In a groundbreaking moment, Saudi Arabia will make its debut at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, represented by 27-year-old Rumy Alqahtani, a content creator from Riyadh. This marks a significant departure for the traditionally conservative country.
Alqahtani expressed her excitement on Instagram, acknowledging the historic nature of her participation. She follows in the footsteps of Lujane Yacoub, who represented Bahrain in the previous year’s competition, marking the Gulf region’s first appearance.
The upcoming Miss Universe event, set in Mexico on September 18, will also see Iran’s debut on the stage.
Alqahtani, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in dentistry, is multilingual, and proficient in English, French, and Arabic. According to The Independent, she has garnered several titles including Miss Saudi Arabia, Miss Middle East (Saudi Arabia), Miss Arab World Peace 2021, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia). She has also participated in various global pageants, with her latest being Miss and Mrs Global Asian in Malaysia in February.
The Miss Universe 2023 pageant saw significant inclusivity strides, featuring two transgender contestants and the first plus-size contestant to reach the semi-finals. Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua made history by clinching the Miss Universe 2023 title, marking Nicaragua’s inaugural victory in the competition.
