20 Miss Universe contestants who made history in the 2024 pageant

• Several contestants made history at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant on Saturday.

• Countries such as North Macedonia and Maldives participated in the competition for the first time.

• This year, the competition also featured the oldest contestant ever and the first contestant to wear a headscarf.

Miss Universe It’s back bigger than ever.

This year, 125 women competed for the iconic crown; 41 more competitors compared to 2023.

Some countries, such as Cuba and Samoa, have returned. Miss Universe came on stage after a long time, while others made their big debuts.

The 2024 pageant also featured the oldest Miss Universe contestant ever and the first contestant to wear a hijab in the pageant.

Here’s a look at all the women making history on this year’s stage.

Victoria Kjær Theilvig became the first Miss Denmark to win the Miss Universe award.

During the competition, Miss Universe announcers said that Theilvig was the first Miss Denmark to place in the top five since 1963. first person from his country to win the crown.

The 21-year-old pageant queen is a dancer who aspires to become a lawyer. She is also a mental health and animal rights advocate.

Ruby Pouchet became the first Miss Bonaire to compete in Miss Universe in 25 years.

Pouchet, a 29-year-old communications expert and government official, did not make it into the top 30.

Marianela Ancheta brought Miss Cuba back to the Miss Universe stage for the first time since 1967.

Ancheta broke into the top 30 on Saturday night.

She is a 31-year-old model and businesswoman. She is also an advocate for mental health support.

Miss Egypt Logina Salah became the first woman with vitiligo to participate in the competition.

Salah managed to enter the top 30 at the Miss Universe finals.

The 34-year-old is a mother, model, makeup artist and TV presenter. It uses its existing platform to eliminate stigma vitiligoIt is a condition that results in loss of pigment in the skin.

Saran Bah became the first Miss Guinea to compete in Miss Universe.

Bah, 29, is a graduate student studying business administration. He also works for a government non-profit.

Miss Gibraltar Shyanne Mcintosh was the shortest contestant in the pageant’s history.

“I may be small but I stand tall,” Mcintosh told the judges before winning the Miss Gibraltar title. Gibraltar Chronicle reported. According to her Instagram, she is around 1.5 meters tall.

The 25-year-old accountant also became the first Miss Gibraltar to appear on the Miss Universe stage in 34 years.

Macau was represented at the Miss Universe pageant for the first time, thanks to Cassandra Chiu.

Chiu broke into the top 30 on Saturday night. The 23-year-old dancer, model and digital creator.

Miss Malta Beatrice Njoya, 40, became the oldest woman to participate in the pageant.

Njoya is a single mother of three children.

She is also a survivor of domestic and sexual abuse and currently works with local NGOs to “advocate against all forms of violence against women,” according to her Miss Universe bio.

Mariyam Saina Naseem became the first Miss Maldives to compete in Miss Universe.

Naseem’s Miss Universe appearance sparked controversy in his home country.

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts in the Maldives said the show “fundamentally contradicts the Islamic beliefs, cultural values ​​and traditions espoused by the Maldivian people.” Ceylon Today.

Miss Somalia Khadija Omar became the first woman to wear a headscarf on the Miss Universe stage.

23-year-old Omar also became the first woman to represent Somalia in the Miss Universe pageant. In 2021, she became the first contest queen to wear a headscarf at Miss World.

Djulieta Calalb became the first Miss Moldova to compete in Miss Universe.

The 20-year-old actress organizes fashion events in Moldova and Romania. He is also an advocate of sports development.

Davin Prasath became the first Miss Cambodia to participate in Miss Universe since her country’s inauguration in 2017.

Prasath made it to the top 30 in the competition. The 33-year-old spends much of his time volunteering and providing community service.

Rumina Ivezaj became the first Montenegrin woman to participate in the competition.

A 19-year-old environmental protection advocate.

Chelsea Manalo became the first Filipino of African descent to represent the Philippines on the Miss Universe stage.

The 25-year-old actress started modeling at the age of 14. The artist, who has a tourism management degree, previously competed in Miss World Philippines 2017 and placed in the top 15.

Tea Gjorgievska represented North Macedonia at the country’s inaugural Miss Universe.

According to her Miss Universe biography, the 21-year-old girl’s mission is to “inspire a world where every person feels valued and has a say.”

Alma Cooper was the first Afro-Latina woman to represent the United States at Miss Universe.

Alma Cooper22, one Army officer and West Point graduatehe was among the top 5% of his class. He is currently a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University and is pursuing a master’s degree in data science.

Ava Vahneshan became the first Miss Persia to appear on the Miss Universe stage.

The 26-year-old singer is a model and Chinese medicine expert.

Chidimma Adetshina became the first Miss Nigeria to place in the top five in the competition.

It wasn’t an easy journey for Adetshina to reach the Miss Universe stage. was initially racing Miss South Africa 2024 however, he decided to withdraw from the competition following attacks on his nationality on social media. The Miss Nigeria pageant then invited her to compete.

According to her pageant bio, the 23-year-old law student and athlete advocates for “diversity, equality and inclusion” as part of the Miss Universe platform.

Emilia Dobreva became the first Miss United Arab Emirates to compete in Miss Universe.

She is 27 years old, a mother of three children and a successful model. She walked the runway at New York Fashion Week and appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam. Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.

Uzbekistan made its first Miss Universe appearance with Nigina Fakhriddinova representing the country.

25-year-old Fakhiddinova is a model.

Read the original article Business Content