“No Selection Process Has Been Conducted in Saudi Arabia. Any Such Claims Are False And Misleading”: Miss Universe Denies That KSA Will Be Participating In The Upcoming Pageant
A statement shared on the Miss Universe website made clear that recent news regarding the reported participating of a Miss KSA contestant in the upcoming pageant is “false and misleading”
Just days after Rumy Alqahtani went viral for reportedly being the first contestant from KSA to participate in Miss Universe, the organisation has denied that the Riyadh-born model will be taking part in the 2024 event.
Earlier this week the organisers of the pageant released a statement on their website refuting recent claims made the 27-year-old model.
“We would like to categorically state that no selection process has been conducted in Saudi Arabia, and any such claims are false and misleading,” read the official announcement.
In addition, Miss Universe emphasised that the selection of candidates to represent each country is a “rigorous vetting process”, and Saudi Arabia’s participation in the long-running beauty contest is currently still under deliberation.
The statement reads: “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 a national director to represent.”
“Saudi Arabia will not have this opportunity to join our prestigious pageant until this is final and confirmed by our approval committee,” it adds.
The statement comes over a week after the Riyadh-born model and content creator took to social media to announce that she will be representing the Kingdom in the annual event.
“Honored to participate in Miss Universe 2024. This is the first participation of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe competition, ” she wrote to her 1 million followers, along with a photo of herself wearing a Miss Universe sash and holding up a Saudi flag.
Her post quickly went viral, sparking much excitement and debate within the Arab region, for what would have been Saudi’s first time taking part in the Miss Universe pageant.
On her Instagram profile, Rumy claims to hold numerous other beauty titles including Miss Arab Peace, Miss Woman Saudi Arabia and Miss Europe Saudi Arabia.
This year, more than 100 contestants are set to take part in the Miss Universe pageant. Now in it’s 73rd year, the event will be held in Mexico in September.
Check back soon for more details on this developing story.