Riyadh: Saudi Arabia will participate in Miss Universe 2024 for the first time in the pageant’s history. Rumy Alqahtani, a 27-year-old Riyadh-born model and content creator, will represent Saudi Arabia at the pageant.
“I am honoured to participate in the Miss Universe 2024 competition. This marks the first participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Miss Universe pageant,” Alqahtani posted on her Instagram account.
Alqahtani follows Lujane Yacoub, who represented Bahrain in the Miss Universe pageant last year, becoming the first woman from the Gulf region to do so. The Miss Universe pageant this year will be held in Mexico, and will also see Iran debuting.
Besides being crowned Miss Saudi Arabia, Alqahtani also holds titles of Miss Middle East (Saudi Arabia), Miss Arab World Peace 2021, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia). She has represented Saudi Arabia previously in multiple international pageants, including Miss Asia in Malaysia, Miss Arab Peace and Miss Europe.
Alqahtani has a Bachelor’s degree in dentistry and is fluent in English, French, and Arabic. The Miss Universe pageant last year featured two transgender women and plus-size model Jane Dipika from Nepal, marking the first time a plus-sized contestant reached the semi-finals.
Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe 2023, Nicaragua’s first win at the pageant.
