Evolving Times: The Miss Universe Pageant is Allowing Single and Married Moms to Join

by Alexa Villano
September 20, 2022

For the first time ever, the Miss Universe Organization will allow single and married moms to join the pageant.

The Miss Universe Organization recently confirmed that they will allow single and married moms to join the pageant. This will begin on its 72nd edition. The organization’s president, Paula Shugart, confirmed this detail during an interview with ABS-CBN last September 15 in New York.

“This is something we have been discussing for a long time. We’re evolving with time. And if you look at women who have careers, a family, and balance everything, Miss Universe is a job,” Paula said.

Game changer

In the same interview, Miss Universe Thailand 2022 Anna Sueangam-iam, who was in New York for Fashion Week, welcomed the news. “I think it’s good. All women — whether married or have children — are equal.”

The news of single moms and married women joining the pageant comes after a letter to one of the national directors was leaked on social media. In the letter, it said that Miss Universe will allow single moms and married women to join the 72nd edition.

Changing time

Miss Universe began in 1952. Since then, it has become one of the biggest pageants in the world. Throughout its 70 years, the pageant has only allowed single women ages 18 to 28 years old to join. However, in 2018, the pageant made history when the first transgender woman, Angela Ponce, joined. The said competition took place in Thailand. Additionally, the Philippines’ representative, Catriona Gray, won that year.

Aside from Catriona, the Philippines has three other titleholders – Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015).

This year’s representative is Filipino-Italian Celeste Cortesi. She will compete in the 71st edition of the pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA on January 14 (January 15, Manila time).