Miss Universe removes upper age limit for contestants

NEW YORK: Miss Universe made a historic announcement by removing the upper age limit for competition. The organizers, the Miss Universe Organization have stated that women of all ages are now eligible to participate in the pageant. Arboni Gabrielle, Miss Universe 2022 unveiled this change during a show at New York Fashion Week. The new rule will officially take effect in 2024. Previously, the upper age limit for competing in Miss Universe was 28. Arboni is currently the youngest contestant to win the Miss Universe title at 29 years old. Notably, Arboni, who also won the title of Miss USA is the first Filipino-American to achieve this distinction. She had advocated for raising the age limit for contestants during the judges' questioning.

Miss Universe had previously amended its rules to allow married women and mothers to compete. With this latest change, any woman aged eighteen and above can now compete. JKN Global Group, the media distribution company owned by Thai transgender rights activist Ann Jackaphong Jakrajuthatip acquired the Miss Universe Organization for 20 million dollars last October.