Other competitors applauded her as she accepted the tiara from current title holder Shanice Palacios of Nicaragua, reports CNN.
This year, for the first time in the 72-year history of the Miss Universe pageant, women over 28 years of age were allowed to participate. More than two dozen finalists were older than allowed in previous years, with Beatrice Nhoya from Malta becoming the first and only woman aged 40 to reach the grand final.
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig Photo: REUTERS
The lifting of the age limit comes amid growing demands to modernize the competition. Ahead of the 2023 pageant, the Miss Universe Organization has also lifted a long-standing ban on the participation of pregnant women or mothers, as well as women who are or have been married.
This year, Cuba, represented by Marianela Ancheta, took part in the Miss Universe pageant for the first time since 1967. Several countries, including Belarus, Eritrea and the United Arab Emirates, also sent participants for the first time.
Several national pageants leading up to this year’s finals have been marred by scandal, including Miss Universe South Africa, where Chidimma Adetshina walked out of the pageant and was later chosen to represent Nigeria after questions about her nationality sparked a wave of xenophobic sentiment.
Last December, Miss Universe Nicaragua director Karen Celebetti resigned just weeks after Palacios received the crown amid allegations of conspiracy and treason.
Source: rg.ru
