The Miss Universe Saudi Arabia has denied recent reports of a Saudi Arabian model who said she would be participating in the 2024 event.
The pageantry entity stated that a selection process was not conducted in the Kingdom but is undergoing a “rigorous vetting process.”
“The selection of contestants to represent their respective countries in the Miss Universe competition is a rigorous process that adheres strictly to our policies and guidelines. Each country’s selection is carried out in accordance with established criteria and regulations, ensuring fairness and transparency in the selection of participants.”
“We would like to categorically state that no selection process has been conducted in Saudi Arabia, and any such claims are false and misleading,” reads a statement on the website of the long-running beauty contest.
“While Saudi Arabia is not yet among those countries fully confirmed participating this year, we are currently undergoing a rigorous vetting process qualifying a potential candidate to be awarded the franchise and assigned national director to represent,” the statement said.
“Saudi Arabia will not have this opportunity to join our prestigious pageant until this is final and confirmed by our approval committee,” it added.
The statement from the organizer came one week after Saudi model Rumy al-Qahtani took to social media and announced her participation in the annual pageant. Taking to her million plus Instagram followers, al-Qahtani said (in Arabic): “Honored to participate in Miss Universe 2024.”
“This is the first participation of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition,” she added, posing with the Saudi flag and a sash that reads “Miss Universe Saudi Arabia.”
Al Qathani’s announcement on social media has not been taken down or altered since Miss Universe released their statement. The Riyadh-born model is among pageantry veterans, having represented the Kingdom in numerous other events including Miss Arab Peace, Miss Planet, Miss Middle East, and more, according to her Instagram bio.
While Egypt and Lebanon are represented at the contest, Bahrain is the only country in the GCC to participate in Miss Universe.
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This year’s Miss Universe event will be hosted in Mexico in September. It will feature over 100 contestants globally. Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, who won the Miss Universe 2023 crown in El Salvador in November will crown her successor, but a date for the event has not been announced.
