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Miss Universe Organization removes age limit for candidates
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has removed the age limits for its candidates.
Starting 2024, aspirants above the age of 28 can join the prestigious pageant as well as and other associated pageants!
On Wednesday, the MUO announced on social media its decision to remove the age restriction that only allowed women aged 18–28 to compete.
“The Miss Universe Organization announces the elimination of all age limits across all Miss Universe and associated pageants,” MUO wrote. “This change will apply for all 2024 pageants globally.
“Starting then, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be Miss Universe,” the organization added.
According to Women's Wear Daily, it was reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel who announced the "inclusive changes" at a New York Fashion Week show Tuesday titled “Beauty Pageant.”
The Fil-Am beauty queen commended the organization for being “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.”
R'Bonney also recalled that she first brought up the issue of age during the pageant’s question-and-answer segment.
“I answered an onstage question: ‘If you were going to make any changes to the organization’s rules, what would they be?’ I said to raise the age limit. When I competed, the age limit was 28, and I was 28 at the time. So, my answer was that I think we should change this — 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 said.
On Instagram, Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee shared MUO's post and tagged Kapuso actress WinWyn Marquez. "You know what to do," she said excitedly.
Michelle Dee is set to represent the Philippines in the 2023 Miss Universe coronation night, which takes place in El Salvador on Nov. 18.
— Carby Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News
