With the covid pandemic, beauty pageants were put on a serious hold. Now, with vaccines available, along with strict guidelines by the CDC in the US and several countries imposing rules on mask-wearing, proof of negative covid results and social distancing, the international pageant industry as a whole, is trying the best way they can to host their pageants in order to select delegates for the top two global pageant giants. Miss World and Miss Universe pageants, ironically, are both scheduled for December 2021. Miss World will be crowned on December 16 in Puerto Rico, at the end of a week-long festival celebrating the pageant’s 70th anniversary. The venue had to be changed due to the overwhelming ticket sales. Formerly set to be held at the Coca Cola Stadium, the new venue for the show’s finale will be at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan. Meanwhile the Miss Universe pageant will be held on December 12th 2021 for their grand finale’, but have secured the resort city of Eilat, Israel, as the venue for a possible December 18 show.
MISS UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSE
The Miss Universe Organization is still reeling from a state of surprise, just like all the other pageant fans and followers at the news that over 1000 eligible applicants were received by the Miss United Arab Emirates Universe Organization in Dubai, after they announced that the UAE will be staging the first Miss United Arab Emirates Universe pageant on November 7, 2021. They managed to select 300 applicants on October 19 at an in-person casting call held at the Al Habtoor Palace. That number was further reduced to 50 – then to 30 by a panel of jurors. The top 30 candidates are now going through a series of photoshoots, runway challenges, commercial shoots, as well as preliminary activities that include active wear and evening gown competitions. Through October 30, the candidates will all participate in an all important, closed door interview session with a panel of judges.
ACCOMPLISHED TOP TIERED BEAUTIES
The remarkable aspect about this whole situation, is that the applicants from the beginning of this selection have all been accomplished young women. Doctors, lawyers, actresses, beauty Queens and every top model from the region did apply to become the first Miss UAE. The impressive list of candidates include: Dr.Mahra Luft, one of the most successful women in the region; Marwa Alhash, the countries top horse rider and award winning equestrian; Emilia Dobreva, one of Saudi Arabia’s top models & beauty Queens who won the “Model of the World” award in 2016 and the “Miss Friendship International 2019” winner; Franki Russell, actress and cast member of “Big Brother Housemates” and Sofia Saidi, who won the Arab World Top Model competition. Some of the other beauties in line for the coveted title include: Hams Ahmed, Oliver Nokakande, Julia Carmen, Shereen Ahmed, Jasmine Lazarus and Alma Persich. The grand finals and crowning of the first “Miss United Arab Emirates Universe” happens on November 7, at the La Perle in Al Habtoor City in Dubai.
MISS SOUTH AFRICA CROWNS LALELA MSWANE
Another big pageant happened last week in Johannesburg, when 25 year-old beauty Lalela Mswane was crowned “Miss South Africa.” She will represent South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant in Israel, this December. Her runners-up: Dr. Morative Masima and Zimi Mabunzi, who will represent South Africa at the Miss World and Miss Supranational pageants. An interesting addition to this pageant was that the organizers of the Miss South Africa pageant, invited all of the reigning International pageant winners to serve as judges or special guests for the gala affair. The reigning Miss Universe Andrea Meza from Mexico and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines, along with Tamaryn Green, Miss South Africa 2018 & Miss Universe first runner-up served on the panel of judges. Working backstage as ‘on air correspondents’ were two past Miss Universe winners – Catriona Gray Miss Universe 2018 from the Philippines and Zozibini Tunzi Miss Universe 2019 from South Africa. Other special Beauty Queen guests included reigning “Miss World” Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica, who entertained pageant patrons with song, reigning “Miss Supranational” Chanique Rabe from Namibia and former “Miss World 2014” Rolene Strauss who is from South Africa.
MORE RECENT WINNERS CATCHING UP FROM A BACKLOG
In the last few weeks a number of countries held their pageants, some virtually, in a rush to choose Queens after a backlog due to the pandemic. On October 18, Colombia crowned Valeria Ayos from Cartagena to represent them at the Miss Universe pageant in Israel. A very small Miss Bahamas Universe with only four contestants happened in Nassau. Chantal O’Brien was crowned winner. She had already won the Miss World Bahamas title in 2015. Meanwhile the Miss World Bahamas Organization did not stage a pageant this year, but is expected to make an announcement this week to announce their selection of a Bahamian beauty that will represent the territory at the Miss World pageant in Puerto Rico. In Jamaica, 26 year-old Khalia Hall was crowned Miss Jamaica World. The pageant had no audience and was presented on local television. Miss Universe Jamaica will be crowned October 30, from a field of 15 contestants. On the home front a new “Miss USA” will be crowned under new management on November 29 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The winner will represent the USA at the Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel.
