Rumy Alqahtani to Lead Saudi Arabia’s Historic Debut at Miss Universe Pageant

Saudi Arabia is poised to make a groundbreaking entry onto the global stage of beauty and poise, as Rumy Alqahtani, a 27-year-old model and content creator hailing from Riyadh, leads the kingdom’s inaugural participation in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant. This decision signifies a pivotal moment in the pageant’s history, promising to introduce a new facet of cultural diversity and representation.

Expressing her elation and gratitude, Alqahtani took to social media to convey her honor at being chosen to showcase her country’s beauty and talent on such a prominent platform.

“I am honored 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 shared on her Instagram account.

In a parallel milestone, Iran is also slated to make its debut appearance at this year’s Miss Universe pageant, alongside Saudi Arabia, as another first-time entrant in the competition.

Alqahtani, who holds the title of Miss Saudi Arabia, brings with her an impressive portfolio of achievements, including Miss Middle East (Saudi Arabia), Miss Arab World Peace 2021, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia). With a bachelor’s degree in dentistry and fluency in English, French, and Arabic, she has represented Saudi Arabia on various international platforms, participating in esteemed pageants such as Miss Asia in Malaysia, Miss Arab Peace, and Miss Europe.

The Miss Universe pageant has been at the forefront of inclusivity, as demonstrated by last year’s groundbreaking event which featured the inclusion of two transgender contestants and plus-size model Jane Dipika from Nepal, marking the first time a plus-sized contestant reached the semi-finals.

In the previous year’s edition, Sheynnis Palacios secured Nicaragua’s first-ever victory in the Miss Universe competition, further underscoring the significance of diversity and representation in the realm of beauty pageants.