UAE To Host 71st Miss World 2023 Pageant
For the first time, Miss World will be held in the UAE, it was announced on Monday.
This will mark its first foray into the Middle East and will be the first time it’s been held since Nepal-born British businessman Deependra Gurung became the company’s new co-owner.
Miss World Limited chairperson Julia Morley made the announcement on Instagram, saying she’s “delighted” over the decision to host the 71st beauty pageant in the Emirates.
“Further details to follow,” she added, referring to a date and venue for the pageant.
The last pageant was held in March last year in Puerto Rico, where Polish beauty queen Karolina Bielawska was named Miss World 2021, beating runners up Miss USA Shree Saini, and Ivory Coast’s Olivia Yace, who was favourite to win.
Contestants from 98 countries took part in Miss World 2021, including Khadija Omar, Somalia’s first hijabi candidate.
To enter, contestants must be unmarried and childless, between the ages of 17 and 27 and be a resident of the country they represent.
The UAE has yet to enter a delegate into the competition, although the country has participated in the Mrs World pageant before, with Debanjali Kamstra becoming the first Mrs UAE World beauty queen in 2021, when she came in third.
