For the first time in its history, Miss Universe will allow married women and mothers to compete in the international pageant.
According to an internal memo obtained by The National, the new rules will take effect from the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in 2023. The preliminary pageant has begun for this year’s Miss Universe, which will be held in December.
A source close to the Miss Universe organization confirmed the rule change with Insider and said the memo has been sent to national directors.
Until now, the strict rules of the Miss Universe pageant did not allow contestants to marry or become mothers. The winners had to remain unmarried throughout their life along with the Taj.
Mothers were also excluded from the competition and winners were traditionally expected not to become pregnant for a year until they held the Miss Universe title.
In 1999, Philippine candidate Miriam Quiambao was asked: “If Miss Universe becomes pregnant during her lifetime, should she be allowed to continue as Miss Universe?”
He said that if a Miss Universe ever becomes pregnant, she should keep her title. If he has pursued all his goals to come in first place, the winner has every right to keep the title.
Miss Universe 2020 winner Andrea Meza praised the rule change. Speaking to Insider, Meza said, “I honestly feel good that this is happening. As society changes and women are now proving themselves in leadership positions, it’s going to open up a lot of opportunities for women.”
He said, “Some people are against these changes because they have always wanted to see the same beautiful woman who is available for a relationship. They have always wanted to see the same woman who looks so perfect on the outside that she is almost out of reach.”
“There are a lot of women who got married young or had children in their early 20s and always wanted to compete in Miss Universe but couldn’t because of the rules,” Meza added.
“Now those women can start or expand their careers in it because of these changes.”
Contestants from approximately 80 countries compete each year for the title of Miss Universe, which is run by an organization of the same name. The first pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952, and was won by Armi Kuusela of Finland. Kusela abdicated his crown to marry shortly before the end of his life.
Miss Universe Guam 1999 Tisha Heflin had to withdraw from the race after falling ill and becoming pregnant. Another Guam representative, 2011’s Vanessa Torres, had to surrender her crown due to becoming pregnant during her lifetime.
In 1994, Miss Puerto Rico Brenda Robles was stripped of her title when she became pregnant, making her unable to compete in the top 10 of the pageant in Manila.
In 2018, Spain’s Angela Ponce became the first transgender woman to compete on the Miss Universe stage. Also in 2019, Swe Zin Htet from Myanmar came out as a lesbian and became the first openly gay Miss Universe contestant.
In 2021, Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez is the first openly bisexual female contestant to win the Philippine pageant.
We hope that this change will give birth to a new dawn and married women and mothers will also get a chance to realize their Miss Universe dreams.