By John Ikani
Organizers of Miss Universe have revealed that a candidate from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take part in the pageantry for the first time ever.
The organizers of the pageantry also revealed that a contestant from Morocco will also take part for the first time in more than four decades
The 70th Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place in December in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, and will mark the first time that Israel has hosted the competition.
Hopefuls will take part in a number of different events in Dubai, including a personal statement presentation, couture activewear, evening gown, and an interview.
According to the show’s organizers, there will be no swimwear round.
It is worthwhile to note that UAE’s scheduled participation comes just weeks after it established official ties with Israel alongside Bahrain
Months later, Morocco and Sudan signed similar deals with Israel to normalize ties.
The President of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart, told The Jerusalem Post that he decision to hold the pageant in Israel was based on the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its vaccine rollout.
“We decided if we were going to hold the competition outside of the US, it would be in a country that has handled the virus well,” Shugart said.
He added that the theme of the show will be “Israel”, and there are plans for the contestants to tour the country and visit locations including the Dead Sea and Jerusalem.
