The Miss Universe pageant is breaking new ground in its history by eliminating the maximum age limit for participants. This significant change was highlighted by Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel during Tanner Fletcher's Beauty Pageant show at New York Fashion Week. The Miss Universe competition, which has been running since 1952, has finally done away with the previous age restriction, which was set at 28 years old.
The pageant organisation announced this decision on their official Instagram page. "The Miss Universe Organization announces the elimination of all age limits across all Miss Universe-associated pageants," it said
According to R'Bonney Gabriel, "Age is not a barrier to a woman's ability to compete and achieve greatness," a sentiment she emphasized during New York Fashion Week. She added that Miss Universe looks for ways to be inclusive and live up to the platform they have designed.
"What I love about Miss Universe is that they are always out first in line, looking for ways they can be more inclusive and better live up to the platform that they’ve designed for us. A woman’s ability to compete at Miss Universe, or anything in life, shouldn’t be defined by her age. Age should just be a number," Gabriel said at the event.
This rule adjustment not only signifies a commitment to diversity but also sets a new standard for beauty pageants worldwide in 2024. However, to participate in the competition, contestants must still meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old.
Speaking to reporters at New York Fashion Week, the reigning Miss Universe expressed her thoughts on the matter: "It's a bold group of women in charge over here, and you know what, a lot of people tend to follow what we do - it's nice to be a standard-bearer, and I'm proud that we get to do that," R'Bonney said.
Gabriel was 28 years old when she achieved the title of Miss Universe 2022. During the question-and-answer round of the competition, which took place in New Orleans, she was asked about potential changes she would implement in the organization's rules. In response, she expressed her desire to raise the age limit if given the opportunity.
Through these forward-thinking initiatives, the Miss Universe Organization is establishing a fresh benchmark and proclaiming that empowerment has no limits, and beauty transcends age boundaries.