Saudi Arabia to debut at Miss Universe with Rumy Alqahtani


After 72 years, Saudi Arabia is expected to debut at the prestigious Miss Universe pageant this year with newly proclaimed Miss Universe Saudi Arabia 2024 Rumy Alqahtani.

Rumy, from Riyadh, is a 27-year-old model, beauty pageant veteran, and influencer with a million followers on Instagram.

She announced her participation in Miss Universe on the social media platform earlier this week.

The 73rd Miss Universe pageant will be held in Mexico on a date that has yet to be announced.

"Honored to participate in Miss Universe 2024. This is the first participation of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition," she posted in Arabic.

No stranger to pageantry, Rumy previously held the titles Miss Saudi Arabia, Miss Arab Peace, Miss Planet Saudi Arabia, Miss Europe Saudi Arabia, Miss Asia Saudi Arabia, among others.


UPDATE: The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) released an official statement on Monday, April 1 to clarify that "no selection process has been conducted in Saudi Arabia, and any such claims are false and misleading."

Photos: Rumy Alqahtani / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Meet the winners of Binibining Pilipinas 2025

Image
Binibining Pilipinas 2025, the 61st Binibining Pilipinas pageant, was held on Sunday, June 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The show was hosted by former titleholders Kylie Verzosa, Mary Jean Lastimosa, Maureen Montagne, and Nicole Cordoves. Katrina Anne Johnson from Davao was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2025 (Miss International Philippines 2025) and she will represent her country at the Miss International 2026 competition in Japan. The title of Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2025 (The Miss Globe Philippines) went to Annabelle Mae McDonnell of Iligan and she will head to Albania to compete in The Miss Globe 2025. Dalia Khattab of Las Piñas and Kathleen Enid Espenido of Siargao were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Last year's winners Myrna Esguerra of Abra and Jasmin Bungay of Pampanga crowned their respective successors at the end of the event. A total of 36 contestants from across the country were selected to participate in the ...
Read more

French model Adonis Renaud wins Manhunt International 2025

Image
Adonis Renaud, representing France, was proclaimed Manhunt International 2025 on Tuesday, June 10 at the CDC Ballroom in Bangkok, Thailand. The 22-year-old model from Marseille beat over 30 other contestants to win the international title. He became the second French winner next to Fabrice Bertrand Wattez who won in 2002. Piyumal Sithum Pattuwearachchi of Sri Lanka was named first runner-up while Rhyeme Wright of Jamaica, Jordan San Juan of the Philippines, and Vu Linh Nguyen of Vietnam were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's event marked the 23rd edition of the annual male supermodel competition. The new Manhunt International succeeds last year's winner Kevin Dasom from Thailand. Aside from prize money, the winner also receives a one week trip to Los Angeles, modeling contract, acting workshop, international photoshoot, skincare package, casting and audition opportunities. Meet the 23rd Manhunt International: View this post o...
Read more

Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangsri crowned Miss World 2025

Image
Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand beat 107 other contestants to be crowned Miss World 2025 on Saturday, May 31 at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The 22-year-old beauty has made history for her country as she became the first-ever Thai woman to win the prestigious title. She also won the multimedia fast track challenge. Hasset Dereje Admassu from Ethiopia, Maja Klajda from Poland, and Aurélie Joachim from Martinique were announced the first, second, and third, runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 8 finalists were Jéssica Pedroso from Brazil, Selma Kamanya from Namibia, Krishnah Gravidez from the Philippines and Maria Melnychenko from Ukraine. The beauties from Ethiopia, Brazil, the Philippines, Martinique, Poland, and Australia were respectively named Miss World Africa, Miss World Americas, Miss World Asia, Miss World Caribbean, Miss World Europe, and Miss World Oceania. This year's competition marked the 72nd edition of th...
Read more

Miss World Thailand 2025 is Opal Suchata Chuangsri

Image
Opal Suchata Chuangsri was officially proclaimed Miss World Thailand 2025 in a special press presentation held on Tuesday, April 22 in Bangkok. The 22-year-old political science major at Thammasat University will represent Thailand at Miss World 2025 in Hyderabad ( Telangana), India this May. No stranger to pageantry, Opal was previously crowned Miss Universe Thailand and went to Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico where she finished as the third runner-up. "I am deeply honored to be standing here as your new Miss World Thailand. Carrying not only the crown and the sash, i carry with me the hopes and the spirit of my people, my nation," she said during her speech. The new Miss World Thailand initiated the project "Opal for Her" to support underprivileged and unfortunate women suffering with breast cancer. Road to the 72nd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared by TPN GLOBAL (@tpn.global) Photos: TPN GLOBAL / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Portugal 2025 is Camila Vitorino

Image
Former Miss Queen of Portugal Camila Vitorino was crowned Miss Universe Portugal 2025 last Saturday, June 14 in the beautiful and historic city of Elvas. The 26-year-old from São Sebastião, Setúbal made history as the first married woman and mother to become Miss Universe Portugal. Laura Malaquias, Diliana Fernandes, and Ivone Carneiro were announced as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively. Last year's winner Andreia Correia passed on her crown to her successor at the end of the event. "It is with great honor that I carry this sash on my chest representing all women, all mothers and the Portuguese people. I promise you that I will give my best on behalf of all of Portugal," shared the new Miss Universe Portugal. Camila is no stranger to beauty pageants, having won Miss Queen of Portugal 2019. She was supposed to participate in Miss Earth 2020 but ended up not competing due to professional reasons. She will now prepare to represent Portugal at Miss Univers...
Read more

Miss Universe Peru 2025 is Karla Bacigalupo

Image
Karla Bacigalupo was crowned Miss Peru 2025 (Miss Universe Peru 2025) in a national competition held last Sunday, June 15 in the historic city of Cusco. The 33-year-old actress and producer will now prepare to represent Peru at Miss Universe 2025 to be held in Thailand this November. Former Reina Hispanoamerican Maricielo Gamarra was announced as first runner-up while former Top Model of the World Janet Leyva finished as the second runner-up. Last year's winner Tatiana Calmell crowned her successor at the end of the event. She placed in the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 and was awarded the continental title of Miss Universe Americas. The new Miss Universe Peru was born in Lima and studied business administration and management at the University of Lima. She later moved to the USA to pursue acting. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Organización Miss Perú (@missperuofficial) Photos: Hose Vilela / DH Agency, Miss Peru Or...
Read more

Miss Washington USA 2023 is Samantha Gallia of King County

Image
Miss King County, Samantha Gallia was crowned Miss Washington USA 2023 in the state competition held on Sunday, November 13 at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center. The 24-year-old breast cancer support advocate is a graduate of a doctorate degree in dentistry from the University of the Pacific and is currently an oral and maxillofacial radiology resident at the University of Washington. She succeeded last year's winner Mazzy Eckel and will now represent Washington at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Green Lake's Taylor Mann and Stanwood's Stephanie Yerigan were respectively announced as the first and second runners-up while Mukilteo's Jesi Williams and West Bellevue's Starla Sampaco rounded out the Top 5 finalists. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha Gallia, DDS (@drsamanthagallia) "I have about a million thank yous to make, but for now- thank you to every person who has ever believed in me and poured into me. I am so gra...
Read more

Spain's Juul Messiaen crowned Man of the World 2025

Image
Man of the World 2025, the 7th edition of the annual Man of the World competition was held on Saturday, May 31 at the SM North Edsa Skydome in Quezon City, Philippines. Juul Messiaen, a 23-year-old model, athlete and real estate agent from Málaga, Spain bested over 20 other contestants to win the international male pageant. Israel Sierra of Mexico was named first runner-up while Sittichok Panitloedtewa of Thailand, Honza Jiránek of the Czech Republic, and Sworman Delgado of Panama were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Man of the World was crowned by his predecessor Sergio Azuaga of Venezuela. He became the first Spanish representative to take home the title. "My first walk as Man of the World 2025 — a moment of pride, purpose, and promise. This is more than a title — it’s a mission," Juul shared online. "Let's lead with heart, live with honor, and uplift the world together," he added. View this post on Instagram ...
Read more

Miss World 2025 top model competition winners announced

Image
The Top Model competition of the 72nd Miss World was held on Saturday, May 24 at the Trident Hotel Hyderabad, India. Wearing stunning creations by acclaimed Indian designer Archana Kochhar, the 108 contestants impressed the judges with their elegance and confidence on the runway. According to the Miss World organization, "Each look featured exquisite fabrics sourced from Telangana, beautifully showcasing the region's rich textile heritage and craftsmanship." Hosted by former Miss World Stephanie del Valle from Puerto Rico, the competition also showcased the beauties in captivating masterpieces by fashion designers from their own countries. "It was a powerful fusion of local tradition and global fashion, woven into every thread," MWO shared online. Jasmine Gerhardt of Ireland, Selma Kamanya of Namibia, Nandini Gupta of India, and Aurélie Joachim of Martinique were announced the Top Model winners and now advanced to the Top 10 in their continental regions. The con...
Read more

Miss Universe China 2024 is Xue Hou from Beijing

Image
Xue Hou was crowned Miss Universe China 2024 during the national competition on Sunday, July 28 in Sanya Bay, Sanya City, Hainan Province. The 22-year-old model from Beijing will represent China at Miss Universe 2025 (74th Miss Universe) whose date and venue have yet to be announced. "We are sure Xuhe will carry the Chinese flag with pride and she will bloom towards the universe to show her true self," the organizers posted on social media. China will be represented at this year's Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this November with her predecessor, last year's winner Jia Qi from Chengdu. Meet the new Miss Universe China: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe China • 环球小姐中国粉絲 (@missuniversechinapageantorg) Photos: Miss Universe China / Instagram
Read more