The Miss Universe Organization has denied recent allegations that said a Saudi Arabian model will compete in the 2018 Miss Universe contest, as reported by Al Arabiya English. In order to make it clear that Saudi Arabia is not yet confirmed as a participant nation for the 2024 event, the pageantry organization has released a formal statement.
The declaration made clear that there had been no official selection procedure held in the Kingdom and that any prospective candidate would have to pass a stringent screening process in order to be granted a franchise and designated a national director to represent Saudi Arabia in the tournament.
The statement clarified that Saudi Arabia’s participation would only be finalized upon approval by the organization’s committee. “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.
The Miss Universe Organization’s statement comes after Saudi model Rumy al-Qahtani announced on social media that she will be competing in the 2024 Miss Universe pageant, hence making Saudi Arabia’s alleged debut in the esteemed competition. On several social media sites, Al-Qahtani’s post that included the Saudi flag and a sash that said “Miss Universe Saudi Arabia” attracted a lot of attention.
Al-Qahtani has not yet replied to demands for comment from media groups, such as Al Arabiya English, that contacted her after the social media disclosure, despite the statement. Remarkably, the post hasn’t been updated since the Miss Universe Organization issued a statement disputing the allegations.
Rumy al-Qahtani, a Riyadh native, has a long history in pageantry. Her Instagram profile lists her involvement in several international pageant titles, including Miss Arab Peace, Miss Planet, and Miss Middle East.
More than 100 competitors from across the globe are expected to compete in the 2024 Miss Universe competition, which is due to take place in Mexico in September and highlight the diversity and beauty of women on a global platform. These preparations are ongoing.
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