Miss Universe pageant ends upper age limit for participants in a historic move
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Miss Universe, R'Bonney Gabriel, made a groundbreaking announcement during New York Fashion Week, declaring that women above the age of 28 can now participate in the Miss Universe pageant.
This move eliminates the age limit that has been in place since the pageant's inception in 1952, which previously restricted contestants to ages 18 to 28.
R'Bonney Gabriel, who won the Miss Universe title in 2022 at the age of 29, set a new record as the oldest contestant to become Miss Universe.
The official Miss Universe Instagram account shared the news, stating, "Limitless @rbonneynola closed out Tanner Fletcher's stunning NYFW show as the MISS UNIVERSE Organisation announced the elimination of age limits across all MISS UNIVERSE and associated pageants."
Speaking about the historic decision, R'Bonney said, "What I love about Miss Universe is that they are always at the forefront, seeking ways to be more inclusive and fulfil the platform they've designed for us. There's a bold, forward-thinking team leading the way here, and many tend to follow our lead. It's an honour to set the standard, and I'm proud that we are making this change."
This move is expected to revolutionise beauty pageants by promoting inclusivity and challenging traditional beauty standards. While Miss Universe previously had an age limit of 28, Miss World set the limit at 27, and Femina Miss India at 25, with a height requirement of 5 feet 3 inches and above. For older contestants, there is the Mrs. Universe pageant, which has a higher age limit of 55 but requires participants to be married.
The Miss Universe pageant has historically crowned young women between the ages of 17 and 20. R'Bonney's victory at 28 was a significant departure from the norm. The pageant has previously required contestants to be unmarried, excluding mothers from participating. However, reports from last year suggest that these rules will also be revised this year, further opening up the pageant to a broader range of participants.
With these groundbreaking changes, the Miss Universe pageant is poised to challenge the conventional beauty standards that have long influenced the pageant world and the beauty industry. The upcoming Miss Universe contest in November is highly anticipated as it ushers in a new era of inclusivity and diversity.