Show

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Miss Universe makes a historic change to its age limit rule for contestants

Miss Universe beauty pageant to allow married women and mothers to participate from 2023

Philippines on alert after receiving 'IS threat' prior to Miss Universe Show