Has Saudi Arabia Got Its First-Ever Candidate at Miss Universe 2024? Here’s What We Know

As per organisation, there is a 'possibility' that Saudi Arabia can have its first-ever female contestant at Miss Universe 2024.

Saudi Arabia could have its first Miss Universe Contestant this year, organisers said this week. Earlier, it was claimed that model Rumy al-Qahtani will be representing the country at the upcoming event. However, that was ‘false and misleading,’ informed by Miss Universe.

Currently Miss Universe, ” Is undergoing a rigorous vetting process qualifying a potential candidate to be awarded the Saudi Arabia franchise”, Maria Jose Unda, the organisation’s coordinator of international relations, said in a statement to AFP.” Miss Universe 2024 is scheduled to be held later this year in September. The pageant is likely to take place in Mexico. It is “possible” for Saudi Arabia to have its first-ever have a contestant in place before the next edition of the contest.

The Whole Buzz About Rumy al-Qahtani

Rumy al-Qahtani, The 27-year-old Riyadh model posted on Instagram, posing with the Saudi flag and stated that she was “honoured” to represent the country at Miss Universe. However, later there was a statement calling it ‘false and misleading’ by the Miss Universe Organisation.

Speaking to AFP, Qahtani stated that she has been approached by the organisation to represent Saudi Arabia. “Negotiations started but it was during the month of Ramadan and I wasn’t able to respond. We are still negotiating, and hopefully it will result in a happy ending,” the model told news agency AFP.

Maria Jose Unda, the Miss Universe official, later announced that “We ignore the reason why (Qahtani) announced her candidacy, but if she wants to participate in the Saudi Arabia pageant, she will have to go through the same selection process as every other candidate,” she said.

Negative Comments

Qahtani told AFP she had previously participated in various pageants in the Middle East and Europe and posed with several sashes she said she obtained at the competitions. She revealed that there were a lot of negative comments about the way she dressed, “when I pictured myself with the flag wearing what people considered immodest clothing,” She added, though, that she had no regrets.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by rumy alqahtani | رومي القحطاني 🇸🇦 (@rumy_alqahtani)

“Many sports supporters picture themselves with the flag the same way I did,” Qahtani said. “In beauty pageants also, each girl carries her own country’s flag, so I didn’t mean anything offensive at all.” Fawzia Ayed, Rumy’s mother, told AFP that she hoped her daughter would persevere despite the criticism. “I always tell her to carry on, and that she has come a long way for a Saudi girl. Before, (society) was closed and strict,” she said. “Rumy has encouraged a lot of girls. I see that many contact her and ask her how she has reached this level, and that they would like also to participate.”