Gloria Diaz on moms, wives, transwomen joining Miss Universe: 'Dapat may sarili silang contest'

Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz said a separate beauty contest should exist for moms, wives, and transwomen.

In an interview with PEP.ph, the veteran actress shared her two cents when asked about her thoughts on the new rules allowing moms and wives to compete in Miss Universe.

"'Di dapat, Universe na lang, huwag nang Miss. Kasi, hindi na Miss 'yon, di ba?" she said.

"Pero my personal opinion, which is not to be taken in [a] negative way, dapat may sarili silang contest. May Mrs. Universe, may Lesbian Universe, may T----- Universe," she added.

According to Gloria, the significant changes in the annual beauty pageant happened when the new management of Miss Universe, headed by Anne Jakrajutatip, allowed women aged 28 to join.

Previously, only women aged 18 to 26 could compete in the Miss Universe.

"Kasi actually, 'pag 28 ka na, dapat may career ka na, hindi ba? Dapat mga like during my time, from 17 or 18 hanggang 23, ikaw na ang pinakamatanda," Gloria said.

"Pero ngayon, nakaka-28 na yata, puwede pa rin, e. It's hard. It's a very new idea na sa akin... not very acceptable," she added.

For more than 70 years of Miss Universe, the competition has only allowed single women who "must not have ever been married, not had a marriage annulled, nor given birth to or parented a child" to compete.

—Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News