Miss Universe Organization to allow participation of married women and mothers in the pageant

KATHMANDU,

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has announced that it has decided to allow married women, women who are pregnant or those who have children to compete in the pageant starting from the 72nd Miss Universe in 2023.

According to reports, during the 48th Miss Universe pageant held in Trinidad and Tobago, the final question was "If Miss Universe were to become pregnant during her reign, should she be allowed to continue as Miss Universe?” Botswana's Mpule Kwelagobe, who won the title in the 48th Miss Universe pageant then answered, "Personally, I think Miss Universe is a symbol of a woman as well as she's celebrating her femininity, and I believe that if she should fall pregnant it will not in any way interrupt her duties. I believe as a woman she should celebrate her femininity."

According to a website, The National, which obtained an internal memo from within the Miss Universe organization, the pageant is changing its ways. Allowing in women who are married or have children, the memo reads, “We all believe that women should have agency over their lives and that a human’s personal decisions should not be a barrier to their success.”