RIYADH: The Miss Universe organisation has refuted recent reports suggesting participation of Saudi Arabia in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, as reported by Al Arabiya English.
In an official statement, the organisation clarified that Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 2024 event has not been confirmed.
Highlighting the absence of a formal selection process in the Kingdom, the statement underscored the necessity for potential candidates to undergo a rigorous vetting procedure before being granted the franchise and appointed a national director to represent Saudi Arabia.
“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 detailed, clarifiying that Saudi Arabia’s participation would only be finalised upon approval by the organisation’s committee.
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This clarification comes in response to an announcement by Saudi model Rumy al-Qahtani on social media, where she claimed her participation in Miss Universe 2024, suggesting debut of Saudi Arabia in the prestigious pageant. Despite garnering attention on various social media platforms, Al-Qahtani has yet to respond to media requests for comment.
Originating from Riyadh, Al-Qahtani boasts a pageantry background, having participated in international events such as Miss Arab Peace, Miss Planet, and Miss Middle East, as outlined on her Instagram profile.
With preparations underway for the 2024 Miss Universe competition, scheduled to be held in Mexico in September, the event is anticipated to showcase over 100 contestants from across the globe, celebrating the diversity and beauty of women on the international platform.
